Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, and is equidistant to Europe, Africa and Asia. Some 256 kms long, and between 15 and 60 kms wide, majestic mountains rise in its centre with their plateaus split by deep ravines ending up in fertile valleys and sandy beaches.

A high mountain range crosses the island from West to East, formed by three different groups of mountains. To the west side the White Mountains (2.452 m), in the middle the mountain of Idi (Psiloritis-2.456 m) and to the East the mountain of Dikti (2.148 m). These mountains gifted Crete with fertile plateaus like Lasithi and Omalos, caves like Diktaion and "Idaion Andron", and gorges like the famous Gorge of Samaria and Imbros.

Crete is the most significant of the Greek islands since European culture first developed here over 4000 years with the Minoan civilization. The Island has a long history that goes back to the Neolithic times. It is however known for the Minoan civilization the flourished from 2600 to 1100 B.C. The island is full of relics of the Minoan ages the most famous being the palaces at Knossos and Faistos.
Crete is divided to four prefectures: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos (Lasithi).
The capital of the island is the city of Heraklion.
The Cretan climate provides for the cultivation of olives, grapes, carobs, miniature bananas, melons, peaches, avocados, oranges, tomatoes and numerous kinds of mountain greens (horta) to name a few.

The nature is very rich of different species since there are 2000+ different plant species with approximately 10 % being endogenous in the island.
The population involves in many activities, providing the economy of the island which is growing very fast, last years.

The economy should never increased without the high quality education institutes that are hosted in the island.

Chania is Crete's second largest city and was the capital until 1972. It's history is particularly interesting as in the past invaders always focussed in this area. You’ll find traces of Byzantine, Venetian, Turkish and Germans times here. Linear B tablets discovered indicate that Chania was the site of the Minoan city of Kydonia.

Tourism has brought more prosperity to the island and whilst the east of Crete has more concentrated tourism the west is drawing more and more visitors and nowadays Chania has quite a cosmopolitan air. The north coast is more developed with its airport, sea port and easy road access but the south west also has its fair share of visitors these days. A number of internationally famous people were born to Chania.

Activities | Climate | Cultivation | Economy | Education | Nature | Tourism | Transportation