What to see in Crete

In search of summer impressions it is necessary to turn yourattention to the beautiful corner of the world called Crete. The island is the fifth largest in the Mediterranean and the largest in Greece. The rest, which offers this wonderful place, is very diverse. Here you can not only luxuriate on the sea pebbly and sandy beaches, but also make interesting excursions to the archaeological sites, stroll through the picturesque corners of the island, visit caves and gorges, which contain numerous legends about the gods and heroes of Hellas.

About what to see in Crete, we will stopmore in detail. The main attraction of the island is the Knossos Palace, located five kilometers from Heraklion. The history of this building totals more than four millennia. It is covered with legends and legends, according to which it was in the dungeon of this building that the savage monster Minotaur, captured by King Minos, was imprisoned.

No less interesting will be visiting the monasteryArkadi, built in 23 kilometers from the city of Rethymno. This building lost its original appearance due to the fire in 1866, which killed thousands of men, children and women. Later it was rebuilt and is now a symbol of independence for the city's residents.

Answering the question what to see in Crete,one can not help but recall the monastery Toplou, located in the eastern part of the island, 20 kilometers from the town of Sitia. It holds a magnificent collection of icons. Nearby is the Venetian fortress of Frangokastello, where concerts often take place in the courtyard during the summer months. And on the hill of Paleokastro towers the fortress of Fortezza, which previously had a defensive purpose. The territory of this fortress is huge and includes a large number of all kinds of structures, among which there are the ruins of a mosque erected by the Turks in the 16th century. At 27 miles from the monastery is the palm grove of Wai.

What to see in Crete from historical places? Ruins of the royal villa Agia Triada, located 63 kilometers from Heraklion. Here, palace ruins and fragments of wall murals were well preserved. Archaeologists have found many unique items that are stored in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Interesting will be the port of Falasarna, located in the western part of Crete. Archaeologists began their studies here only in the early 20th century.

Taking a trip around the island, it is recommendedVisit one of the most picturesque places of the island - the plateau of Lassithi, located in the mountains of Dikti. From here you can climb to the cave of Zeus. Nearby is the monastery of Kera, which is an important religious center of the island.

But magnificent structures and numerous ruinsit's not all the attractions of Crete. What to see from the unique places created by nature itself? The picturesque Samaria gorge, which stretches for 18 kilometers. Here you can see rare animals and birds, unique plants. For their protection, this zone is declared a reserve. At a distance of 71 kilometers from Heraklion are the caves of Metal. Between Rethymnon and Khania you can see Lake Kournas, which is the only freshwater formation on the island. Here you can see magnificent landscapes. Considerable interest will be provided by a visit to the unique stalactite and stalagmite cave of Sfendoni, formed 8 million years ago.

What to see in Crete yet? Opposite the resort town of Elounda is the island of lepers of Spinalonga. During archaeological excavations, finds were found here confirming that it was here that the temple of Aphrodite and Aris was located. In addition, to protect the bay of Mirabello, a fortress was built here. The island has an interesting history, which you can learn during the excursion.