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KRETE
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This island-the largest in Greece-separates the Aegean from
the Libyan Sea, marks the boundary between Europe and Africa.
Majestic mountains rise in its centre - the White Mountains,
Psiloritis, Dikti. Its plateaus are split by deep gorges and end
up in fertile valleys.
Old stone farmhouses, monasteries and villages perched on
mountain ridges, castles and chapels forgotten on steep slopes.
Shores lined with forbidding rocks, often inaccessible, but also
lots of endless sandy or pebbly beaches. Crete is renowned for
the variety of its vegetation and the wildlife in its chestnut,
oak and cypress forests. Not to mention its palm forests (at Vai
and Preveli) and its cedar forests (at Gavdos and Hrissi).
Medicinal herbs and fragrant shrubs-laudanum, dittany, marjoram
and thyme-grow in rocky areas and the mountain tops are home to
the "kri - kri" or Cretan goat.
The main cities-ports on Crete-Hania, Rethimno, Iraklio, Agios
Nikolaos, Sitia-all grew up on the north side, which is more
benign topographically. Ierapetra is the only port on the south
coast, on the shores of the Libyan Sea, facing Africa. This
island's fertile soil and towering peaks witnessed the
development of one of the most important civilizations on Earth,
the Minoan (28001150 B.C.). In successive phase, the Minoans
built palace-states-the famous palatial centres of Knossos,
Phaistos, Malia, Zakros (17001450 B.C.). Their painters and
ceramicists show us the limits the refinement of art can reach.
Their frescoes bring us close to the soul of that world,
peace-loving, light-hearted, but also powerful. They bring us
close to the sea and its wealth.
The scenery is constantly changing. In one place harsh and
barren, in another wooded and gentle. Its villages smothered in
greenery. Olive trees, orange groves, vineyards, early
vegetable market gardens.
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