35.516667 24.016667 2 Chania (Greek: Χανιά) - the island's second largest city and capital of Chania Prefecture.It has the Minoan Palace of Knossos archeological site, the island's main international airport and cruise/ferry port, an important archeological museum, and a harbor boasting structures from the Venetian period (1205-1669). 35.333333 25.133333 1 Heraklion (Greek: Ηράκλειον) - in Heraklion Prefecture, it is the largest city and capital of the island.In fact, just about everything that can be found anywhere in Greece can be seen here.Ĭities Agios Pavlos, on Crete's southern coast Chaniá Heraklion

There are ancient ruins scattered everywhere. There are beautiful Byzantine churches and monasteries, many of which are open to visitors. There are miles of olive trees and vineyards, palm trees, and desert-like landscapes. While all Greek islands have their own charm and beauty, Crete is undoubtedly one of the most diverse, blessed with a remarkable amount of truly spectacular natural beauty and a wide variety of varied architecture that pays tribute to its ancient Minoan past and chronicles its history of conquest from the Greek mainland, the Venetian era, and the Turkish/Ottoman period.Ĭertainly, the island has its share of magnificent beaches and ritzy beach resorts, but there is plenty more to explore - from rugged mountain peaks (some of which remain capped with snow throughout much of the year) and breathtaking gorges to metropolitan cities and sleepy traditional villages where it is not uncommon to see donkeys carrying vegetables being led past cars and scooters. Crete's population is approximately 650,000. The island is divided into four prefectures: from west to east, Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, and Lasithi. Crete is approximately 260 km long and 60 km wide. It contains the southernmost city within the European continent, Ierapetra, which is only about 645 km (about 400 miles) from the coast of Libya. It is located between the Sea of Crete and the Libyan Sea, south of the Peloponnese. 112 (emergency), 100 (police), 166 (emergency medical services), 199 (fire department)Ĭrete ( Greek: Κρήτη / Kríti, sometimes spelled 'Krete' in English) is the largest of the Greek islands and is the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea - after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica.

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