Crete
Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean with an area of 8,335 square kilometers and the largest island in Greece. Crete has an elongated shape with a length of 257 km. At its widest point reaches 60 km and the narrowest near Ierapetra, not exceeding 12 km.
Crete is an island of surprises and contrasts. High mountains and deep gorges, archaeological sites alongside traditional villages where life continues at a pace friendly and stress free. Clear blue seas beyond the golden sandy beaches. Here at the ancient crossroads of three continents, was born at Jupiter (Zeus), king of the ancient gods.
Crete in the Minoan era gave birth to the first civilization in the Western humanistic sense here, too, in the Kali Ports, the Apostle Paul landed and preached Christianity.
The geographical location of Crete attracted many conquerors as the Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and Nazis, while the epic resistance of the island against the Ottoman Empire terrible that lasted 25 years, as well as the legendary resistance during the Second World War (Battle of Crete in May 1941) are wonderful examples of the indomitable Cretan soul.
Many famous artists and politicians such as El Greco (El Greco), Venizelos (the father of modern Greek) Kazantzakis (great philosopher and writer) Kornaros (Homer in modern Greek), Elytis (Nobel Prize in Literature, 1979) were also born Crete.
Crete is divided into prefectures of Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lasithi, who in turn subdivided into districts. All the major cities of Crete are on the north side of the island beside the sea. From west to east they are: Chania, with a population of about 100,000 residents, Rethymnon with a population of around 30,000, Heraklion, with 200,000 inhabitants and St. Nicholas with 10,000 inhabitants and Sitia with 10,000 inhabitants. The total population is 600,000.
The climate in Crete
The climate of Crete is probably the mildest in Europe. In summer the northwesterly winds, the winds, absorb the high temperatures. Rainfall is rare during the summer season.
Autumn is a season friendly in Crete, with temperatures often exceed those of spring. The mountains that cross the island strongly influence the climate, often large differences in temperature and winds between north and south of the island.
Airports and ports in Crete
In Crete, will arrive by plane or boat. Every day thousands of visitors arrive in Crete with domestic and international flights. There are also daily ferries from Piraeus to Crete.
In Crete there are 2 major airports, the International Airport of Heraklion (Nikos Kazantzakis) and Chania Airport (John Daskalogiannis). Both airports are a short distance from the towns:
- Heraklion Airport: 5 km from Heraklion
- Chania Airport: 12 km from Chania
In Crete there are 6 ports receive passenger ships:
- Port in Kissamos (Kastelli), just outside the city. From here you are flying to Kythera and Antikythera only.
- Souda Port, 14 km from Chania.
- Harbour at Rethymno.
- Port of Heraklion.
- Port Agios Nikolaos
- Sitia Port
The roads in Crete
In Crete, the road network is quite extensive and there around the island that does not reach a road. Along the northern coast cities connected by a modern highway, which is constantly improving. Permitted speeds do not exceed 100 kilometers per hour and often controls the traffic infringements.
Along the south coast there is no comparable highway in Crete. Especially in the south coast of Chania Prefecture high mountains (Ori or White Mountains) and deep canyons (ie Samaria) does not permit the construction of coastal road. But across the south coast provincial roads linking villages and towns between them. The roads in some places are narrow and winding, so for short distances you will need a disproportionate time to go.
The same applies to the interior of the island except the highways from Rethymno to Spili (Plakias, Preveli, etc.) from Heraklion to Messara (Phaistos, Matala, Gortyn, etc.) from Heraklion to Viannos from Agios Nikolaos to Ierapetra . Proceedings expect to get from North to South Coast will need 1 to 1.5 hour in the prefecture of Chania and Heraklion in the county will need 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours. In the Prefecture of Rethymnon and Lasithi distances are smaller, so you'll need a half an hour long to reach the most remote areas in the south.
