Things to do in Crete
If you can’t decide how long to come for, Tony has compiled this list of things to do in Crete and once you check in with us and we get a consensus we will organize some outings. At a minimum, I would suggest arriving four or five days in advance of the wedding.
Things to do in Crete
The rich history, dramatic topography and fascinating culture of Crete make it a destination that provides excellent options of rewarding activities for visitors. Through this platform we will provide you with information regarding some of your options. We will also be presenting you with the option to participate in organized trips to some of these destinations that we’re planning for the days leading up to the big event on Saturday, September 4. Here are some highlights of things to do in Crete:
Ancient Knosos
This was the seat of King Minos beneath whose palace, according to legend, the bull-headed Minotaur hunted its victims in the Labyrinth built by Daedalus. In reality, it was the hub of the Bronze Age Minoan empire that ruled the Aegean more than 4,000 years ago. From the Palace’s central court and the Throne Room to the vivid dolphin frescoes and the giant earthenware jars that the Minoans used to store olive oil, this archaeological site is filled with highlights and it is one of the most historically important destinations in the world.
Phaestos
This is one of the most important Minoan palace sites in Crete. Phaestos is a fascinating maze of walls, stairways and courtyards on a hillside, overlooking the Messara plain and the Libyan sea. The site was built as early as 3500 BC and it includes ruins of a grand stairway, theater area, palace workshops, storerooms and other and an archive room where the Phaestos disc was discovered. Its hieroglyphics are the earliest known Minoan script; it can be seen in the Irakleio Archaeological Museum.
Gournia
This is the best preserved Minoan town in Crete, though it receives few visitors. It was first inhabited around 3000 BC and its honeycomb of ruins stands only waist high. Its layout, with narrow stepped streets and tiny houses, is surprisingly similar to Cretan villages to this day. Wash basins, potter, carpenter and bronze-smith workshops and an L-shaped stairway leading to the central court of the palace are among the highlights. The views of the Gulf of Mirabello are absolutely stunning; the Minoans surely knew how to pick spots for their towns!
Irakleio Archaeological Museum
This museum provides an absolutely dazzling insight into the marvels of the first sophisticated European civilization which flourished on this island more than 4,000 years ago. Among the most famous and striking exhibits are the frescoes from Knosos and the enigmatic Phaestos disc, which is embossed with symbols and is considered the earliest example of a form of printing.
El Greco Museum
This museum, a restored Venetian building, houses copies of paintings and biographical material relating to the life of the Cretan-born artist Domenikos Theotokopoulos, better known as El Greco. It is located in Fodele village, which is claimed to be his birthplace and is a few minutes drive from Irakleio.
Irakleio
This city, named after Hercules, is the capital of Crete. This site was initially a Greek and Roman settlement, which eventually came under Saracen, Venetian and Ottoman rule before becoming the capital of Crete in 1971. Its massive medieval fortress still guards the harbor where the galleys of the Serene Republic of Venice once moored. The city is still dotted with Venetian era churches and drinking fountains as well as with busy open-air markets. It is also the home of the island’s most fascinating museum. This is a great place to seat at a cafè table on one of its central squares or browse the markets for Cretan antiques.
Chania
This is by far Crete’s most gorgeous town, filled with colorful, old Venetian buildings which form a ring around a sheltered harbor. The earliest settlers of the town were the Minoans; in 520 BC colonists from Samos arrived. The Venetians ruled the city from the 1200s until the 1600s, when Chania fell under Ottoman rule, after a 55-day siege, until 1898. During the Second World War, Cretan civilians fought alongside Greek and British Commonwealth Troops here against the Germans. There is perfectly preserved evidence of all those cultures, from the Venetian City Walls and the Ottoman mosque of the Janissaries to the Jewish Etz Hayyim synagogue. In addition to its beauty and rich history, Chania is THE shopping destination on Crete, for anything from jewelry to Cretan-style leather boots.
Amari Valley and Mount Idi (Psiloritis)
This is one of the most scenic regions in Crete, dotted with tiny 700-year old churches, olive groves and vineyards! According to Greek myth, Zeus, the chief of the Olympian Gods, was raised in the enormous Idaian Cavern. Towering above the valley is the 8060-ft.peak of Psiloritis, the highest mountain in Crete, with walking trails that lead all the way to the summit. There are organized fossil-hunting and herb-gathering walks, as well as treks to the summit at dawn! Just outside Amari village are located the oldest Christian frescoes in Crete, dating back to 1225, in the church of Agia Anna.
Samaria Gorge
This is one of the most striking areas of natural beauty in all of Greece! At 11 miles of length, the Samaria Gorge is the third longest in the world (the Grand Canyon is first). It cuts its way through the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) from the Omalos Plateau to the Libyan Sea. Peaks soar on both sides of the gorge, flanked by pine woods and wildflower meadows. Beginning at 4,100-ft. above sea level, it emerges on the coast, close to the little village of Agia Roumeli, after passing through a narrow pass known as the “Iron Gates” (Sideres Portes)!!
Finally, it is important to remind everyone that we will all be staying at the quintessential Greek resort of Elounda Beach and Elounda Bay. Built in 1970 to host summits of heads-of-state from all over the Mediterranean world, it is widely considered to represent the absolute best of what Greece has to offer, from genuine hospitality and exquisite cuisine to luxurious accommodations, surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty. In short, you won’t feel bad if you decide to just take it easy,skip the sightseeing and enjoy what the resort has to offer!
In the coming months, we will assess your level of interest in the aforementioned sightseeing opportunities, in order to start the process of organizing excursions, working with a local transportation company. In some cases, we may be able to combine more than one destination in a single day. Our plan will be to present you with the option to visit as many of these as possible during the week leading up to the wedding.