Whether your visit is for relaxation or to explore and discover the many well known and countless hidden treasures of Crete, you will not be disappointed by the diversity of the landscape – the rugged mountains, the endless beaches and the turquoise seas, the many cities, towns and villages, and stunning countryside. Live the essence and the heartbeat of the Island from dawn till dusk and discover... Your Crete!
Start your journey from Analispi Hersonissos and take the meandering road up to the Lassithi plateau and the village of Psychro. Wild aromatic herbs perfume the mountain air and the panoramic view will take your breath away. Follow the stony path lined with oak trees that will lead you to the cave entrance.
The Dictaean Cave is where Titaness Rhea hid her son, Zeus, to protect him from his father Cronus who had the nasty habit of eating his children. This is also the place where the love stricken Zeus led princess Europa in anticipation to their union.
Knossos was the most prominent centre of the Minoan Civilisation, one of the magnificent civilisations of human kind. The renowned ancient city with the palace is the largest and most typical archaeological site ever discovered on Crete. It is located at a distance of 6 km SE of Heraklion amidst olive groves, vineyards and cypress forests. According to tradition, it was the seat of the legendary king Minoa. Apart from being the royal family's residence, it was also the administrative and religious centre for the whole region. The Palace is also connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daedalus and Icarus.
Famous Spinalonga Island which was a leper community in the past, today thousands of tourists visit Spinalonga by boat from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka each summer as it is the most popular archaeological site in Crete after Knossos. The island forms a natural defence “mechanism” for Elounda harbour, and in 1579 the Venetians built a mighty fortress here on the ruins of an ancient acropolis. As well as the trip to Spinalonga you can also enjoy a swim off the beaches behind the Kolokytha Peninsula, before returning to Agios Nikolaos in the afternoon.
The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum is a museum in Myrtia village in the Heraklion regional unit of Crete, in Greece. It is 20 km south of the town of Heraklion and it is dedicated to the life and work of the famous writer Nikos Kazantzakis, a 9 times candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature and known worldwide for his book "Zorba the Greek" and "The Last Temptation of Christ".
