FAMOUS SPOTS
KNOSSOS The intriguing Palace of Knossos, home to King Minos just
a few short miles from the center of Iraklion is still heralded today as one of
the most important archaeological finds of 20th century. It took Sir Arthur
Evans more than 30 years of painstakingly hard work to reveal what is seen
today a palace of immeasurable importance for archaeology and history.
What he found exceeded his wildest expectations.
European civilization began here and this has secured Crete a place on
the tourist map.
ARKADI has become revered as one of the most important
historic buildings in Greece and is a constant reminder of the Turkish occupation.
Here on November 9th, 1866 the head of the Monastery named Igoumenos
Gavriil together with hundreds of men, women and children committed a mass
suicide in the Monastery so as not to fall into the hands of the Turkish troops.
From hundreds of men, women and children, just one small child aged 2
years survived this mass suicide, thrown up into a tree from the blast of
gunpowder. Today the Arkadi
Monastery is the symbol of the freedom and heroism of the Cretan people, an
extremely worthwhile site to visit.
PREVELI Another very attractive monastery situated high up amongst the rugged
rocky landscape of the mountains of the south coast; sparse trees surround the
monastery and bleak scrub and bare rocky slopes extending down to the sea.
A forest fire destroyed most of the already sparse vegetation a few years
ago. In the 18th and 19th
centuries the monastery of Preveli was one of the most important centers of
resistance against the Turks.
One of the most beautiful beaches can be found deep down at the base of
the mountainside. It cannot be
seen from above and as you approach it by foot from above you become
mesmerized by the sight of a line of Palm trees alongside a river that runs out
into the sea.
A crowning conclusion:
The beach deep down below at the exit of the river valley is without doubt one
of the nicest, if not the nicest place to bathe on the island.
SAMARIA GORGE The longest gorge in Europe. Home
to the wild KRI KRI and to various types of orchids, cypresses and other rare
vegetation. A real experience at a
height of just over 4.000 feet in the middle of the White Mountain range, the
gorge leads down to Agia Roumeli a small fishing village on the Sea of Libya. 11.25 miles from the top of the gorge to the gateway where the two
mountains almost meet, separated by only a few meters. It is definitely worth
the walk. Good hiking boots are
advisable.