Agia Pelagia. A small port with about ten permanent dwellers in winter, it has experienced strong tourist development over the last few years due to its geographical location. Very crowded in summer…

Héraklion. The administrative capital of Crete, Heraklion (120 000 inhabitants) has experienced strong expansion over the past ten years due to its harbour, airport (5 minute drive from the city centre), university, and the influx of tourists. A city with haphazard urban development and not much charm, it is above all a place to stop over for a visit to the archaeological museum, which is an absolute must. On display there are the most beautiful creations of the Minoan civilization. And 5 km from the city, the most significant archaeological site in Crete: Knossos. Another must. You should join a group with a guide in order to fully appreciate the incredible cultural and artistic wealth the site has to offer.

Arolithos, with its popular art museum. 1 km from Tilissos, this village is a kind of living eco-museum. Recreated Cretan houses, traditional craftsmanship and daily activities, local cuisine, lyre music, folk dances and costumes…

Fodele. A charming little village in a fertile valley set amidst orange and lemon groves. It was believed for a long time that the Cretan-born painter Dominikos Theotokopoulos (1541-1614), nicknamed Greco, was a native of Fodele. Be sure to visit the domed Byzantine church dedicated to the Holy Virgin (Panagia). A building of remarkable architecture.

Myrtia. A pretty village with lots of flowers where the Nikos Kazantzakis museum is located. Numerous original documents cover the famous Cretan writer’s work and life.

Archanes. County town of a region famous for its vineyards and wine, with an interesting archaeological museum. Part of a Minoan palace has been restored in Archanes. It was undoubtedly a summer residence for the kings of Phaistos.

Peza. One of the most important wine-growing regions in Crete. Visits to the cellars and wine-tasting possible.

Gortys (or Gortyna). A city founded at the end of the third millennium or the beginning of the second millennium BC. During the Greek classical age (5th century BC), the laws of the city were carved in stone. Known as the “Gortyna code”, it dealt with criminal law, family law, succession and property law, as well as matrimonial law. From 67 BC onwards, Gortyna was chosen as the capital of the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica, and experienced a period of strong expansion, a fact corroborated by the numerous Roman buildings (agora, odeon, theatre). In 59 BC, the arrival of Saint Paul and the appointment of Tite as bishop transformed the city into a centre for the propagation of Christianity. Until its destruction by the Saracens in 824, Gortyna was the most important city in Crete.

Agia Triada. A major Minoan site, built around 1600 BC, about the same time as the most recent version of the palace of Phaistos. The numerous objects found there are displayed in the museum of Heraklion. The villa (which was a summer residence for the king of Phaistos), is located at the top of a hill, overlooking the beautiful and luxuriant plain of Messara, with a view of the Libyan sea. Worth a visit.

Tsoutsouros. The southern part of the Heraklion province attracts very few tourists. A region of numerous tracks, arid and varied landscapes, and the location of this little isolated fishing village surrounded by tamarisks, offering a few rooms, tiny tavernas, a beautiful beach and much tranquillity…

Komos, Kalamaki, kokkinos Pirgos. Loners and sea lovers will appreciate long strolls on miles and miles of beaches. Mass tourism has not yet invaded this coast.

Anogia. A village with a population of 2,500, perched 800 m above sea level. It was founded in the 12th century by its neighbours of the Dorian city of Axos which had just been destroyed by the Venetians. During the second world war, the Germans, in retaliation for the kidnapping of a general, shot the entire male population and burnt the village (15th of August, 1944). The sole building remaining is the church, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, with frescoes of the first Venetian period. It should be noted that the Cretans, to a greater extent than the inhabitants of continental Greece, not only did not collaborate with the occupying forces, but constantly fought and harassed them. Anogia was rebuilt after the war, and remains today steeped in tradition, with a people proud of its history, way of life, dialect, and its renowned singers Nikos Xilouris and Psarantonis. Today, Anogia is famous for its cultural events, song, music and dance contests (organized around the 15th of August) and most of all for its craftsmanship. It has also become a weaving and embroidery centre, very much appreciated by visitors.

Hersonisos. Originally a charming little village, it is now very busy in summer, with lots of tavernas and hotels overlooking a beautiful bay.

Lendas. The sharply winding track from Kali Limenes takes you through beautiful landscapes before reaching this isolated bay which has only recently begun to attract visitors, due to its natural charm…

Kali limenes. A pretty little village with its sand and shingle beach, cliffs and tamarisks. Unfortunately, the landscape has been spoiled by the presence of large oil storage tanks. A few taverns and rooms to rent.

Matala. Matala was in ancient times the port of Phaistos and Gortyna. North-east of the bay, under the water, one can still see the remains of this period. According to the legend, Zeus, taking the shape of a bull, boarded there with Europe, whom he had kidnapped. Today it is a beautiful sandy beach, overhung by sandstone cliffs full of numerous caves which were inhabited in the Neolithic period. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, a certain “golden” youth, the ‘Flower Children’ of 1968, made these caves their home, driving the Cretans to despair, for the latter could not understand their fondness for this rather prehistoric-like way of life. Matala should be visited early in the morning or at about sunset, if you want to avoid the bus-loads of tourists. Otherwise, within half an hour’s walk towards the south, you can find a pretty, isolated, fine sandy beach : Red beach.

Phaistos site (or Festos). Inhabited since the third millennium BC. An older palace was destroyed by an earthquake, before being rebuilt around 1700 BC. Another earthquake ruined it again around 1450 BC. These Minoan ruins are less impressive than those of Knossos for no restoration works have been carried out here, whereas Knossos was rebuilt by Arthur Evans. Only some remains can be seen, like the theatre. A very famous object was discovered on this site: the mysterious Disk of Phaistos, which has not yet revealed its secrets, and is displayed in the museum of Heraklion. Apart from the historical value of this site, the view is by itself worth the visit. From here, one can see the fertile Messara plain, the sea, and the mountains of Crete all at once.

Malia. The third largest Minoan site in Crete, discovered by the French Archaeological School of Athens. Very interesting from an architectural point of view. Today, Malia is a tourist resort situated near the bay of Chersonissos, which is known for its fine sandy beaches.

Lassithi (plateau). Over 800 m above sea level, nestled in the mountains, the Lassithi plateau was once famous for its 10,000 windmills, which were used to irrigate plantations and supply water. Nowadays, with a little help from progress, they have been replaced by motor pumps, but the plateau still offers peaceful and pastoral scenes of daily life. The cave of Trapeza shows signs of human presence dating back to 1850 BC. South of the plateau, the village of Psichro is a point of departure for hikes to the famous cave where, according to Greek mythology, Zeus was born.