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Kalamaki, Crete
Unspoilt by tourism, Kalamaki
has maintained its traditional character as a
quiet farming village. the Kalliston offers a
wonderful setting, just metres from the sandy
beach. Ideally located between Chania town and
Kalamaki and Agia Marina, the hotel offers
magnificent sea views.
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Elounda, Crete
Originally a small fishing village, Elounda has
blossomed into one of the best-equipped resorts
in Crete. This five star hotel is the sister of
the Elounda Beach, a member of The Leading
Hotels of the World, and is one of Crete's
finest hotel and villa properties. This
contemporary and stylish hotel lies on the
beach, amidst 20 acres of bougainvillaea-filled,
jasmine-scented gardens.
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Platanias, Crete
The riverside village of Platanias has developed
into a thriving holiday destination. The Minoa
Palace is a luxury resort hotel situated in a
lively suburb of Platanias, just 150m from a
long, sandy beach and is situated in six acres
of beautifully landscaped grounds
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Rethymnon, Crete
This award-winning hotel is beautifully
appointed on the sandy shores of the Sea of
Crete. Set among 100 square metres of colourful
exotic gardens and just a short walk from the
beach.
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Crete, which its rocky bays, charming
beaches and steeped in history, is one of the most popular
destinations in the Greek islands. Although its
resorts are geared for tourism and busy nightlife, vast areas remain
beautifully untouched.
Boasting one of
Europe's best climates Crete is also a
historian's and an archaeologist's paradise. Its fascinating
archaeological ruins and world-class museums are a bonus for any
holiday. And in the far northwest, east and south of the island,
away from the tourist trail, you can expect to see some really
excellent smaller Minoan sites that are hardly visited.
Many people take a holiday on the Greek island of Crete and enjoy the
fantastic beaches, charming villages and endless sunshine. But Crete
offers the visitor much more than this.
But before heading for the archaeological ruins, check out the
stunning collection of the Iraklion Archaeological Museum in Heraklion,
the capital of the island. Home to the world's finest collection of
Minoan art and culture in the world, the twenty rooms and galleries
provide the perfect introduction to 5,000 years of island history from
the Neolithic to the Graeco-Roman era.
The famous Minoan Palace of Knossos, just south of Iraklion, was one
of Europe's finest buildings during Bronze Age (2800-1100 BC) with
around 1,400 rooms. Staircases with shallow alabaster steps lead to
upper or lower floors and lovely frescoes, with scenes from everyday
life, decorate the Palace walls. The King's and the Queen's apartments
feature blue dolphins, while the throne room contains the oldest
throne in Europe, the alabaster throne of King Minos.
If you are feeling more adventurous head for remote Central Crete's
prehistoric site of Gortys, once the largest city in Crete. Besides
being the first city to accept Christianity, and with a history as far
back as the Minoan period, Gortys was occupied by the Romans in 68 BC
and destroyed by the Arabs 900 years later. This layer on layer of
civilization brings history to life as you discover an ancient past
that helps explain the present.
Popular resorts
on Crete
Adele. Situated 5 miles from
Rethymnon, Adele is a town with an abundance of history to explore.
Adele is a typical small Greek village popular for tourists who enjoy
sampling the culture, atmosphere and history of Greece. There are
rising hills, stunning beaches and neighbouring picturesque villages.
Adele has narrow streets, twisting alleys and whitewashed houses.
Agia Pelagia. The coastal resort of Agia Pelagia is built along a
wonderful sandy bay, where the sea is calm
Kolymbari, Chania. A small fishing
port on the way from Chania to Kissamos nestling between the sea and
the cliffs at the foot of the Rodopou Penninsula. The village offers a
long pebbly beach and seafront promenade lined with inviting
traditional tavernas.
Aghios Nikolaos. Cretes number one
tourist town is fondly called `Ag Nik` and is positioned off the
lovely Gulf of Mirabello. It is a busy little working harbour joined
by a bridged channel to the picturesque bottomless lake of `Vouslismeni.
Agios Nikoloas enjoys a variety of attractions from its charming lake
with open air theatre to its wide selection of shops, tavernas,
restaurants and museums and its fabulous marina. The beaches that
surround the resort including Almyros, Ammoudara, Havania, Ammoudi
have all been awarded the European recognised 'Blue Flag'.
Almirida. Almirida is a small
fishing village and has been developed during the past eight years but
still retains its traditional beauty such as the glorious beaches,
villages and historical sites. There are nearby villages worth
visiting including Kambia, Kokkino Horio, Plaka and Kera. Other
popular places to explore include the 215 caves found in the area, the
`Gorge of Saint Nikolas' and the `Diktamo Gorge'.
Bali. This small quaint coastal
resort is located in a large inlet, at the bottom of a valley and
hosts a magnificent mountain backdrop. Within the resort are three
small bays, some sand and some shingle.
Lake Kourna. Located in between
Rethymno and Chania, Lake Kourna is surrounded by wonderful, dramatic
mountains and boasts Crete's largest body of fresh water and is home
to Terrapins and migrant birds.
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