Crete land of Daidalos and Ikaros. Minoan vases and famous frescoes . shining and starlit, with its black baggy breeches and fringed kerchiefs. Romantic Crete, with its sea, rocks and gleaming plateaus. Crete, land of full-bodied wine and pungent raki. Sleepless Crete, land of endless feasts under star-studded skies. Crete, scented with wild fennel and fresh basil. Dizzying Crete of warlike dances. Crete, home of El Greco, Kornaros, Kazantzakis and Prevelakis. Crete, whose door is always wide open to both East and West. The dream of Crete, where a person might soar in flight.
Iraklion is the capital of the island and the largest city. In the middle of the north coast, is also the transport hub with the international airport and the sea portis the commercial and communications centre of the island.
The Prefecture located between Psiloritis mountains and the Dikti Mountains is the largest administrative division of Crete. It covers an area of 2,641 square km and a population of approximately 250,000.
The Minoan Palace of Knossos lies at a distance of 5 km from the town centre of Iraklion along the road to Archanes.
The second major Minoan Palace in Crete after Knossos, is the Palace of Phaestos in the fertile plain of Messara. Like Knossos it was the center of religious and economic activities. |
