The main cities are Chania, Rethimno, Iraklio, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia - all grew up on the north side. Ierapetra is the only port on the south coast, on the shores of the Libyan Sea, facing Africa.

Old stone farmhouses, monasteries and villages perched on mountain ridges, castles and chapels forgotten on steep slopes.

Crete is full of history. One of the most important civilizations on Earth, the Minoan (2800-1150 B.C.) were living here. Christianity came to the island early. During the Byzantine era the wealth of Crete was shown off in the mosaic floors of its basilicas.

Crete has seen many conqueror. The Arabs (824 - 961) founded Heraklion. The Venetians (from 1204) fortified the old castles at Handak (Heraklion) and built new ones at Gramvoussa, Spinalonga, Frangokastello, Ierapetra, Paleochora. They built  new cities like Chania and Rethimno. Inside the walls the cities developed with narrow, convoluted alleyways and small residential blocks, interspersed with decorative piazzas, fountains, churches and palaces. Many remains can still be seen today. Although the rebellious populace shook the island from time to time, it continued to develop both economically and culturally. Painting and literature flourished. The Turks started to conquer Crete (1645) and 1669 the whole island fell to the Turks, for almost 400 years. Since 1913 Crete is united with the rest of Greece.

Today it continuous to live fully and develop, its cities particularly changing in appearance from one day to the next, in contrast to the many unchanging villages where life goes on in the same rhythm it has for centuries.

There are hundreds of cafes where one can sit. Tavernas and ouzeries serving some tasty "meze". Yogurt and honey, sweets, tarts (kalitsounia), pies made of wild greens flavored with fennel, fried cheese, rabbit stew (stifado), cheese pie (sfakiani pita) from Sfakia, cockles and boiled goat are some of them. And everywhere the delectable Cretan wine.

This island with its clear, warm sea, boundless beaches and mild starry night has more to offer than its past, its gorges, unscaled peaks and climate.