Crete Villas
Should you happen to find yourself in a sleepy taverna in the early afternoon, marvelling at the ultramarine sea while sipping a frappé or ice cold beer in the shade, or perhaps engrossed in a game of backgammon with the owner, then we reckon you have already succumbed to the slower pace of Greek life and discovered the magic of Crete. A beautiful and unique island, where soaring mountains and dramatic ravines alternate with gentle hills and fertile plains, where orchards and acres of millennial olive trees lead down to coastal towns and villages fringed by long sandy beaches, rocky coves, and towering cliffs above the majestic sea.
However, Crete’s spirit reflects not only the island’s striking landscapes but also its unique role in the Mediterranean from early ancient times to recent centuries. Crete is an island of immense cultural and historic importance with settlers recorded as early as 130 000 years ago, but it is most famous for its ‘more recent’ Bronze Age civilisation, the Minoans. Flourishing on the island for 2000 years, their economic power was as renowned as was their outstanding cultural finesse, evoked today by its impressive cities and colourful palaces with magnificent frescoes and intricate artefacts that were discovered in Knossos and other Cretan sites at the end of the 19th century.
In more recent history, first under the Roman, then the Byzantine Empire for 900 years, Crete formed part of the Venetian Republic from 1205–1669 until most of it fell to the Ottoman Empire and remained under its rule until 1897. Each power left their cultural imprints on the islands, from impressive amphitheatres and striking castles, interesting mosques and tall minarets, to beautiful Venetian harbours, all part of the fascinating cultural tapestry that makes Crete so unique and casts its own siren spell on all who visit the island.
However, we mustn’t forget another important ingredient of a holiday in Crete, the renowned hospitality of its people and their infectious love of life, their pride in folklore and old traditions and their willingness to share it all with visitors and have them participate in their celebrations, their food, and their joie de vivre.
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