A son of Crete, El Greco was most likely born in Fodele, in the house that currently hosts the Museum of El Greco: “The place where I was born is surrounded by orange trees, springs of drinking water, and a Byzantine church,” said the artist in a letter in 1606. It is the very description of
Suppose you want to visit Crete in spring. Although the weather is still chilly, so come prepared for rainy, windy days. Finding a direct flight to Crete may be difficult before the official tourist season kicks in, but you can catch a ferry from Athens. In spring, you can experience the island like the
The first Christmas trees appeared sometime in 16th-century Germany, decorated with fruit and sweets for children to pick on Christmas Day. But the whole bring-a-tree-inside-your-home trend started in the USA sometime in the 1850s, and personalities like Thomas Edison – who sold the first Christmas
Although in Minoan times and Antiquity, Dia Island was the main port of Crete, today, the island no longer serves its navigational purposes. Instead, it is a protected nature reserve, part of the Natura 2000 ecological network. Dia Island: Natura 2000 Protected Site The island has a typical Mediterranean
October is the so-called “shoulder season” to visit Crete. The first half of the month will be sunny, with temperature averages around 24°C (75.2°F) and water still warm enough to swim, especially if you wear a full-length wetsuit. You can expect slightly lower temperatures, wind, and some
Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and the island’s capital. It is vibrant and lively in the summer months during the tourist season and seems like it never sleeps. Especially the tavernas and cafes in the historic city centre stay up until dawn, welcoming tourists with authentic Cretan fare,
August 15 is one of the most significant Greek Orthodox celebrations of the year: the Dormition of the Mother of God, known as the Assumption of Mary in Western Christianity. It is so important that in some parts of Greece, it is referred to as the “summer Easter” sometimes. Although
Fodele’s golden beach stretches on both sides of the river mouth of Pantomantris (Fodelianos) in the Fodele Bay, northern Crete. The western part of the beach belongs to Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort, while the east side is public. The entire beach is primarily sandy, with a few
When is Easter in Crete in 2022? Suppose you plan to experience the Greek Orthodox Easter in Crete in 2022. In that case, you should arrive early enough to observe the celebrations held on Good Friday – April 22 – and all the traditions culminating on Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Pascha)
Spring is the perfect season for hiking in Crete because the weather is mild, and trekking the mountains and canyons is more pleasant than in the summer when the scorching sun makes hikes challenging. The best spring months for hiking in Crete are April and May. While the first half of April may still
