AREA GUIDE TO CRETE - GREECE
Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, lies south of the Aegean Sea, a link between Asia, Africa and Europe. An extremely mountainous island, its coastline, which consists of both sandy beaches and rocky shores, is framed by the small islets of Kouphonisi, Chrissi, Dia, Aghioi Pantes, Spinalonga, and Gavdos, in the Libyan Sea, the southernmost point of Europe. Crete has over 520.000 inhabitants. Administratively, the island is divided into four Prefectures which from west to east are: the Prefecture of Hania, with Hania as the capital, the Prefecture of Rethymnon, with Rethymnon as the capital, the Prefecture of Iraklion, with Iraklion as the capital, and the Prefecture of Lassithi, with Agios Nikolaos as the capital. Its unique geographical position between the three continents has determined its historical course both throughout antiquity and in modern times. On Cretan soil were hatched and developed features of civilization that marked the history of mankind. At the same time the island paid a heavy price because of its strategic position and was repeatedly invaded and periodically conquered, which contributed to the destruction of the existing civilization, the lowering of living standards and the subsequent misery of the inhabitants. However, through successive restructuring new forms of social coexistence were forged, new intellectual values arose and new material and cultural creations appeared which left their indelible mark on Crete and the historical role of the Cretans. Back...
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