Acquaintance with the unknown – Crete
Crete is the southernmost point of Europe, located in the middle-generation of the three continents of our planet. From here to mainland Greece and Europe – 1000 km, to Asia 175 km and 380 km to Africa. Length of the island 250 km, width from 13 to 58 km, area of more than 8000 km2. Large cities and ports – Heraklion, Retimkion, Chania, Ayos Nikolaos. The highest point, Mount Ida rises at sea level at 2456 m. In the mountains of the island more than 3000 caves, famous for their stalactites. The picturesque combination of mountains and flat sites is the main characteristic of Crete.
The subtropical climate of Crete is considered the most softer and healthy in Europe. The best in the world considered the local climate of the famous Savary traveler. Hippocrates prescribed air Crete for healing from many diseases. The average air temperature from May to October from 20 to 26c, in winter 13-18C. The water temperature does not fall below 16C. On Crete at least 300 sunny days a year.
Local landscape will like to lovers of wildlife. Many local plants are no longer found anywhere in the world. For example, in Lasifi Wai, a small seaside valley, rare Cretan palm trees grow. Aristotle wrote that wild animals in Crete, having received injuries, ate healing leaves, capable of allegedly even push the arrows with which hunters wounded. Some places of Crete sea turtles are found. Island is especially good in spring when almond flowers.
Crete is famous for its grapes, fruits and wines, especially the controlled names of the island of Crete. Local cuisine is traditionally rich in fish and other seafood dishes. Proud of Criton are their cheeses, especially elite "Gravra" and unique "Antotiro".
Extremely developed tourist industry. The number of hotels is so great that just to visit them, you need months. Every year on the island from 500 thousand. residents arrive more than 2 million. tourists. Crete provides a worthy rest to people with various financial capabilities – from "New Russians", Ordering for hire "Mercedes" The last brand, to the traditionally nimble British. Kind "Highlight" In Crete are 2-3-room "Suites" In 5-star hotels, equipped in the bungalows, separately on the sea shore, in which each amenities have separate swimming pools with flowing sea water. Much attention is paid to the interior and appearance of hotels. For example, "Kreta Marisa" This is a unique combination of Aegean architecture and modern amenities. The hotel almost exactly reproduces, even in the trifles, a typical village of the Aegean Islands. Here even the dashest stone floors are handled manually. Under the shadow of plane fees in one of the numerous coffee shops of the island, you can admire the old folk dances of Crete – "Susta" and "Pedos Lie".
Crete and mythology
In captivity in Crete there was a master of Dedal and his son Icar. To run from the island, Dedal made from wax and feather wings and son. Having disappointing father, Ikar rose to the sun, wax on the wings melted and the young man died, falling from a large height in the sea, becoming a symbol of achieving a flame dream of even the price of life. On Crete, the Palace of the Labyrinth, the creation of the grandfather, with many rooms and corridors, so confusing that his name became the name of the nominal. With a labyrinth, they identify the Palace in Knossos, discovered by the English archaeologist Arthur Evans.
Expression "Traveling thread" come from Crete. When the hero of theses went to the labyrinth to kill the monster of the Minotaur and release the beautiful Ariadna, she gave the teesa of the tangle of threads, with the help of which the hero found the way back from the labyrinth.
Crete, revenge the world, the notorious horn of abundance. When the Supreme God of Zeus was born in Crete, hidden here from his father, having fascinated his children, he won the goat Amaltia. When the goat broke his rogue, Zeus blessed him, taking into his hands. Since then the horn was filled with everything that his owner wishes. So the horn of abundance appeared. To suggest such a legend could only the generosity of the fertile land of Crete. On the northern slope of the Dicta Mountain, at an altitude of 1025 m, half an hour walk from the village of Psychros, there is a grotto where there was a legend, the cradle of Zeus. Grotto decorate stalactites and stalagmites, reflected in the waters of the cave lake. The most majestic stalactitis (12m height) per sizes "Covered Zeus".
Crete – Cradle 2 Ancient Civilizations: Minoan, one of the most amazing in history, and declining after the eruption of the volcano in 1450 g. to N.NS. On the island of Santorin (considered atlantis) Crito-Miktenskaya. Mina Civilization existed for more than 25 centuries, between XXVII and XIII in.v. to N.NS. For comparison: the whole story of Rome is concluded in the 12th centuries, and Byzantine in 11. The Mina period includes ruins of palaces in Knosse, Fest, Mallia, and others. After 1200 g. to N.NS. Aegean tribes replace Hellen. The first priests of the famous oracle in the delta were natives of Crete, which speaks of their influence. In 67 g. to N.NS. Roman Empire captures Crete. Later, the island visits the Apostle Paul, leaving his assistant Tito, the founder of the Church in Crete. Crete was one of the first regions that took Christ’s teachings. In 395-823 and 961-1204 g.G. Crete under the auspices of Byzantium, and in the interval between these periods of the hosts here Arabs. In 1204 g. Crete won knights.John Jerusalem and sold the Venice Republic. From 1715. Island as part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1898, soon after the Navarino battle, the administrative autonomy under the auspices of the Allied Power, England, France and Russia was greeted by Greece from Turkish. In Rethymnon there is a Palace of Metropolitan – Dar of Russia. From the end of the XXV, the Russian Church of St.Varvara, who felt in the Russian army as a patronage of artillery and putting a patronage of Rethymnon. Since 1913. Crete is part of Greece. In 1941-44. was occupied by fascist Germany. Now only graves, and among them the brotherly grave of Soviet prisoners of war in Chania, remind this bloody page in the history of Crete.
Archaeological Museum G. Heraklion introduces mysterious monuments of the art of the Minoan era (2800-1150. to N.NS.) found in the Palace and DR. Mesal. The fans of Byzantine art will find in Crete Monasteries and the temples of this period, representing the famous Cretan School of Wall painting, which has spread their influence on all Greece and is one of the excellent manifestations of mature art of Byzantium. Domenico Teotokopuli was born in Crete (1541-1614), the artist known as El Greco
