HERAKLION......

       THE BEATING HEART OF CRETE

 

The first chair in the world at Knossos, the throne of Minos.

In size and in people this is the biggest prefecture of Crete. It covers a little less than 30 % of the island and with the latest population census there are around 190.000 people living in the County. We are in Heraklion the name of the Precture and the Capital from Crete. 160.000 Inhabbitants live in this town or closeby in the suburbs.

Heraklion felt also the destruction of the 2nd World War, only the restauration was never brought in progress. In the latest decennia the Town has improved its" face" very much and because the Town was in the Olympic Program for 2004 many of the improvements where made for the traffic system. If you like a dynamic town and you dont care about pictureresque scenery, than  Heraklion could be the place where you feel yourself at home.

   One of the few old buildings in Heraklion is the fortress in front of the old fishermens harbor.

Most of the Tourist arrive on the airport just outside of the Town. Since 1995 the airport of Nikos Kazantsakis was renewed and today during the high summer season  arrivals with 10.000-15.000 people per day seem to be no problem.

Most of the tourist go only 18 Km. away from the airport to find their hotel in the area fo Chersonissos and Malia. It is mainly younger people that choose the night life center from Crete and surely if you like that and you can make a party , be there.... it is the place to be.

Also close to Heraklion, but west is the small village of Agia Pelagia where Crete's most Luxurious Hotel can be found.

Heraklion is also the place to visit the most interesting musea on Crete. First of all naturally the Archaeological Museum for the Minoan History. It's the second best of Greece. Than The Historical Museum with paintings from El Greco and others. There is the War Museum and the Nature Museum which is a new but worth a visit. Outside, near Gouves is the new Aquaworld museum, giving a good impression of the Mediterranean Marine life.

                                                                 

The Excavation from Knossos you can find about 4 Km south of the town, so if are coming down from the National Road you dont need to come in the busy center.  CRETE' S HISTORY

Archanes 7 Km south from Knossos was chosen by the European Comittee second best and original village in this continent.   I highly recommend to visit the village and to see all the efforts for the restoration. All the streets, houses etc. returned in their old style. Take a view on the highest mountain here, they believe it is the God Zeus resting on its back and yes it realy looks like that there is a men sleeping behind the villages created by his son Minos. The Village has also a very small but very interesting Archaeological Museum with the foundings of the archaeological palast of Phourni.

In Vathipetro you'll find the oldest Wine-mill-press and you may not know this, but the Cretans are highly convinced that they where the inventors of "The Drink for The Gods"  The mill is said to be founded about 1800 years B.C. Heraklion prefecture is the most important production area for the wines from Crete. In Archanes, Dafnes and Peza you can find the big farmers Co-operations that produce wine of high quality.

                                                              

The south of the prefecture has many places of interest. There's Gortina, Phaestos, Agia Triada for the Archaeological fans, there is a very good Folk Art museum in Vori. There's is good market in Mires on Saturday and there is the famous beach of Matala. If you'r looking for accommodation in the south away from the mass tourism my suggestions are Lendas, Komos and Kalamaki and if you want the rural villages choose Sivas, Pitsidia or Kamilari which are also not far from the beaches of Matala and Komos. Pick up your guide book for the additional information or send me your mail.

The south of Heraklion, the Messara, is covered with greenhouses growing all sorts of fruits and vegetables under thin plastic foil or plates. What a pity that the Cretans forget to dispose the houses that were destroyed by a strong winds. Plastic and wood lies now everywhere around for no reason or yes there's 1, they make Crete look like a rubbish place.