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The place where Gods live

Many ancient myths are associated with Crete. According to one, Gaia (Mother Earth) emerged from Chaos and bore Uranus as she slept. Uranus (the sky) fathered several children, among them the seven Titans. The last of them, Kronos, married his sister Rhea.
It was prophesied by Mother Earth and Uranus that one of Kronos' sons would dethrone him. Kronos swallowed the children whole that Rhea bore each year, among them were Estia, Dimitra, Hera, Hades and Poseidon.

When Rhea bore Zeus, Mother Earth hid him in the Spileo Dicteon Andron on Lassithi Plateau of Crete. Kronos believed that he had swallowed Zeus, but, in fact, he had swallowed a stone given to him by Rhea to trick him and spare this son. Zeus was raised by the nymph Adrasteia, her sister Io, and the goat-nymph Amalthia. The Kuretes clashed their spears against their shields to conceal the noise of the wailing baby.

Zeus was nursed by the shepherds of the Nida Plateau in the Psiloritis (Idi) Mountains and lived in a cave, Spileo Ideon Andron on the Nida Plateau. He then approached Rhea and with her help made Kronos drink an emetic poison mixed with a honeyed drink Kronos vomited up the brothers and sisters of Zeus. Zeus led them in a war against the Titans, which they eventually won.

Cretan History starts at 6000 BC, when the island was first inhabited. The best known period is the Bronze Age (2600-1100 BC), the period of the Minoan Civilization. During that period Cretans colonized Cyclades Islands and in Crete the palaces of Knossos, Festos and Zakros were built.Under the cultural influence of the various nations Cretans came in contact with, gave birth to this civilization that we still admire and which is considered to be the first high-level civilization in Europe.

 

A place for a lifetime

Crete is 260 km long and 60 km at its widest point. The north coast is the main tourist area and all big cities are located there:
Iraklion: 200,000 citizens
Hania: 70,000
Rethymno: 30,000
Agios Nikolaos and Sitia are much smaller with populations under 15,000 citizens.

In the South the bigger towns are Ierapetra, Tymbaki and Moires.


The island of Crete attracts many tourists, who choose to spend their holidays here, to live permanently or even retire on the island.
Compared to other destinations, Crete offers several advantages, including:

1. A genuine, friendly and hospitable population that is determined to resist the negative trends of the 21st century.

2. A fascinating ancient and modern history.

3. An exceptional, easily accessible natural landscape combined with modern facilities and cultural agenda.

4. A low population density (only 600.000 inhabitants on 8.300 sq.klm) with a high standard of living, a university, private and public hospitals, sport activities, etc.

5. A sense of security based on a very low crime rate compared to the rest of Greece and a significantly lower rate than other European countries.
There are few places in the world that can compete with a unique natural landscape combined with the uncluttered grace of the architecture to intoxicate the senses against the backdrop of the most historic island in the Mediterranean.

 

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