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Crete was the centre of Europe's most ancient civilization; the Minoan. Early Cretan history is replete with legends such as those of King Minos, Theseus, Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus passed on orally via poets such as Homer. Crete was involved in the Mithridatic Wars, initially repelling an attack by Roman general Marcus Antonius Creticus in 71 BC. Nevertheless, a ferocious three-year campaign soon followed under Quintus Caecilius Metellus, equipped with three legions and Crete was finally conquered by Rome in 69 BC, earning for Metellus the title "Creticus". Gortyn was made capital of the island, and Crete became a Roman province, along with Cyrenaica.

Crete was part of the Byzantine empire, but then was captured by Iberian Muslims led by Abu Hafs[4] who established a piratical emirate on the island. In 960 Nicephorus Phocas reconquered the island, which remained under Byzantine control until 1204, when it fell into the hands of the Venetians at the time of the Fourth Crusade. During Venice's rule, which lasted more than four centuries, a Renaissance swept through the island as is evident from the plethora of artistic works dating to that period. The most notable representatives of this Cretan renaissance were the painter El Greco and the writers Nicholas Kalliakis (1645–1707) and Vitsentzos Kornaros.

Under the rule of Christian Venetians, the city of Candia (Heraklion) was reputed to be the best fortified city of the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1574–77, Crete was under the rule of Giacomo Foscarini as Proveditor General, Sindace and Inquistor. According to Starr (1942), the rule of Giacomo Foscarini was the dark age for Jews and Greeks. Under his rule, non-Catholics had to pay high taxes with no allowances. This practice ended when the Ottomans conquered Crete in 1669, after a 21-year siege of the capital, Candia.

During Ottoman rule, many churches and monasteries were converted to mosques. However, freedoms and rights were still provided. Church attendance was permitted. Still, many Christians converted to Islam. According to Molly Greene (2001) there were numerous records of real-estate transactions during the Ottoman rule. In the deserted city, minorities received equal rights in purchasing property. Christians and Jews were also able to buy and sell in the real-estate market.

Muslim presence on the island started with the Arab occupation but was cemented by the Ottoman conquest. Most Cretan Muslims were local Greek converts who spoke Cretan Greek, but in the island's 19th century political context they came to be viewed by the Christian population as Turks. Contemporary estimates vary, but on the eve of the Greek War of Independence, as much as 45% of the population of the island may have been Muslim. Many amongst them were crypto-Christians who converted back to Christianity in subsequent years, while many others fled Crete because of the unrest, settling in Turkey, Rhodes, Syria and elsewhere. By 1900, 11% of the population was Muslim. Those remaining were forced to leave in 1924 in the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey.

Crete was left out of the modern Greek state by the London Protocol of 1830, and soon it was yielded to Egypt by the Ottoman sultan. Egyptian rule was short-lived and sovereignty was returned to the Ottoman Empire by the Convention of London on July 3, 1840.

Between 1833 and 1897, several more Christian uprisings took place, and in 1898, Crete, a complex autonomous Cretan State under Ottoman suzerainty, was nevertheless garrisoned by an international military force, with a High Commissioner (Armostis), chosen by Greece. Finally, Crete was joined with Greece on 1 December 1913.

During World War II, the island was the scene of the famous Battle of Crete where, in May 1941, German paratroopers sustained almost 7,000 casualties, meeting fierce resistance from both locals and the British Commonwealth force, commanded by General Sir Bernard Freyberg. As a result, Adolf Hitler forbade further large scale airborne operations.

Source: Wikipedia

Crete (or Creta or Kreta) is a mountainous island, the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, lies south in Greece separating the Aegean from Libyan Sea, the southest part of Europe, a link between three continents Asia, Africa and Europe.

Crete has four major parts (prefectures). These are from the the west to the east Chania, Rethimnon, Iraklion and Lassithi.

The biggest cities in Crete are Chania, Rethymno, Iraklio and Agios Nikolaos on the North part of the island and Ierapetra to the south part facing the Libyan sea.

Heraklion or Iraklion is the largest city and capital of Crete. It is also the fourth largest city in Greece. Its name is also spelled Herakleion.

Heraklion is the capital of Heraklion Prefecture, with an international airport named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. The ruins of Knossos, which were excavated and restored by Arthur Evans, are nearby.

The present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens who had been expelled from Al-Andalus by Emir Al-Hakam I and had taken over the island from the Byzantine Empire.

The University of Crete (UOC) is the principal higher education institution on the island of Crete. It is a multi-disciplinary, research- oriented institution, located in the cities of Rethymnon and Heraklion. It is a University with a well-known reputation both nationally and internationally for its state-of-the art curricula and graduate programmes. In addition, the University has developed considerable research activity and has undertaken innovative initiatives that reflect its dynamic. The University was established in 1973 and started functioning in the academic year 1977-78.

At Heraklion, the School of Sciences and Engineering includes the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Materials Science and Technology, and Physics, while the School of Health Sciences includes the faculty of Medicine. The Natural History Museum of Crete, established in 1981 at Heraklion, is also part of the University of Crete.

The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1983 and received its first students in 1984. Since 1989, it has been operating at its new campus, located about 7 km from Heraklion. It represents one of the newest medical and research complexes in Greece.

The campus includes a spacious and functional 24,000 square meter, ten-wing building and a modern, well-equipped 62,000 square meter University Hospital. During the twenty five years of its existence, it has established multiple activities in education, research, and health care and has collaborated with scientific and social sectors in Greece and abroad.

The Faculty consists of ten Departments: Basic Sciences, Morphology, Laboratory Medicine, Radiology, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Mother and Child Health, Neurology and Sensory Organs, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Social Medicine. The teaching staff includes more than 130 faculty members. In addition, the permanent staff includes administrative staff and specialized technical personnel.

The undergraduate programme of studies lasts for six years. Balanced emphasis is given to Basic Sciences (semesters 1-4), Laboratory Medicine (semesters 4-7), Pre-clinical Training (semesters 6-8) and Clinical training (semesters 9-12). The Faculty of Medicine also offers several postgraduate programmes leading to a Master’s or doctoral degree.

The Venetian Castle of Heraklion is called Koules, which means “fortress” in Turkish. It is an impressive fortress that surrounds the harbor of Heraklion, Crete. The Koules Castle is a massive fortress with two storeys that used to guard the entry to the port. The Castle was constructed by the Venetians in the early 13th century, when they conquered the town. The earliest description of the Koules Venetian Castle exists in the work of the Florentine monk Cristoforo Buondelmonti in 1429.

 

This church stands on a square of the same name in Heraklion Town and is dedicated to Saint Titus, patron of the island. It is a beautiful monument that blends elements of Western and Eastern architecture and, and that was first built in during the Byzantine period. The Venetians used it as a Catholic Cathedral.

The Turks transformed it into a mosque, altering one more time the church’s architecture. The strong earthquakes destroyed it in 1856. Locals rebuilt it on its old foundations in 1872 but turning it into a Greek Orthodox church.The holy relics of Saint Titus are housed here.

The Minoan Palace at Knossos is over 20,000 square meters - and the largest of all Minoan palatial structures. It was built of ashlar blocks, had many floors and was decorated with really beautiful frescoes. The old palace was built around 2000 B.C but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1700 B.C. The newer, more complex palace, was built almost immediately after the first one was destroyed. In the middle of the 15th Century B.C, the Achaeans took over the island of Crete and settled in the palace. The palace was once again destroyed by fire in the middle of the 14th Century B.C and henceforth ceased to function as a palatial centre.

Legend has it that this palace was the source of the Labyrinth myth. It was a structure that was made by King Minos of Crete, to keep the mythical creature Minotaur – who was half bull and half man – away. Eventually the creature was killed by Theseus.

The Palace of Phaistos is located on the east end of the Kastri Hill, the end of the Mesara plain in South Central Crete. It is considered to be one of the finest of all Minoan palaces. The preserves of the old and new palace can be seen until nowadays. Excavations in the area began in 1884 and were carried out by F. Halbherr and A. Taramelli. After the declaration of the Cretan State as independent in 1898, continued by F. Halbherr and L. Pernier between in 1900- 1904.

Later the excavations were carried out by Doro Levi between 1950 and 1971 with the help of the Italian Archaeological School of Athens. Other findings of the area include thousands of seal impressions and some tablets containing the Linear A script.

The museum of Heraklion is located in the capital of Crete, Heraklion and is one of the most important and richest museums in Greece. In its 20 rooms, the museum houses finds that have been excavated exclusively in Crete, and related to its prestigious past, from Neolithic to Roman times, through the important and prosperous Minoan period.

Visitors may admire sculptures, clay figurines, superb jewels and astonishing frescoes and remains from the various Minoan palaces of Crete (especially from the palace at Knossos). Telephone: 2810 226092/224630/226470

Privately created and maintained by John McLaren and his staff, the stunning Aquaworld at Hersonisos operates since 1995. It was created by an aquarium hobbyist who loved the animals, so he decided to make a place to host them. In the Aquarium of Hersonisos, you can find many species of reptiles, fish and other marines.

From turtles, snakes, fish, marines and many reptiles that are found in the countryside and the sea of Crete, the collection is great. The Aquaworld of Hersonisos not only collects animal and sea species but also takes in injured animals which need home.

The Natural History Museum of Crete is located near the port of Heraklion, at Sofokli Venizelou street, and it is dedicated to present the natural environment of Crete and Mediterranean in general. Operating under the framework of the University of Crete, this museum was established in 1980 and has five departments: Zoological, Botanical, Anthropological, Paleontological-Geological and Mineralogical.

Hersonisos is the best equipped touristy resort of the prefecture of Heraklion. It is located 27 kilometres east of the capital of Crete and has a population of about 4100 inhabitants. Accommodations of all categories, restaurants, shops of all kinds, popular art shops, bars and night clubs are filling the resort while their number grows every year.

The little village of Hersonissos is located nearby this lively and busy touristy resort and seems to be indifferent to the crowd and bustle of the port, keeping its simplicity and authenticity. Ruins from the Roman period can be seen in the surrounding area as well as some port remains which are visible under the sea.

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