Crete’s isolated coves, eternal sunshine, beautiful landscapes and fascinating Roman and Turkish aqueducts have made it one of Greece’s most prized assets. The largest of the Greek Islands offers an extraordinary amount of diversity, from ancient Minoan palaces, Venetian fortresses and Byzantine monasteries to rugged mountains, vast gorges and metropolitan cities. With mountain villages where locals wear traditional dress, agricultural settlements undiscovered by tourists and Europe’s only palm-tree forest beach on its east coast, Crete has its own unique identity. As the sun sets over the island, the legendary birthplace of Zeus, enjoy fine Cretan cuisine while gazing out over the Mediterranean Sea.
Corfu, where Odysseus is said to have sought refuge after being shipwrecked, offers idyllic beaches and turquoise waters, with villages nestled in the hills and mountains framing the views. It has an eclectic cultural heritage, and showcases its Venetian, French and British influences. Like Crete, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Corfu Town has striking Venetian fortresses, as well as an impressive palace and grand mansions and squares, alongside labyrinthine lanes to stroll down.
