Greece Investment Immigration details Greece’s guide: Crete, referred to as Crete, is the largest island of Greece. It is located in the Mediterranean, south of the Aegean Sea. The area is 8,336 square kilometers. The population is approximately 600,000 (2008). Together with Gavdos Island and Dia Island, it forms an administrative district. The largest city is Heraklion, and the administrative center is in Chania. It is mountainous, with a narrow coastal plain in the north, where olive trees, grapes, citrus fruits, and other crops are cultivated. It is the origin of the ancient Aegean culture. By 2800 BC, it had entered the Bronze Age. By 2000 BC, a slave society was established centered around the city of Knossos on the island’s northern shore, with magnificent palaces and temples. Stone sculptures, gold, silver products, jewelry, and pottery flourished, and maritime trade was frequent. During the late period of the ancient palace, Knossos had probably unified the entire island. According to Greek mythology, there is a legend about King Minos of Crete, leading scholars to name the dynasty of Knossos as the Minoan Dynasty, and the culture of Crete is also known as Minoan Civilization. It was occupied by the Turks in 1669 and was assigned to Greece in 1913.
Crete is the ancient cultural center of Greece and a famous tourist destination in the Mediterranean. The island features mountains and deep valleys, offering breathtaking scenery, and its coastline is characterized by cliffs, rocky capes, and beaches. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild winds and sunny weather, with evergreen vegetation, and the island is planted with olives, grapes, citrus fruits, and blooming flowers everywhere. Surrounded by vast blue waves, it is known as the "Garden of the Sea".
Crete is the fifth largest island in the entire Mediterranean, stretching 260 kilometers from east to west and 50 kilometers from north to south, with three mountains exceeding 2,000 meters in height. King Minos not only constructed the labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur on the island, but the Minoan civilization on Crete also laid the foundations for Western civilization. Even when faced with the influences of mainland Greek civilization, Byzantium, Rome, and Ottoman Turkish civilization, the Minoan civilization on Crete remains an unforgettable chapter, with later powerful civilizations taking their roots from it and merging its spirit. Heraklion is the capital and main port of Crete, the fastest-paced city on the island, and a hub for transportation and information. Due to its central geographical location on the island and its rich museum collections, Heraklion has become the best base for exploring Crete.
Crete is located 130 kilometers south of mainland Greece in the Mediterranean, making it the largest island of Greece and an ancient cultural center. Surrounded by vast blue waves, the island is mountainous, characterized by evergreen plants, abundant fruits, and blooming flowers. The picturesque Crete is renowned as the "Garden of the Sea", a famous tourist destination in the Mediterranean region and the origin of ancient Aegean culture. In the early 20th century, a palace built at that time was excavated in Heraklion on the north coastal plain of the island, featuring a rectangular courtyard in the center, surrounded by the king’s palace and the queen’s chamber. The various buildings are connected by corridors, hallways, passageways, and stairs, with numerous doors and chambers, resembling the labyrinth from ancient Greek mythology.