Valentine's Day  Happy Valentine's Day(2008)
From 101lifeStyle.com Valentine's Day Romantic Destinations: Valentine's Day Romantic Beach Escapes:  6.Crete - Greece: Crete is one of the thirteen peripheries of Greece. It is also the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. Crete is a location of significant ancient history. its attractions include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos, the classical site of Gortys, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, and the Samaria Gorge, as well as many other natural sites, monuments, and beaches. Things To Do / See:  A.Visit The Famous Beaches Of Crete:
The island has some beautiful beaches to offer. Those who like trendy crowds can visit Vai or Elounda, and those who love youthful crowds and night life can spend some time around Hersonnisos. The lagoon of Elounda is shaped between the coast and a small peninsula of 7-8 km length, that serves as a breakwater. visits to the nearby historic Spinalonga island. A favourite of many is Erimoupoli, with the beach at Kouremenos coming in a close second. Other nice beaches we visited included Chiona, Sitia, Xerokampos, and Diasari (near Makrygialos). You can also check the waters of Makrygialos, Myrtos or Agia Galini. Matala is an interesting beach because of the history and the dramatic cave tombs that tower above it. Another very popular beach is the vast sandy beach on the west coast called Falassarna. The beach at Elafonisi and the beach at Preveli are also worth a visit. Elafonissi is a small islet on the southwest of Crete. It is connected to the beach with a shallow reef (max. depth 1 meter) that allows crossing when the sea is calm. There are only a couple of cantinas on the beach and plenty of places for camping. Ierapetra is build on the longest beach in Crete, offering an endless choise of golden beaches with deep crystal blue waters, far away from industrial areas and ships passing by!.
 B.Visit The Archaeological Sites:
The rich history of Crete has left the island strewn with hundreds of archaeological sites, large and small. A visit to Crete would not be complete without a visit to the Heraklion Museum, a visit to Knossos and one to Phaistos. For those who want to form a complete picture of Minoan Crete, a visit to the palace of Malia is a short drive from Heraklion. The palace of Kato Zakros would be more of a challenge to visit as it is located on the east coast of the island. Other important archaeological sites of the island include the Minoan towns of Palekastro and Gournia, and a host of smaller settlements like Pseira The most important Classical and Hellenistic sites are the ruins at Gortyn which became the Roman capital of the island, and Lato near Agios Nikolaos. Visit all four known palaces of Crete (Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and Zakros), and two major towns (Palekastro, and Gournia). These tours along with the exhibits of the Heraklion and Sitia museums will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the Minoan Civilization, and its influence on the development of ancient Greece. Venetian Sights, Turkish Sights, Byzantine sights, Ancient Greek sights and Roman Sights complete the history of Crete.  C.Visit Samaria Gorge:
: One of the National Parks of Greece and the only one in Crete, It starts at an altitude of 1227 m. at Xyloskalo near the village of Omalos (70 Km. from Chania) and ends after an 18 km walk to the beach at the village of Agia Roumeli on the south coast of Crete. The best way to reach Omalos is by public bus, or join an organised group. You can also reach Omalos by private car, but that means that once you reach the beach at Agia Roumeli, you have to climb back to the top to pick up the car (... not recommended). The Gorge is open to visitors from May to October. Walking through the gorge is an experience that a visitor should enjoy. People have been known to walk through it in 3-4 hours but a more sedate pace would allow the visitor time to enjoy it more. Usually people start their walk at 7-8 in the morning and come out to the beach at about 6 in the afternoon. Staying overnight in the gorge is not permitted. Omalos is one of the last shelters of the mountain goat of Crete (kri-kri). The flora is extensive ranging from high cypress trees to flowers and herbs.The river flows to small lakes and waterfalls. SAMARIA VILLAGE Halfway through the park lies the village of Samaria that was abandoned when the Gorge became a Park. The authorities have restored the buildings, which are now uninhabitted, and a shady place with benches and tables is provided for the visitors' rest.  D.Visit Important Monasteries:
The monastery of Arkadi lies on a low plateau, 23 kilometres from the town of Rethymno. Built during the last Venetian period, it consists of a large set of fortress-like buildings. The history of the monastery goes back to Byzantine times, when a monk, possibly named Arkadios, founded the monastery which in turn was named after him. Already in the 16th century the monastery played an important role in the cultural life of Crete. The monastery of Preveli It stands 37 km south of Rethymnon, in an imposing landscape. A number of its monks activities made the monastery one of the richest of western Crete and due to its isolated position it played important role in Cretan revolts against the occupying forces. There are many valuable relics kept in the monastery museum.  E.Visit Fragokastello:
On the south coast of Crete, on a magnificent white sandy beach, stands one of the most beautiful Venetian fortresses, Fragokastello, built in 1371. It is located approximately 170 km from Iraklion, 70 km from Rethimnon, and 70 Km from Hania. Today, Fragokastello is a small, but developing, community, with nice beaches covered in sand dunes, and limited, but increasing, tourist facilities. Fragokastello, is an ideal base of operations for visitors who want to explore the south west coast of Crete, or the impressive White Mountains. From Fragokastello passes the European hiking footpath (E4). The footpath comes to Fragokastello through the gorge of Imbros and crosses the gorge of Kalikratis through Fragokastello and the village of Patsianos.  F.Beach Activities / Sports:
Recently, the Greek authorities have made almost all their seas free for scuba divers (Only not near Military sites and such places). The best seas are at the south coast of Crete. There are no fishermens villages and the ocean goes until Africa. The Mediterranean is not famous for lots of fish or sharks etc, but its clearness is superb. They offer 20-30 meters of visabilty and there are lots of hidden bays with small Marine life.  G.The village of Fodele:
Located 28 km west of Iraklion and has 500 permanent residents. It is the birthplace of Domenikos Theotokopoulos - great painter famous as "EL GRECO". The village is built among orange trees and plane-trees, forms a real oasis for the visitor, during the hot summer days. The visitor can also enjoy the Cretan specialties at the taverns of the village, buy souvenirs of the Cretan weaving art from the small stores and, for the nature lovers, take a walk to the monastery of Agios Pantelehimon, an old one which played an important role to the history of the place.  H.Visit Sitia:
Sitia is a small and pleasant coastal town, built in a semicircle on the western side of the Bay of Sitia, a typical, peaceful Mediterranean port. It is the capital of the county with the same name and is sited 73 km east of Agios Nikolaos. Visitors in Sitia particularly enjoy the climate and the wonderful beaches. The highest temperature in the summer is approx. 30 C. and the lowest in winter is 7 C. You can see the Venetian fortress "Kazarma" which overlooks Sitia and plays host to several concerts and other performance events, especially during the July and August arts festival of Kornaria (concerts, theatre, events, readings and more). Sitia is very relaxing to walk in, and one walk might include the Archaeological Museum, which displays finds from the most significant minoan Palace of Zakros and several other local sites.  I.Visit Mountain Villages:
If you have ample time at hand you can visit mountain villages like Agriropouli. It is in Rethymno province, a 30 to 40 minute bus journey from the town, and buses run regularly in summer. It is in a very lovely setting, with a wonderful view over mountains and out towards the coast. The village makes a perfect base for walks, and for exploring other more remote villages, and their little churches. Two rivers flow on either side of the village, creating waterfalls that run down the beautiful wooded hillside. You'll find many good tavernas in the waterfall valley, most making use of a water feature to attract customers. The village is built over the ancient city of Lappa. There are some classical ruins to be found in the village itself, including a fine Roman mosaic floor. Also of interest in the area: take a stone path to the tiny Church of the Five Virgins; see a nearby plane tree said to be about 2000 years old; visit rock tombs in the area. In the upper part of the village you'll find many excellent 'rooms' places, a simple cafe serving very high quality food, and a shop offering local herbal products for sale. There is a also a well stocked supermarket and another little general store.  J.Windmills On Lassithi Plateau:
It is the most significant group of windmills preserved on Crete. It occupies the northern entrance to the Lasithi plateau and is the landmark of the whole area. Today 24 windmills are preserved (out of the original 26), 7 of which extend to the south of the road that enters the plateau while the rest are built to the north of it. All the mills belong to the one-sided type of windmill, that grinds in a standard position, always on the same direction of the wind. Windmills of this type are preserved on Crete and on Carpathos but the Cretan ones are generally more carefully built and more elegant. The group of windmills has been declared a work of art since 1986. The mills belong to individuals and some of them have been restored while others still remain half-ruined.  K.Akrotiri Peninsula:
Akrotiri lies 10 km north-east from the Venetian harbour of Chania. Here are the tombs of Eleftherios and Sofoklis Venizelos, the airport of Chania and the port of Souda. Akrotiri is a place for nature lovers, with interesting walking and hiking paths through the unspoilt gorges with amazing diversity, natural beauty and living traditions. With picturesque sandy beaches, all awarded with the Blue Flag, century-old monasteries and churches, impressive caves with rich lithological and archaeological interest (In one of them was filmed "ZORBA THE GREEK"), historical monuments, Akrotiri attracts many visitors every year, who enjoy Cretan hospitality and nature at their best.  L.Wine Tours:
Twenty percent (20%) of the Greek wine production comes from Crete. Seventy percent (70%) of the wine production of Crete comes from the Peza area in Heraklion prefecture (district). There are three more main wine-producing areas in Crete: Arhanes and Dafnes in Heraklion prefecture and Sitia in Lassithi prefecture. Smaller quantities of wine is also produced in Chania prefecture. Tourists in Crete have the option to visit the exhibition halls of three wineries in the Peza area. You may visit these halls on your own or join an organized tour to the area. Usually these tours are offered under the name "Unknown Crete" and they include also a visit to Thrapsano village, famous for its clay pottery, and the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum in Mirtia village. The wineries you may visit are the:
- Fantaxometoho (Boutaris Winery)
- Minos Wines (Milliarakis Winery)
- Peza Union Winery  M.Visit Lakes Of Crete:
Limni Kourna (Kournas Lake) is one of two freshwater lakes in Crete, in the prefecture of Chania. It has an area of 160,000 square metres, which varies seasonally. Sheltered by surrounding hills, the lake has an idyllic setting that contains interesting flora and fauna.
The other is Limni Agias (Agia Lake) in Kydonia, also a wild life refuge, where many birds nest and wildflowers abound in spring. Agia Lake is in the middle of the fertile plain of Kydonia near the village of Agia.  N.Discover The Major Cities Of Crete:
All the major cities of Crete are on the north side of the island beside the sea. From west to east they are: Chania with a population of around 50,000; Rethimnon with about 23,000 people, Iraklion with 115,000; Agios Nikolaos with 8,000 people and Sitia with 7,000 people. The total population of the island is more than 500,000.  O.Island Cruises:
There are several small islands very close to Crete: Gavdos island is the southest border of Europe and it is populated. The islands of Hrissi or Gaidouronissi, Koufonisia, Dia, Paximadia, Gramvoussa are much smaller and not populated. Most of them are popular destinations for one-day cruises from Crete. The Cyclades island of Santorini or Thira is close to Crete also and there are daily cruises to it too.  P.Romantic Dinner / Lunch:
A Cretan specialty is Stifado Salingariko - snail stew, and Chirino Kritiko - pork chops. One of the many local cheeses is Myzithra and Anthotiro ,you must try also the Graviera Kritis (Cretan Gruyere). The Cretan olive oil is one of the best in Greece .Other traditional products of Crtete is the Cretan Paximadia (Crisps). Apart from the many Greek taverns all over the island, you'll also find many international restaurants in the bigger summer resorts and the cities. How To Get To Crete, Greece:  By Air:
There are five airports in Crete but only three of them are used for passenger flights: the Heraklion airport, the Akrotiri airport close to Chania and the Sitia airport. Heraklion and Chania are international airports, Sitia airport is currently receiving domestic flights only (charter flights are expected to start in the future). The airports of Kastelli and Timbaki are military airports. You can either get a plane from home or go via Athens.
 By Ferry:
In Crete there are two main harbours: the Heraklion harbour and the Souda Bay harbour. The harbours in Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia are much smaller. Along the south coast there are various fishing ports. There are many ferryboats departing from Piraeus daily , the Cretan Greek ferry companies MINOAN , ANEK and others have brand new huge super fast ferries that make the trip to Crete in 6-7 hours Crete is also connected by ferryboats to almost all Greek islands as well as by plane to islands with airports. Getting Around: Car rentals are available whenever you need them. You can rent a car anywhere in Crete, including: Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Sitia, Ierapetra, Hersonissos, Malia, Stalida - all ports and airports. Buses also ply regularly from Bus station A and Bus station B. Check the schedules for detail. Ferries, luxury vessels, boat trips are also available. Domestic flights and charter flights are available which connect Crete to the other areas of Greece. Crete, Greece Hotels:  A.Minoa Palace Resort, Chania, Crete: Dining is a pleasure at Minoa Palace. Head to The Olive Tree for delicious breakfast and dinner buffets. The stylish à la carte restaurant Ta Nissia serves Greek and international cuisine and hosts regular theme nights. Relax and enjoy the sunset from one of the open-air jacuzzis, or head to the sauna/hammam and jacuzzi suite. There is a fitness centre, beauty salon and hair-dressing salon, as well as a jewelry boutique. Minoa Palace Resort Hotel is located in Platanias Village, a picturesque suburb of Chania. Just 150m from a long sandy beach, this idyllic resort occupies six acres of beautiful Mediterranean landscape, and enjoys unique views of the White Mountains and the Cretan Sea. The magical setting of the Minoa Palace Resort means that couples can enjoy the dreamy white beaches at Platanias, or just relax around the pools or in the heavenly gardens. Crete is blessed with endless sightseeing and nightlife options, making it an unforgettably romantic destination.
B.Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete:Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites is a family-owned luxury boutique hotel in the exclusive cosmopolitan region of Elounda, on the idyllic island of Crete. The Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites are a great choice for couples looking for a romantic holiday. The hotel offers a range of romantic packages:
Honeymoon Package - includes transfer to and from the airport, private check-in and check-out in your suite/villa, decorated wedding bed, champagne, fresh fruit and flowers on arrival. The offer also includes a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, and a candlelit dinner for two served at the restaurant or by the private pool.
Anniversaries can be celebrated with a sumptuous breakfast overlooking the sea and a three-course candlelit dinner cooked by the personal chef.
The Romantic Escape Package - includes a welcome cocktail in the Lounge Bar on arrival; fruit, flowers and bottle of wine in your suite/villa; and a sunset cruise to a secluded cove with bottle of French champagne.
C.Avli Luxury Suites - Rethymno (Rethimno): Interesting, gorgeous and atmospheric place to stay in the heart of the old town of Rethymno. Bathrooms are a delight (some suites have the jacuzzi tub in the bedroom - a romantic touch). The rooftop of one building includes a tiled, open air jacuzzi tub for up to 10 people and panoramic views across the old town, all Rethymno and the fortress. The inviting and elegant Avli restaurant is a dining delight. A gourmet restaurant focused on the time-steeped dishes, local produce and delicious traditions of Cretan cuisine but taking a creative step further, towards the best of Mediterranean fare. The restaurant is large but intimate, divided into different look and feel areas, with Venetian arches and interesting iron-glass artistic decor. A honeymooners dream place.
D.Ammos Hotel - outside Chania (Agii Apostoli):Most thoroughly enjoyable small hotel if you would like to be on a good beach and just a few minutes from the centre, and the Venetian harbour, of Chania. Most studios have direct sea view and private balconies to enjoy it from. This is a find, allowing you to enjoy Chania's intriguing and romantic waterfront, shops, great restaurants and wonderful cafes, its fantastic naval museum - yet stay at your own oasis by the beach to relax. A friendly, decorative and charming place to stay - where you can truly enjoy beach and town...the best of both worlds.
E.Aldemar Royal Mare Village & Thalasso, Limenas Hersonissou, Crete: The Aldemar Royal Mare Village offers several services that will appeal to visitors enjoying a romantic break in Crete. Couples may like to experience the following: A romantic meal at Candia; Massage at the Spa; Turkish bath; Shopping at the village boutique.
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