![Saint Goat!||](/media/k2/items/cache/90701d02ae3da0e5a21abbd900c25748_M.jpg)
Agiofaraggo: The gorge of the saints!
Published in "Island Routes"
Crete has many gorges –more than 250 as a matter of fact. Some of these are very hard to access, some are too dry and…
![An exemplary modern museum||](/media/k2/items/cache/8c4e7ddecfb739ef5c33c55621b27630_M.jpg)
Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
Published in "Presentations"
One of the few literature museums in the country is exclusively dedicated to the life and work of great Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Situated in…
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'Easter of the Dead' in Tylissos
Published in "Cretan Tales"
An ancient custom, found in numerous cultures and religions throughout the world and history, revives in the village of Tylissos in its Cretan edition. Those…
![The bench of the cooperative 'Apo Koinou'|So many carob products!|Alternative musical instruments by Sifis|Sifis posing with his creations](/media/k2/items/cache/9cc9cd0e676f41531987bd2f50c5fb80_M.jpg)
A feast of the commons in Heraklion!
Published in "Inside the Walls"
Benches and tents lie on the ground dismantled and Georgiadis park gradually returns to its regular state. We can’t say the same for us though!…
![The open horizon of the village of Agios Thomas|Kavalaris overlooks the village|The carved tombs in 'Gria Mantra'|The inscription on the sanctuary of chthonic deities|St. Joasaph, the strangest temple we've seen!|One of the 15 churches of the settlement|Carved chambers used for religious ceremonies|||Agios Thomas in all its majesty!](/media/k2/items/cache/2e1e382bfd4f79d85ad02e1f36c1f15b_M.jpg)
Agios Thomas and the City of Stone
Published in "Villages"
There is a village, just half an hour away from the city of Heraklion, that hides a hole that leads to Hades, a sanctuary of…
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At the summit of Kofinas, like little gods
Published in "Island Routes"
Hike up the holy summit of Asterousia Mountains and bow before the majesty of the Libyan Sea
![The rugs of Aretousa (Archanes)|Aretousa weavers (Archanes)|Some of Aretousa's creations (Archanes)|The creations of Eleni Kouides (Argyroupoli)|The creations of Eleni Kouides (Argyroupoli)|The impressive workshop of Eleni Kouides (Argyroupoli)|The colorful yarns of kurelu (Pyrgos)!|The modern bags of Angeliki (Kurelu creations, Pyrgos)||Mitos weaving (Houdetsi)|Proud weaver next to her creations (Pyrgou Weaving Center)|Cretaions of the Pyrgou Weaving Center|Pyrgou Weaving Center|Houdetsi Weaving Center|Houdetsi Weaving Center|Houdetsi Weaving Center|Into the threads!|Houdetsi Weaving Center||](/media/k2/items/cache/5c524010f403cd1cd96d959f003473c7_M.jpg)
Cretazine presents: The revolution of the loom!
Published in "Cretan Tales"
From the time when Penelope longed for the return of Ulysses, furiously embroidering in her sewing room, to the times when our witty grandmothers made…
![For restless spirits - and bodies!||](/media/k2/items/cache/3f670763861139bf2201e7bc224257d4_M.jpg)
Crete in action: where adrenaline never takes vacation!
Published in "Crete in action"
Just choose what you want to do… do you want to climb steep rocks like the ones you see in the Alps, or take a…
![Houdetsi Festival, perhaps the best festival of Crete](/media/k2/items/cache/fb2f4dce862da1bee62f9456b87d8a12_M.jpg)
Crete of Festivals: Summer 2014
Published in "Crete 360°"
Every year the cultural map of Crete dramatically changes, a sign that the island is inhabited by many creative people. New and old events appear…
![Beautful architecture, beautiful nature...||||||||](/media/k2/items/cache/a1005f8e615c6cea34da62a85ca9af3a_M.jpg)
Crete or Tuscany?
Published in "Crete 360°"
Discover Agios Fanourios – and Tuscanian landscapes - in Kitharida
![Cycling in Hersonissos](/media/k2/items/cache/0562a0d86b78c2118c302ee89573cf3e_M.jpg)
Cycling in Hersonissos
Published in "Crete in action"
Nine bike routes to cycle your way around Hersonissos
![Images of past times in the narrow lanes of the village||||](/media/k2/items/cache/2a730b965606ef441dc0754edc28d85b_M.jpg)
Ethia... the village where time stopped
Published in "Villages"
The steep cliffs of Asterousia mountains do not only end up to some of the most spectacular Cretan coasts but also ‘hide’ many scenic villages.…
![Live perfomances by local bands in 'Palio Lido'|Lyra and violin, side by side!|||"The kangoors" a popular local band||Neske from Amsterdam playing the violin!|](/media/k2/items/cache/f92ea1f3092fc72b1ccf6a46eaa1d54e_M.jpg)
From the coast of Asterousia to the center of Heraklion: An ode to Cretan summer magic
Published in "Cretan Tales"
Who said multiculturalism and variety is a ‘privilege’ of large urban centers? The whole island Crete in the summer becomes the ultimate culture hub for…
![Romantic walks in Stroumpoulas|When you see Timios Stavros, you are almost there...!|The trail is relatively easy and suitable for all|Stroumpoulas vegetation|The view to the plateau will make you stop several times to admire it|The evening service on July 20th|The perfect setting for a selfie!|Shadow games at sunset|On the way back...|The summits of Mylopotamos are painted orange|The view of Stroumpoulas from Heraklion, as the sun sets...](/media/k2/items/cache/4bf14caa10fe139ac24ea05b35b7b8f6_M.jpg)
Hiking on the Holy Mountain of Stroumpoulas
Published in "Island Routes"
The pyramidal mountain of Stroumpoulas -as it seems, when you look at it from Heraklion- offers one of the most beautiful nearby escapes for naturalistic,…
![Christos Mparmpas & Μurat Aydemir in 'Patitiri' stage|At the garden of the Labyrinth|V. Vardakis and his group|Stelios Petrakis & Cretan Music Quartet|Manolakis, Yiannadakis, Fasoulaki: three talented Cretan musicians on stage!|A wonderful concert with Evgenios Voulgaris|'traffic jam' at the narrow lanes of Houdetsi|The closing concert with Vassilis Stavrakakis](/media/k2/items/cache/5ae698f87915cc5250241bddb9b546e1_M.jpg)
How and why Houdetsi Festival becomes the greatest music event of Crete
Published in "Presentations"
The 6th Houdetsi Festival confirmed once and for all what we sensed all the previous years of its existence: without doubt, it is the most…
![The hidden forest of Crete||||Big bad wolf, are you there?||Where are we going?|The picturesque chapel of Agios Ioannis|The ancient plane trees of Rouvas|No, what are you looking at?|In the gorge...|Oh no, somebody is following us...|Stop for a while and enjoy the view!|What an ideal place for a theater...](/media/k2/items/cache/ed75fe6580bca12eb76431640a45783c_M.jpg)
In the forest of Rouvas - without the Big Bad Wolf!
Published in "Crete in action"
(and the gorge of Agios Nikolaos)
![The route towards the Monastery of Koudoumas](/media/k2/items/cache/68497d6cb194485d2759fde9466457b7_M.jpg)
Kapetaniana - Ai Giannis
Published in "Island Routes"
Ascetic landscapes, naked mountains, hiking trails, ancient customs, hidden gulfs...the mountain chain of Asterousia and its wild beauty is not for every taste. It requires…
![Clouds traveling over the plateau of Omalos|||Kato Simi, set on a green valley|The temple of Agios Georgios in Ano Simi|Mrs. Vassiliki at the coffee shop 'Karavos' told us many stories...|The temple of Panagia Galaktoktismeni & Nistikoktismeni||The mystical landscape of Omalos|On the way to the plateau, through the pine tree forest](/media/k2/items/cache/14d1fa7ca660d4c2e48be74255a03674_M.jpg)
Kato Simi - Omalos Viannou
Published in "Island Routes"
Discover one of the most beautiful mountainous landscape of Crete, perhaps the most important pine tree forest of the island and a village full of…
![Σημείο αναφοράς του χωριού, ο πανάρχαιος πλάτανος||](/media/k2/items/cache/f8a458e18503c86603dc02339a944feb_M.jpg)
Krassi
Published in "Villages"
There are some over-commercialized villages in Crete that will fill you up with expectations and finally they will disappoint you. There are some others that…
![The neoclassic building of Ploumi!|With good company work gets done...|Christina came to stay...||Kallia is a musician and Christoforos a computer engineer. Together they work miracles!|Giorgos from Archanes project and young Konstantina|One thing is for sure, this shop will never run our of music!|What's on the menu today?|How can we do an interview without food?](/media/k2/items/cache/0d012c529b85966704821973c01a8a0f_M.jpg)
Ploumi: a cooperative cafe & grocery store ‘blooms’ in Archanes
Published in "Cretan Tales"
In spring flowers bloom and with them blooms love, dreams and ideas. "Ploumi" blooms, the bushy endemic plant of Crete that our grandmothers and grandfathers…
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Searching for cyclamens at Rouva’s forest - 2nd Zaros Trail Race
Published in "Crete in action"
I remember it as if it was yesterday. It was April of 1999, and first-grade students of Biology Department of University of Crete had to…
![Building your own house: priceless!||](/media/k2/items/cache/e7a6f6b910c37abcb54adf404e3a392a_M.jpg)
The Archanes Project: Houses made from straw balls and clay
Published in "Cretan Tales"
Natural building was once the only way to construct a house in Crete. Then, modernization came together with cement, which became the ‘queen’ of building…
![The exhibition of the Art Gallery of Viannos|||Painting by Konstantinos Perakis](/media/k2/items/cache/a906ecd58b062801ef8efce6e1a38d4d_M.jpg)
The Art Gallery of Viannos: A modern Gallery in the most unexpected place
Published in "Presentations"
Sometimes the vision of one man alone is all it takes for realizing ‘utopias’...and that’s exactly how the Gallery of Viannos came to be.
![Afentis Christos temple and below the colorful mosaics of Crete||](/media/k2/items/cache/e1ef6b1511175103949b82a229ea0710_M.jpg)
The ascent to Mount Yuchtas
Published in "Island Routes"
Sometimes you don’t need to go very far to find wild Cretan nature. The anthropomorphic mountain of Yuchtas is just a few kilometers away from…
![The 'Little Cafe' in Kallikratis welcomes you!|The herbal goodies of 'Little Cafe'|A herbal sanctuary in the middle of nowhere|The Cretan Far West welcomes you|Cretan mountain tea (aka malotira) in Kallikratis|Mr. Yiannis in action!|Red hot chilli peppers anyone?|Passing the knowledge to the new generation|A few of the things you will find in Kouses|Cretan cuisine & Cretan herbs in Tsakalakis' cafe|Welcome to Nivritos|For the cold winter days & nights...|Yes, you may also order a coffee (Nivritos)](/media/k2/items/cache/70eaefc5bc6bfbfdd6ffa7ba31cfa7c1_M.jpg)
The herbal ‘sanctuaries’ of Crete
Published in "Crete 360°"
In Crete you can easily find tasty food, great wine and good company. Finding good herbs to drink as an infusion or buy, however, can…
![Crete or Middle East?||||||||||||](/media/k2/items/cache/a5f10fbd19f01d5dc9cda9ccb53fcb94_M.jpg)
The Holy Vibes of Martsalo
Published in "Island Routes"
If you want to find the hidden paradises of Crete you have to travel like a pilgrim. You have to cross rocky trails, let the…
![Walking towards the north entrance of the Palace|Quartier M under the cover...|The simple pleasures of walking in ancient cities!||Walking over the ancient city|The Palace courtyard|The imposing mountains of Selena in the background||](/media/k2/items/cache/d23c6c4ffcb8aba8c60fb49fbdd9a263_M.jpg)
The Minoan Palace of Malia
Published in "Presentations"
The third largest Minoan palace of Crete, once ruled by mythical King Sarpedon, overlooks the Cretan Sea with the imposing mountain of Selena in the…
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The seabed of Asterousia
Published in "Crete 360°"
Dive into the colorful biodiversity of the Cretan sea.
![Recording the sound of wime|||||](/media/k2/items/cache/6e612d843510ceea710c72ff7eb3ad8d_M.jpg)
The sound of wine
Published in "Cretan Tales"
Stella Vassilaki guides us in a journey of flavors and sounds, where the sweetest harmonies emerge from a rare orchestration of scents and musical instruments.
![Matala bay from above!|Kiriamadi peninsula, eastern Crete|Toplou monastery!|Sfakia port from above!](/media/k2/items/cache/bba44bd6959075a5902aaeb4b8c8f0c9_M.jpg)
Traveling with drones over Crete
Published in "Cretan Tales"
Have you ever dreamed that you were fying like a bird over seas and mountains, free of gravity, blessed with a whole new vision of…
![Video: the unseen world of Cretan gorges brought to light](/media/k2/items/cache/9e6b08489d08136748316d2de9a1219a_M.jpg)
Video: the unseen world of Cretan gorges brought to light
Published in "Crete in action"
Unseen images from the gorges of Asterousia Mountains are brought to light by the Institute of Speleological Studies of Greece