If you can see the island of Crete on a world map you will see that it's shape is a bit like a gnarled branch or maybe even a snail.
Crete is the largest of Greece's islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. From west to east, the island is over 160 miles long, and in between 9-38 miles wide.
Crete lies between the 34th and 35th degrees of latitude, on a plane with Tunisia and Syria and, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it's the most pleasant of all the Mediterranean islands.
It is also the most significant historically for here, more than 4,000 years ago, European culture first blossomed with the Minoan civilisation.
There are so many different aspects to modern Crete that there is something here for everyone. The northern coast is the tourist area, with wonderful beaches and bustling resorts, while the southern coast is still relatively deserted and undeveloped.
There is beautiful scenery wherever you look, but it's not of the soft and gentle kind. It is a rugged place.
There are many different species of plants unique to the island and plenty of caves. Then there's the Samaria Gorge (11miles long), which makes it the second largest in Europe (after the Gorge du Verdon in Provence), and many shorter gorges, no less spectacular.
Religious values and the church here in Crete may not be as influential as it once was, but there are still occasions for religious fervour and devout celebration. Almost all Cretans are, at least nominally, adherents of the Greek Orthodox Church, which has always played a special role on the island. Nowadays though, the influence of religion is waning.
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