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The bull jumping fresco, Knossos
Lonely Planet Crete
Paul Hellander, Jeanne Oliver
Unlock the Mediterranean treasure-trove that is Crete, with its stunning natural beauty, ancient Minoan ruins and sun-drenched beaches. This indispensable guide is your key to exploring this fascinating island.
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Landscapes of Western Crete
Jonnie Godfrey, Elizabeth Karslake
Mountains rearing straight up from the sea, deep wooded gorges, ravines and valleys and yet more glorious mountains, standing proud and acting as a magnet to the eye and the imagination that's western Crete, or real Crete, as some would say. Its strong, dramatic scenery and colours create sweeping landscapes of harsh but beautiful countryside countryside that has been the backdrop for heroic deeds, ancient civilisations and constant intrigue for thousands of years, and the home of obdurate, tough people made so by their labours on the land and their experiences. Western Crete is real hikers' territory, and this book takes in all the best routes. Of course you will want to 'do' Samaria, but there are many, less frequented gorges to be explored. There are challenging hikes in both the White and Ida Mountains and long, long stetches along the southern coast where you can swim in crystal-clear water and perhaps stay overnight in idyllic villages like Loutro only accessible on foot or by boat.
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Frommer's Greek Islands
John S. Bowman, Sherry Marker, Heidi Sarna
This guide is specifically geared to travelers who want to go to Greece for beaches, beautiful weather, and island-hopping. Its centerpiece is a feature no other guide offers: a full chapter on cruises, written by one of the cruise industry's leading specialists and featuring candid reviews of each line and tips on how to get the best deals.
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The Civilization of Ancient Crete
by R.F. Willetts
A classic account of the civilization of Ancient Crete
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History of Crete
Crete may have been inhabited since the palaeolithic but the oldest evidence of human occupation was found at Knossos and
dates from 6100-5700 BC. But Crete's greatest civilization was that of the Minoans who first appeared around 3000BC.
Unlike the mainland Mycenean culture that eventually took over the island (1400-1100 BC), the Minoans did not have walled city states but a network of royal palaces
that seemed to have exercised a peaceful control over the island.
In the Odysseus, Homer states:
"Out on the dark blue sea there lies a rich and lovely land called Crete that
is densely populated and boasts ninety cities. One of the ninety cities is called Knosos and
there for nine years King Minos ruled and enjoyed the friendship of the mighty Zeus."
Most of Homer's 90 Cretan cities remain undiscovered. The ancient Minoan palace at Knossos was only discovered at the beginning
of the 20th century and has been (somewhat garishly) restored but is
a definite must-see for anyone with an appreciation of the past. The palace is the largest of the Minoan
sites, covering 22,000 square metres.
The Cretans seem to have been in contact with the Egyptians and devised their own
writing system, unique to their island, that used a syllabic system half way between hieroglyphics and an
alphabetical system.
In Frommer's Greek Islands John S.Bowman concludes that few travellers need to be sold on
Minoan Crete but many are unaware of the rich history left by later civilizations, including the Byzantines, Venetians and
Turks.
Travel guides are available through the following links:
The Rough Guide Map Crete
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