Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 8,336 km2. Its capital and largest city is Heraklion.
Humans have inhabited the island since at least 130,000 years ago. Crete was the centre of Europe’s first advanced civilization, the Minoans, from 2700 to 1420 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization from mainland Greece. Crete was later ruled by Rome, then successively by the Byzantine Empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1898 Crete formally became a Cretan State, and became part of Greece in December 1913. The palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement and ancient Minoan city, is also located in Heraklion.
The island is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east. It includes Crete’s highest point, Mount Ida, and the range of the White Mountains with 30 summits above 2000 metres, and the Samaria Gorge, a World Biosphere Reserve. Crete forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece, while retaining its own local cultural traits (such as its own poetry and music). The airport at Heraklion and Chania serve international travellers.
I Crete in 1979, 1980, 1982 and 2008.