Cheap Hotels Crete
What to see by foot: Crete
    
Along the northern shores are the island's modern resorts, and alongside lie
the scattered remains of older civilizations: Minoan palaces, Byzantine churches,
Venetian castles and sites of more recent struggles.
East of Iraklion is Agios Nikolaos, one of the best-known holiday resorts on
the island and very crowded in the high season. Much of the east coast of Crete
has been developed specifically as a tourist area and is a popular target for
package tours.
History is very much alive in Iraklion, just like in most Greek cities. The
central square, while surrounded by cafés, stores and restaurants, is
dominated by the Fountain of the Lions, built by Morozini, the Venetian governor
in 1628. The Town Hall is today housed in the Venetian Loggia, a building from
the same era.
All around the old part of the city, visitors can follow the old Venetian walls
that meet at a bastion, known as Koules, which dominates the old harbour of
the city. Of special importance is the archaeological site at Knossos and the
Archaeological Museum of Iraklion, which houses most of the Minoan finds in
Crete. Special attention should also be paid to the Museum of Natural History
and the Historical Museum of Iraklion, home to finds from the early Christian
era to today.
On the western part of the island, Hania is one of the nicest towns in Crete,
with wonderful houses, parks and squares and a well-designed town plan. The
public market is an impressive building. Located in the town centre and built
at the beginning of the 20th century, it houses: grocery stores, butchers' shops,
a fish market and vegetable shops. The public gardens next to the market are
ideal for those in search of shade and tranquillity.
The old city has preserved, to a great extent, the distinctive atmosphere and
charm of the Venetian and Turkish periods. Entire Venetian, Turkish and Jewish
quarters remain intact, with well-preserved buildings in the narrow picturesque
streets. One of the most significant buildings is the large Venetian church
of Aghios Frankiskos, which today houses the Archaeological Museum of Hania.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Candia Park Village | | Hera Village Aparthotel | | Hermes Hotel | | Santa Marina Hotel | | Rea Hotel | | Iberostar Creta Marine | | Iberostar Creta Mare | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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