8 Days
Day 1 - 3:
Arrival in Heraklion. Transfer from Heraklion Airport to your hotel. Leisure time at one of the Resort Hotels. 3 Overnights at the hotel.
Day 4:
After breakfast at the hotel, at approximately 09:00, we drive to Gortyna, the Roman capital of Crete and Cyrenaica, which was first inhabited around 3200 BC. After the visit to Gortyna, we drive through the valley of Mesara to visit the archaeological site of Phaistos and its palace, the most important center of the Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful city in southern Crete.
After our visit to Phaistos, we drive to Matala, where you will enjoy some free time to swim in the crystal clear waters and lunch. Finally, we arrive at Zaros, an attractive, refreshingly unspoiled village famous for its spring water, which is now bottled and sold all over Greece, and an ideal base for walkers to explore the beautiful nature. Zaros also has some fine Byzantine monasteries, and delicious farm-raised trout served up in tavernas around town and on emerald-green Lake Votomos, which will be visited. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5:
After your breakfast at the Hotel at approximately 08:30, we start our drive to the traditional Cretan village of Vatos, a small village hidden in the green, where we find all the elements of its tradition. Walking down the alleys, we visit the old school and its fountain, as well as the museum with farming tools and utensils from earlier times. We finish at a cauldron of the village where you make Raki (the famous alcoholic beverage of Crete).
Spili is our next stop, known for its Venetian snake with a long line of 25 stone lion heads that run cool water from their mouths. Optional lunch at Spili. Then we visit Lampini, the church, and the museum of Panagia. The church is inscribed with a cupola and depicts frescoes of the 12th and 14th centuries. It was an Episcopal church, since the village of Lampini once accommodated the seat of the famous Episcopate of Lampis, which had existed since 431. Drive to the Gorge of St. Antonios, walk through a very nice hiking trail in the gorge with super green and lush surroundings up to the cave of St. Antonios. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Rethymno.
Day 6:
Breakfast at the Hotel in Rethymno. At approximately 09:30, we start our tour, driving to our first stop, Margarites, a small traditional village located in the prefecture of Rethymno. The village is known for its unique pottery tradition, its picturesque alleys, and its well-preserved architecture. Afterwards, we reach the Arkadi Monastery, which constitutes a landmark of architecture and civilization, considering the magnificent facade of the church, the highly developed spiritual tradition, as well as the flourishing development of fine arts. However, the holocaust, which took place in 1866, gave the monastery an eminent place in history, elevating it to an eternal symbol of freedom and heroism, recognized worldwide. Rethymno is our last stop, one of the best preserved medieval towns in Greece with many intact historical buildings, and it’s one of the most beautiful towns in Crete. We will visit the picturesque old town of Rethymno and have lunch (optional).
At the end, we will visit the Venetian stronghold of Fortezza, which is built on top of a low hill above Rethymno Town. The hill is known as Paleokastro, which means old castle in Greek and suggests the existence of an older structure in that place. This huge fortress, with its turbulent history, was built between 1540 and 1570 by the Venetian maritime power as a bulwark against Turkish pirates. More than 100,000 Cretans were forced into compulsory labor, and over 40,000 pack animals were used in the construction of this mighty fortress. However, the Fortezza was conquered by the Turks in 1646.
After many upheavals during the next three centuries, only the outer fortifications of the Fortezza remain intact, and few buildings are still under restoration. The Fortezza is visible from every part of the town and provides the visitor a panoramic view of Rethymno town. The visitors enter from the East Gate through an impressive archway. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Rethymno.
Day 7:
Breakfast at the Hotel in Rethymno. At approximately 09:30, we start our tour driving along the north coastal road to the city of Souda, port of Chania, to visit the Venizelos Graves at the historical location of Profitis Ilias in Akrotiri, where the tomb of Eleftherios Venizelos lies, one of the long-standing Prime Ministers of Greece. We continue to the city of Chania, where we will visit all the main highlights of the city, historic neighborhoods, churches, and museums, and take a walk to the beautiful Venetian Port with the Lighthouse Faros.
During your tour of the picturesque alleys of the old town, you will come across unique monuments such as the Rimodi Fountain, the Neradze Mosque (or Gazi Hussein) with its high minaret, churches, and squares. Have lunch (optional) and free time for shopping. On the way back, we will stop at the resort city of Georgioupolis, popular for its fine beaches, for a coffee break. Late at 6:00 p.m. We return to Heraklion to the entrance of the Archeological Museum.
Day 8:
Departure. Transfer from your hotel to Heraklion Airport.
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