"Out in the dark blue sea there lies a land called Crete, a rich and lovely land, washed by the waves on every side..." --- The Odyssey
From fertile coastal plains to rugged barren mountains, from mellow stone houses to stark concrete modernity, from bustling capital to sleepy hill villages, Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands, is an island of contrasts. Home to around 650,000 people and several million olive trees, the island remains ever popular with visitors from northern Europe, other parts of Greece, and indeed, visitors from all over the World. It consists of four prefectures: Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lasithi.
Crete is a different world compared to other parts of Greece. Crete is a place with its own tradition, its own character and its own dialect. Local people are very proud of their Cretan origin. Throughout the island the remnants of occupation by invaders from the Romans, through to the Turks, can still be seen, with aqueducts and architecture still plainly visible. But throughout these invasions the Cretan people have remained relatively unscathed and retain their justifiable pride in their island and their culture. With English spoken widely throughout the island to ask a Cretan a question is to invite them to sit with you, and with time measured differently here you are likely to be sitting for while taking in long conversations that will naturally require food and drink.
Nowadays, Crete has a flourishing economy which is based partly on tourism. It has giant hotel resorts where you can enjoy splendid facilities. In the south of the island, you will find hundreds of exotic beaches, some crowded and some isolated which can satisfy any taste. Crete is famous for its fruit and vegetable production. So by visiting Crete, you have the chance to taste the world-known Cretan diet based on vegetables and pure olive oil.
http://www.ellada.net/crete-info/beaches/heraklio.php
Heraklion is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island.On the northern coast of the prefecture of Heraklion visitors will discover various attractive coastal resorts full of all kinds of accommodations (of all categories) and wonderful beaches which can be reached by bus from Heraklion City.On the southern coast of the prefecture beaches with serene atmosphere and crystalline waters can be found.Some of the most famous beaches are listed below.
BEACH OF AMOUDARA
An organized beach, covering a large extension of sand, with crystal waters. Situated 6 km west of Heraklio, it is swarmed with tourists in the summer.
BEACH OF AMNISSOS
A beautiful, long, sandy beach, located 7 km east of Heraklio, it attracts many tourists in the summer.
BEACH OF KOKKINI CHANI
A wonderful beach with thin, white sand, 13 km east of Heraklio. The area is known for its north-west winds, which make the place ideal for wind-surfing.
BEACH OF LYGARIA
16km east of Heraklio there is the romantic harbor of Lygaria in the gulf of Agia Pelagia.The area is well developed with modern hotels, restaurants, bars.Here you can enjoy a very crowded sandy beach.
BEACH OF AGIA PELAGIA
An organized beach before the settlement of Agia Pelagia, situated 24 km north-west of Heraklio. It attracts many tourists in the summer.
LIMENAS HERSONISSOU
Limenas Hersonissou is 27km east of Heraklio.It is a coastal,tourist resort,one of the most highly developed in Crete with luxury hotel units, shops, restaurants, bars and country tavernas.The sandy beach is very crowded.
BEACH OF STALIS
One of the most crowded sandy beaches in Crete, it is situated by the highway, 33 km east of Heraklio.
BEACH OF MALIA
34km east of Heraklio is Malia.The village of Malia situated on a beautiful, sandy beach in a marvelous valley full of bananas, oranges and garden vegetables.The town has recently developed into a modern tourist town with hotels of all sizes, shops, bars and country tavernas.
BEACH OF MATALA
A beautiful beach with crystal waters, situated 70 km south-west of Heraklio.It is famous for the caves inside the rocks which were the legendary gathering place of the hippies, in the 1970's.
BEACH OF LENDAS
Lendas is 73 km southeast of Heraklio ,where you can see the famous church of Agios Ioannis and enjoy a peaceful beach.
BEACH OF KALI LIMENES
A wide, sandy beach, also known as Makria Ammos, west of Levina and the cape of Lenda, 82 km south-west of Heraklio.
http://www.ellada.net/crete-info/beaches/heraklio.php
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