When you are in Crete, you tend to have the sensation that you are in a separate Country. Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands and is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. Crete comprises a significant part of the economy and culture of Greece. Althought it has its own distinct local cultural traits, such as music and the dialect of modern Greek language, the Cretans readily identify themselves as Greeks. Iraklion is the largest city and capital of Crete.

Crete was the center of the famous Minoan civilization, an extremely advanced seafaring culture in the second millennium before Christ. The Minoan civilization which existed from around 2,600 to 1,400 years B.C. is the oldest known Greek civilization. Major symbols of the Minoan civilization wee the sacred bull and the double axe.

The island is the location of significant ancient history, which provides popular modern day holiday destinations. It is also filled with multi-culturalism, having been occupied by groups such as the Mycnaeans, Romans, Venetians and Turks.