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About Crete - Property for sale in Crete, Greece
History
Crete (Greek: ?????) is the largest of the Greek islands and the 5th largest island in the Mediterranean Sea at 8,336km (3,219 sq. miles). Crete was the centre of the Minoan civilization (ca. 2600-1400 BC), the oldest Greek civilization. Today Crete is one of the 13 peripheries of Greece as well as a significant part of its economy and cultural heritage. While keeping their own local cultural traits (e.g., its own music and dialect), Cretans openly identify themselves as Greeks. For centuries the island was known by its Italian name Candia, from the medieval name of its capital Heraklion, Chandax (Greek: ?????? or ????????, "moat", Turkish: Kandiye). In Classical Latin it was called Creta and in Turkish Girit. Crete is the location of significant ancient history, which provides popular modern day tourist destinations. They include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Hephaestus, the classical site of Gortys, the Venetian old city and port of Chania, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, and the Samaria Gorge.
Geography
Crete, with a population of over 650,000 (2005), is 1 of the 13 regions into which Greece is divided. It forms the largest island in Greece and the second largest (after Cyprus) in the East Mediterranean. The island has an elongated shape: it spans 260km from east to west and 60km at its widest, although the island is narrower at certain points, such as in the region close to Ierapetra, where it reaches a width of only 12km. Crete covers an area of 8,336km, with a coastline of 1046km; to the north it broaches the Sea of Crete (Greek: ??????? ???????); to the south the Libyan Sea (Greek: ?????? ???????); in the west the Myrtoan Sea, and toward the east the Carpathian Sea. It lies approximately 160km south of the Greek mainland.
Some of the most characteristic natural beauties of the Cretan scenery consist of the famous Cretan gorges which begin at the mountainous areas of the island and end to the sea. The green gorges are abundant in rare species of flora and fauna which are protected by strict regulations, as they are unique throughout Greece. Among them, one can admire rare species of cypress trees, pine-trees and wildflowers. The most famous and significant gorge of Crete is the one of Samaria, which impresses with its size (said to be the longest in Europe) and unique natural beauty, while on its slopes, one can admire the famous wild goat of Crete which is found nowhere else in Greece. Other significant gorges are the gorges of Imbros, Aradena, Kourtaliotis River and Tipoliano.
Due to karsts formation there are many caves in Crete (around 3,320) and most of them are of speleological, archaeological, or historical importance. Many of them are mentioned in mythological tradition and were used as places of worship in antiquity, including the famous Diktaian Cave, reputedly the birthplace of Zeus, the Idaian Cave, where Zeus was raised, the Cave of Pan, and also the Kamares Cave, where the well-known Kamares pottery was first found. The museum at Heraklion houses the second most important collection of antiquities in Greece, and the chronology of artifacts represent life in Crete from 6300 BCE until the first century CE.
Climate
Crete straddles two climatic zones, the Mediterranean and the North African, mainly falling within the former. As such, the climate in Crete is primarily temperate. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea, while winter is fairly mild. Snowfall is common on the mountains between November and May, but rare in the low lying areas, especially near the coast when it only stays on the ground for a few minutes or hours. During the Cretan summer, average temperatures reach the high 20s to low 30s Celsius (mid 80s to mid 90s Fahrenheit), with maxima touching the upper 30s to mid 40s (above 110 Fahrenheit). The south coast, including the Messara plain and Asterousia mountains, falls in the North African climatic zone, and thus enjoys significantly more sunny days and high temperatures throughout the year. In southern Crete date palms bear fruit and swallows remain year around, not migrating to Africa.
Culture
For centuries Crete has held intact its own distinctive rich and proud culture. Cretan Greek has been maintained as the spoken dialect, and Tsikoudia (or Raki - grape-based spirit) is the traditional drink. The island is known for its music, and it has many indigenous dances, the most noted of which is probably the Pentozali (literally the 'five jumps' dance). See a sample of the Pentozali dance here.
Religion
The majority of the population in Crete belongs to the Christian Orthodox religion.
Economy
The economy of Crete, which was mainly based on farming, began to change visibly during the 1970s. While an emphasis remains on farming and stock breeding, due to the climate and terrain of the island, there has been a drop in manufacturing and an observable expansion in its service industries (mainly tourism-related). All three sectors of the Cretan economy (agriculture, processing-packaging, and services) are directly connected and interdependent. The island has a per capita income close to 100% of the Greek average, while unemployment is at approximately 4%, half of that of the country overall. As in other regions of Greece, olive growing is also a significant industry; a small amount of lemons are still cultivated on the island. The island has three significant airports, Heraklion, Chania and a smaller one in Sitia. The first two serve international routes, as the main gateways to the island for travelers.
Since January 1st 2001, Greece has entered the Eurozone. This has been a result of impressive economic policy changes and growth over the last years, during which convergence towards the European Union economic performance, in both nominal and real terms, has evolved at a rapid pace. With a GDP growth rate of 3.1% in 2008, and an estimated GDP growth estimated at 0.5% for 2009 Greeces growth performance is much higher than the European Union average (EU average GDP forecasted to contract by 1.9%). In fact, Greece lies among the best performing economies in the Eurozone and today has become the economic hub of Southeast Europe offering a stable and healthy economic environment that is supportive to the needs of business and investors.
Greece is in the process of completing its vast program of infrastructure projects with the use of the European Unions 3rd Community Support Framework. That means that every level of transport and communications is being upgraded on a profound scale. In parallel, the liberalization of the energy and telecoms market leads to the modernization of the existing network and provide new opportunities for development. Some of the projects in planning for Crete are:
- New international airport to be located in north western Crete area of Kastelli (west from Chania) to be opened in 2014 - 1.2 billion Euro project.
- General improvement of the road, telecom, water, and electricity infrastructure; upgrading the Chania port; plan for a railway link between west and east Crete.
- Golf courses (2 existing, one close to Heraklion and the other in Elunda)
Tourism
Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Fifteen percent of all arrivals in Greece come through Heraklion (port and airport), while charter journeys to Heraklion last year made up 20% of all charter flights in Greece. Overall, more than 2 million tourists visited Crete last year, and this increase in tourism is reflected on the number of hotel beds, rising by 53% in the period from 1986 to 1991, whist the rest of Greece saw increases of only 25%. Today, the island's tourism infrastructure caters to all tastes, including a very wide range of accommodation; the island's facilities take in large luxury hotels with their complete facilities swimming pools, sports and recreation, smaller family-owned apartments, camping facilities, and others. Visitors reach Crete via 2 international airports in Heraklion and Chania, or by boat to the main ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, and Agios Nikolaos.
Principal Cities
- Heraklion (Iraklion or Candia) (137,711 inhabitants) - Prefecture
- Chania (Hani) (53,373 inhabitants) - Prefecture
- Rethymno (31,687 inhabitants) - Prefecture
- Ierapetra (23,707 inhabitants)
- Agios Nikolaos (19,462 inhabitants) - Prefecture
- Sitia (14,338 inhabitants)
Expatriate Community
Crete's mild climate is attracting growing interest from Northern Europeans to have a holiday home or residence on the island. EU citizens have the right to freely buy property and reside with little formality. A growing number of real estate companies cater to mainly British expatriates, followed by German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and other European nationalities wishing to own a home in Crete. The latest estimates amounts to around 8,000 expatriates living permanently in Crete. The British expatriates are concentrated in the western prefectures of Chania and Rethymno and to a lesser extent in Heraklion and Lasithi (Agios Nikolaos).
For more information about living in Crete, click on the Pafilia "Guide to Living in Crete" link below: |
