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

''The allure of Crete is extremely powerful. Whoever sets foot on this island senses a mysterious rejuvenating force surging through his veins, senses his soul begin to grow''. Nikos Kazantzakis

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.