Places

With the summer of ‘17 come and gone for good by now, at Oscar Suites & Village hotel near Agia Marina beach in Chania, we just bid adieu to our last guests for the season. Yet while it is time for us to put our feet up, relax and unwind for a bit (the latter of course being the operational word, as at Oscar Suites & Village hotel near Agia Marina beach in Chania we are constantly busy conjuring new and exciting stuff for the upcoming year), for the majority of our compatriots, it is business as usual. Though tourism-and the industry revolving around it- is a key aspect of the Cretan economy, this does not mean that life stops in the winter. Actually the island’s towns and villages are still very much alive and kicking during the so called “off season” months as locals go about their daily business. In fact there is so much to do. Crete, which produces more olive oil than all of the Greek islands and mainland combined boasts over 30 million olive trees. Come November and it is time for the annual olive harvest: This is an age old tradition going back to ancient Greece, which has remained largely unchanged for thousands of years; and in which nearly every Cretan (as well as a several of the more adventurous, lucky visitors) participate.

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“The people of Crete unfortunately make more history than they can consume locally”, British writer Hector Hugh Munro (aka Saki), once wrote. From the mythological origins of Zeus and the mysterious Minoans with their labyrinthine palaces, through Venetian and Ottoman control, to the daring deeds during the German occupation, what makes Crete truly stand out is the depth and breadth of its history. While all this drama and turmoil might have been trying (at best) for its people, it has also made Crete one of the most fascinating destinations on the planet. Read on for the not-to-be-missed historic places to visit in Crete:

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