Crete

Crete is situated at the southern edge of the Aegean, with the Cretan Sea to the North and the Libyan Sea to the South. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and ranks as one of the most popular holiday resorts in Greece, attracting some 2.5 million visitors each year.

Three large mountains dominate the island. To the West are the White Mountains (Lefka Ori), in the centre is Ida (Psiloritis to the Cretans) the mountain of Zeus where, according to mythology, the God grew up in one of the caves and to the East is the Dikti range.

The topography of the island varies considerably - from beautiful beaches, like the ones at Rethymno, Episkopi and Bali, to picturesque plateaus. From it's terrain of mountains, rich with caves, to imposing gorges, the best-known being the Samaria gorge in Crete's National Park, which is to the west of the island.

At the South of the island is the Mesara-plain, a magnificent cultivated and developed area and one of the islands most fertile regions. In hilly, North Central-Crete is one of largest unified viniculture-areas of Greece, with its centres at Arhanes, Peza and Dafnes.

Thanks to an excellent road network, the main one being the National Road that traverses the island, parallel with its northern coast, you can visit any part of the island in only a short period of time and - what a lot there is to see.

Uniquely important archaeological sites, countless Byzantine churches, historical monasteries, Venetian monuments and one of the best, well-preserved Renaissance cities in the Mediterranean, the city of Rethymnon, complete with its imposing castle.

Where to buy on Crete ?

That very much depends on the intended use of your new property - For those who are looking for a holiday home, especially if potential rental income is to be a consideration, then the busy tourist areas such as Hania, Iraklio and Rethymno would be ideal locations.

For those who are looking to spend longer periods on the island, or for those who are considering making Crete their permanent home, a more rural setting may be the wiser choice.

For instance, just 17 km from the city of Rethymnon and just 4 km from the sea, is the new, small village complex of Talos. The "Quad" style Villas, with panoramic views of the mountains and the sea are ideal for holidays or, full time residency and represent excellent "value for money".

Alternatively, you could go right off 'the beaten track' and consider a traditional village like Paleohora, which sits on a peninsula on the islands south-western coast and opens out onto the crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea. For those who are seeking peace and tranquillity, in Paleohora, time really has stood still.

Wherever your Dream Home is going to be on the island of Crete, why not take advantage of our integrated network of service providers and leave all the hard work to us - We look forward to helping you find Your Dream Home in the Sun.