Secrets of Crete - History, and Modernity (Mini-Group)

Everyone who goes to rest on the island of Crete, of course, is aware not only of its natural beauty but also of its history and mythology. Therefore, one of the tours we will go on will be dedicated to all the well-known heroes of the myths and legends of ancient Greece.

Crete attracts us with its mystical sights. This is a journey into the past with a touch of eternity. We will visit the world-famous Palace of Knossos—the Labyrinth of the Minotaur. Here we will try to separate (or merge) myth and reality. And we will find out what secrets the palace of King Minos, the ruler of the first civilization in Europe, keeps. The great master Daedalus worked here, Theseus performed feats, Ariadne fell in love, and Poseidon walked at the wedding of Minos.

Later, leaving the outskirts of the city of Heraklion, we will move to the east of the island. 80% of the island is mountains, and our path leads to the center of the Dikteian Mountains. If you have been to Crete and have not visited the mountains, you have not seen a real island. It was in the mountains that the non-tourist, original, patriarchal image of Crete was preserved. The road winds like a snake among the villages and fields to where, at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level, the chic Lassithi plateau, one of the symbols of fertility and the center of agriculture in Crete, will open to our eyes. On the plateau, there are 21 villages, 2 monasteries, cultivated land, mills, and orchards. And the cradle, the birthplace of the powerful ruler of heaven and earth, all the gods and people of Zeus, was on the slope of the sacred mountain, in the cave of Dikteon Andron.

We will make a stop at the Vidyani monastery. This is a male active monastery, in which the relics of saints are kept. There is a miraculous icon of the "Inexhaustible Chalice" and a holy spring. Here, you will have the opportunity to visit a small museum of the flora and fauna of Crete.

And so we go to the place where the myths of all of ancient Greece originated. Or rather, the most important myth of all time is the place where Zeus, the god of thunder, was born. The cave—the shelter of the father of all gods—is also of great historical value. A path paved with stone takes us to a height of 1025 m; it will take you only 20 minutes to be at the entrance of the cave. You will go down the stairs 80 meters deep in a cool cave to the legendary place where Rhea, hiding from her harsh husband Kron, gave birth to a baby.

Then we go to the potter's workshop. The demonstration of the work of the ceramist will continue with your participation in the production process. This is a unique opportunity to make a souvenir on the potter's wheel with your own hands. You can also purchase traditional Cretan handicrafts.

It's lunchtime, which means it's time to enjoy delicious Greek cuisine. This is another myth, but this is already modern Greece. Simple ingredients turn into masterpieces in the hands of Cretan masters! The Lassithi Plateau is one of the best places to taste the traditional dishes of the island.

Our journey today will also consist of numerous stops for photographs, so that the day spent together does not turn into a myth but is captured in pictures and remains unforgettable.