Greek Island Idylls

Contents Crete herearehundredsof reasons tovisitCreteatany timeofyear.The largestandmost southerlyGreek islandhasmildweather,pristinebeaches,great offerings for food loversandwineconnoisseurs,hundreds ofancient sites,breathtaking landscapesandhikingpaths andwildnightlife. It is the largest island inGreece,buthas itsownuniquehistoryandculture. Creteboasts thebestbeaches inGreece,and someareamong thebest beaches in theworld.With300daysof sunshineayear,almostevery day isabeachdayhere.You’ll love thepink-sandbeachesofElafonisi, BalosandFalasarnaand thepalm tree forestsat thebeachesofVaiand Preveli.Keepyourbeachbagwithyouatall times,becauseyou’ll surely encounterabeachyoucan’t resistwhileyouexplore the island. History loverswillfinddozensofarchaeological sites toexplore throughout the island.Cretewas thecentreofoneof theoldestknown civilisations in theworld, thatof theMinoans,whomade the island theirhomeduring theBronzeAge, fromabout3000 to1100BCE.Since then,manyempiresand settlementshavecomeandgone,each leaving theirowndistinctmarkon thearchitectureandcultureon the island.Youcanvisit theancientpalacesofKnossosandPhaistos from More likeacountry thanan island T Heraklion Chania Q Q Rethymno Knossos AgiosNikolaos Elounda Phaistos Crete Kerkyra (CorfuTown) Kontokali Kommeno Dassia Sidari Q Moraitika Benitses Paleokastritsa Corfu n islandof ruggednaturalbeauty,Corfuowesmuchofherhistorical identity to theStateofVenicewhocontrolled the island in thedaysof theRennaissance.Thewell-preservedcityofKerkyra (OldTownof Corfu) isaUNESCOWorldHeritageSite,withmanyhistoricbuildings from this period.Wander through theancientalleysandyouwilldiscoverornate, BaroquechurchesandRenaissancepalaces.Subsequent occupationsby theFrenchand theBritishhasadded further architectural layers to thewindingmedieval streets includingornatearcades linedwithelegantcafésand thegrandPalaceofSt.MichaelandSt.George. During the19thcentury,CorfuTownattracted manyEuropeanaristocrats,who built splendidneoclassical mansions. In1864 the islandwas welcomed into theyoung, modernnationof Greece. A TheGreen Island Corfu Vitoria (Gasteiz) Logroño Pamplona (Iruña) Bilbao (Bilbo) SanSebastián (Donostia) Tudela Olite Q Kefalonia Ithaca efalonia isan Ionian islandoff thewestcoastofGreece ofdramaticmountains, thickly forestedhillsides,pale goldenbeachesandacobaltcoloured sea.Coveredby pine forestandcarpetedwithwild sage,oregano, thymeand rosemary, theentire island is surroundedby fantastic shorelines that sweepdown from secretcoveswithwhitepebbles in the north,discoveredbyboatoron foot, togolden sands in the south, slopinggently into thewarm sparkling sea. Essentially laid-back, there ishoweverno shortageofactivities for theholiday- maker:visit fascinatingcastlesandmuseumswhichgivean insight into the island'shistoryandculture;exploreMountAinos, thehabitatofabreedof rare wildhorseandoneofGreece's tennationalparks;orparticipate in the landor waterbased sportswhichabound. Ithaca,which lies justeastof thenortheastcoastofKefalonia, is the least developedandarguablyoneof themostbeautiful islands in the Ioniangroup, withprettypebblebeachesandamountainous interior speckledwithpine forests,cypresses,olivegrovesandvineyards.Hikersanddiscerning tourists love thisgreenand tranquil islandwhich is said tobe themuch-lovedkingdomof Homer'smythicalheroOdysseus. IslandsworthyofanOdyssey K GadikiBeach, Ithaca Sami Vathi Poros Skala Argostoli Q Q Assos Lixouri Kefalonia & Ithaca Lefkada Meganissi efkada isoneof themostbreathtakingGreek islands and it is located in theheartof the Ionian sea, connectedwith themainlandbya smallbridge. Beingeasilyaccessedbycarandboastingoneof themost wonderfulnatural landscapesand someof themost scenic beaches,LefkadaGreece (or the“CaribbeanofGreece”,as it is alsoknownas) is theabsolutedreamdestination for those whoare intoexotic islands. Lefkada isGreek forwhite,and the island takes itsname from thebrilliant whiteof the limestone rock.From thedramatic seacliffsandmagnificent beachesof thewestcoast,across the ruggedpeaksof the interiormountains anddown through fertile, stream-fedvalleys to thegentlereastcoastwith itswoodedbaysandquietcreeks,Lefkada isperfect for leisurelyexploration. Likemanyplaces inGreece,Lefkadacombines thebeautyofnaturewith history, richcultureandnaturalheritage.Charmingly traditional,discover timelessvillageswhereyoucan stillgetapowerful senseof theGreeceof daysgoneby.Explore the rugged landscapesof imposingmountainsand densepine forests thatcombineharmoniouslywithpicturesquebays, pristine sandybeachesandcrystalclear turquoisewater. Meganissi isabeautiful little island locatedbetweenLefkadaand the westerncoastsof theGreekmainland.Thanks to itsproximity toLefkada, Meganissi is theperfectdestination foran islandhop fromLefkada. Untouchedby international tourists,Meganissi isoneof thoseGreek islands thatboastsanunspoiledbeauty, so it isperfect for relaxingholidays! L TheCaribbean IslandsofGreece LEFKADA Potos Lefkada & Meganissi 4 12 18 22 A series of focus articles on the islands of Greece with recommendations for a broad selection of 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts in each region covered. Click on page image to fast-track to specific article.