Crete's UNESCO Sites
The largest of the Greek islands, Crete has four ENUESCO sites, which are Sitia, Psiloritis, Asterousia, and the Gorge of Samaria.
It's not surprising that Crete has four UNESCO sites, being the largest of the Greek islands with a total area of 8,450 sq kms (3,260 sq miles). The four sites all involve mountain ranges:
· Sitia and the Zakros Mountains in the northeast.
· Psiloritis and Mt Ida in the centre.
· Asterousia in the south.
· Samaria and the Samaria Gorge in the southwest.
Sitia
The lovely port town of Sitia is in the Lasithi regional unit of Crete, the most easterly of Crete's regions. It's not only the town which has been recognised by UNESCO, but the area around it too. In 2015 UNESCO declared it a Global Geopark because of the Zakros Mountains, the cave systems, the discovery of fossils, and the encouragement of ecotourism and geotourism, benefitting the local communities.
Psiloritis
Psiloritis was also declared a Global Geopark in 2015, although it had been part of the European Geoparks Network since 2001. Psiloriitis is the name of the mountain range, and the park extends from the mountains down to the Libyan Sea, an area of 1,159 sq kms (447 sq miles). The park also encompasses the Talaia Ori Mountains, and these extend all the way to Crete's north coast.
The highest peak in the Psiloritis range is Mt Ida at 2,456 metres (8,058 ft). UNESCO recognised the area, amongst other things, for its geodiversity, with its many caves and deep gorges, for its plant and animal life, including wild cats, and for the way its attractions help sustain local communities by bringing in visitors.
Crete's UNESCO SitesMap (c) Google Maps
Asterousia
In 2020 UNESCO designated this area, the most southerly mountain range in Europe, as the Asterousia Mountain Range Biosphere Reserve. It's not only for its dramatic beauty, but also for its rich archaeological heritage: people have lived here since Neolithic times. It's also home to 55% of the animal and plant species that are found on Crete, including the Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, and Bonelli’s Eagle.
Samaria Gorge
The Gorge of Samaria, and surrounding area, is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, created in 1981. This makes it the oldest of Crete's UNESCO sites. It's also a National Park, and the only one of these four areas to be uninhabited. It does, however, have ancient ruins, including churches and castles, from the days when people did once live here.
For more information, see our pages on the Samaria Gorge and Hiking the Samaria Gorge.
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Some other Crete pages
Where to Stay in Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets suggests where to stay in Eastern Crete with our favourite hotels in Zakros, Elounds, Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Istron Bay, Myrtos, Neapolis.
Chania, in Western Crete
Chania is the main city in Western Crete with a lovely setting and a beautiful harbour as well as several museums.
The Icon Painter
Icon painting is a centuries-old tradition in Crete and the rest of Greece, and Greece Travel Secrets meets a modern-day icon painter in Elounda on Crete.
Lonely Planet Crete
Lonely Planet Crete is an excellent and thorough guide of almost 300 pages to the largest of the Greek islands.
Art Courses on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets visits Visual Arts Crete who offer accommodation and run art courses at their home and studio in the village of Kastellos near Rethymnon.
Stilianou Winery near Knossos
The Stilianou Winery near Knossos on Crete uses only Cretan grape varieties, with every bottle numbered, and aims for quality rather than quantity.
Samaria Gorge
The Samaria Gorge is one the longest gorges in Europe and doing the hike is one of the best and most popular things to do on Crete.
Maleme and the German War Cemetery on Crete
Maleme near Chania is where the people who died during the battle of Crete are buried, in the German War Cemetery with the Commonwealth War Cemetery nearby.
Touring the Lyrarakis Winery on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets tours the Lyrarakis Winery on Crete and learns about Crete grape varieties such as plyto, dafni, vidiano, vilana, mandilari and kotsifali.
Sitia
Greece Travel Secrets discovers Sitia, the main town in eastern Crete, with its relaxing waterfront, inexpensive hotels, good food, and nearby ancient sites.
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete during World War 2 inspired several books and took place with an airborne invasion over Maleme on the north coast of the island.
The Cretan Diet
Studies have shown the Cretan Diet as one of the healthiest in the world, involving lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, and moderate amounts of wine.
Irakleio
Crete's capital and largest city is Irakleio, also called Iraklion or Heraklion, a large and busy place with good restaurants, museums and historical buildings.
Life as a Minoan
What was daily life as a Minoan like on Crete, living in palaces like the ones at Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, and Zakros, and what were their religious beliefs?
How to Make Petimezi
How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.
Best Beaches on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets chooses ten of the best beaches on Crete including the beautiful beaches at Vai and Elafonisi.
Ancient Gournia Minoan Site in Eastern Crete
Ancient Gournia is a Minoan archaeological site between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia in Eastern Crete where the visitor can see evidence of a maze of back streets.
Keramos Studios in Zaros
Keramos Studios in Zaros on Crete is an inexpensive two-star hotel/guesthouse with one of the best breakfasts on the island using food from the family’s farm.
The Snails House on Crete
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
Phaistos Minoan Palace on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets page on Phaistos or Faistos, the site of one of the finest Minoan palaces on Crete and is where the mysterious Phaistos Disc was found.
Best Things to Do on Crete
The best things to do on Crete and top things to see include the Samaria Gorge, the Minoan Palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the towns of Chania and Rethymnon.
Central Crete in Three Days
Driving central Crete in three days gives you time to see the highlights including the Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the beaches and the Diktean Cave.
Olive Grove Walk
This olive grove walk from Limnes to Vrises on Crete also takes you through orchards and gives close-up views of some of the island’s windmills.
Making Rakomelo on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets visits Crete and learns about making rakomelo from Jorgos Kourmoulis in Agouseliana.
Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets’ potted guide to Eastern Crete and why you should consider it for a holiday, including seeing Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Vai Beach and Zakros.
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