Home of the great Minoan civilization and the mythological home of Zeus, Crete is the largest and the most rugged of the Greek Islands. The mountains in the north are a breathtaking backdrop to long sandy beaches, verdant vineyards and olive groves. Heraklion, one of the two main ports on the island, was once the harbor for Knossos, the largest palace and most powerful Minoan center on the island.
