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“Crete, my beloved island, key to Paradise…”

Gianni’s Markopoulos lyrics above, effectively capture the essence of living in the enticing island of Crete.

Crete is a unique place, filled with surprises ranging from the diverse morphological terrain to the rich historical and cultural heritage, the cordial people, the remarkable gastronomy and the wonderful climate.

Crete was the center and birthplace of Europe’s most ancient civilization, the Minoans. The island’s bountiful history can be traced from the antiquity up to nowadays. Memories of the past emerge from the numerous prominent historical monuments scattered around the island including the grand palaces of Knossos and Phaestos, the archaeological sites of Eleftherna and Kydonia, the Venetian fortresses of Koules, Fortetza, Spinalonga, Gramvousa, Itsedin and the arsenals in Chania.

The island's historical wealth is preserved and displayed in contemporary themed museums, such as the archaeological, the historical, the folklore, and the nautical museums.

The towns of the island display impressive architectural constructions from the Venetian and Ottoman times. The Venetian ports, the bridges, the aqueducts, the mosques and the fountains are only some of the remnants of the charming architectural structures.

The monasteries of the island are also of great architectural interest. Impressive Orthodox monasteries such as the Gouverneto Monastery, Toplou Monastery, the Holy Trinity Monastery of Jagarolon, which exhibit exquisite ecclesiastical architecture are worth a visit. Of particular historical importance is the Etz Hagim Synagogue, the only synagogue currently operating in Crete, which is quartered in a medieval building in the Topana area of ​​Chania

In addition to its rich history, Crete boasts stunning natural beauty, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The beaches are particularly famous for their crystal clear turquoise waters and the long coastlines such as Elafonisi, Balos, Kedrodasos, Preveli and Vai.

Discover the wild beauty of the high mountains of Crete, snow-capped throughout the winter, overgrown with vast cypress and pine trees as well as bare alpine zones and steep cliffs, caverns, precipices, ravines, apricots Situated in Crete, the famous Samaria Gorge, part of Unesco's global biosphere reserve network, a magnificent site at the foot of the White Mountains, offers a route through a lush landscape of cypresses and pines, passing steep cliffs.

The natural landscape in sunny Crete is filled with unique inviting aromas and enchanting colors. The island has a huge wealth of flora and fauna with habitats of rare biodiversity. In the mountains you can find aromatic plants and herbs, with alluring fragrances, such as thyme, sage, plum, dittany and so on.

Get to know the place where Xenius Zeus of Greek mythology was born, the father of humans, gods and hospitality. Cretan culture is not just based on history, but also on a unique literary and artistic culture.

It is the birthplace of many distinguished writers, poets and painters like Dominic Theotokopoulos, Vincentzos Cornaros, Nikos Kazantzakis, Odysseas Elytis and Mikis Theodorakis. Crete has given birth to proud, hospitable people who, despite the hardships of life, are happy to share their earthly goods with their fellow human beings and especially with strangers. After all, the Greek word for “philoxenia” (hospitality) derives from the words philo (= I love) and xenia (=foreigner) and refers to a tradition that is still alive today. The locals have profound love and pride for their homeland and their adherence to traditional ways and customs and are eager to welcome and familiarize strangers with it. The islanders are famous for their congenial spirit and they could literary invite you in their homes and treat you to local delicacies. Stop by a Cretan village café and you will soon capture their sense of hospitality after being treated to raki. Interacting with the locals will soon make you reconsider any reservations you might have.

Crete has one of the oldest and most impressive gastronomical traditions. Cretan cuisine can be characterized as the main representative of the Mediterranean diet which includes unique culinary delights in combination with healthy eating. Its secret is based on the rich variety of products that the Cretan land produces; an astonishing variety of herbs, aromatic plants, cheese, honey, legumes, vegetables, cereals along with premium quality olive oil. Integral elements of the daily Cretan diet include the delicious fruits and of course the local wine. Additionally, Crete can grant you exclusive wine experiences, since the tradition of wine can be traced to the Minoan era and continues up to this day, considering that wine production is favored by the mild weather conditions commonly found on the island. Some exceptional local varieties such as "kotsitsifali", "mandalari”, "Vidiano", "Malvasia di Cadia" and many more can be discovered in wineries of the island where you can acquaint yourself with unique aromas and tastes.

Crete has a privileged geographical position in the Mediterranean, which gives it a mild climate with mild changes of the weather. A special feature of the island's climate is its climate deviations from region to region, the microclimate of each place. The winters are mild and usually start in mid-December with January and February being the coolest months, especially throughout the inland and the highlands. Summers are relatively cool on the north side of the island due to the beneficial direction of the winds blowing from the Aegean to Crete. The southern coast is warmer in winter and summer than in the north side of the island. The sunshine lasts almost all year round, with the highest intensity from April to October having a total of up to 300 days of enjoyable sun. As in all parts of the world, in Crete, we are gradually witnessing the effects of climate change which are manifested in the form of coastal erosion and desertification of the mountainous areas of the island.

Discover Cretan tradition, genuine Cretan music, dances and experience the Cretan pathos and thoughts about life and death as expressed in traditional songs known as "mantinades". Listen to traditional Cretan music, the most vibrant music that continues to fascinate with very remarkable contemporary creators such as Psarantonis, Loudovikos of Anogeia and more. In every corner of the island you can come across vibrant feasts accompanied by the music of Cretan lyre and lutes which will definitely get you dancing.

Crete today is growing dynamically, contributing significantly to the Greek economy. Its large urban centers have all modern infrastructure, and services providing a high standard of living. You will find all public services, a large bank web and a well-organized business environment. Being the most remote Greek island, which could have possibly been a disadvantage, has actually become a comparative advantage due to its connection to the inland with the excellent operation of ultra-modern long-haul boats and low-cost airline services, eliminating the distance while maintaining the natural beauty of the island. There are two modern commercial ports on the island as well as two international airports supporting flights from all over Europe. Public transport services, including both the major urban centers and the villages and settlements, are very well organized and cater perfectly to the needs of modern buses.

Unlike other smaller Greek islands, Crete is not solely financially dependent on tourism. There are many small craft companies and large industrial units in Crete, as well as many highly active commercial and technological companies. The island's tourism development is remarkable, crucial not only for the local economy but also for the overall economic support of Greece. On the island you can find both some of the most luxurious five-star hotel units of the country, but also charming and cozy small boutique hotels in renovated Venetian buildings or old Cretan traditional houses.

Two distinguished institutions of higher education, the University and the University of Crete, as well as the renowned Crete Research Institute of Technology, operate and develop here.

Living on the island of Crete is well supported by a well-organized network of public health services. This network consists of 8 hospitals (one of them being a university hospital), 14 health centers, and 134 regional clinics. All kinds of health problems are completely covered with the exception of rare diseases. The health network is complemented by the urgent emergency response through EKAB. Citizens of EU Member States and third countries have easy access to this well-coordinated network.

Crete is a place free of restrictions and limitations. Everyday life is never the same as you can find many outlets for relaxation and physical activity. Popular activities on the island include long walks in the beautiful streets of the old Venetian neighborhoods, calming seaside walks, hiking the mountain trails and the myriads canyons, and of course swimming on the countless crystal clear beaches around the island. For those who wish to be more adventurous and the thrill-seekers out there, there are of course areas on the island for climbing, paragliding and underwater adventures.

Nowadays, Crete has transformed into a melting pot of various nationalities and ethnicities of people who have migrated to the island seeking a permanent or semi-permanent place of residence or work. After all, Crete has always been a crossroad of various cultures, religions and races thanks to its strategic location among three continents. Many people have decided to move here attracted by the mild Mediterranean climate, the culture, the lifestyle, the low crime rate and of course the enticing beauty of the island. Retirees from other countries have also shown a special preference to Crete as a new place of permanent residence, since the cost of living is much lower than in other countries, while experiencing and enjoying all of the benefits mentioned above.

The dream of living in Crete can become a reality, with the purchase of a permanent home, or a vacation home. The comparatively lower cost of living as well as the low cost of buying real estate has significantly boosted the real estate market in recent years. The cost of housing here is lower than in other Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Spain and France, making the real estate market a particularly attractive investment. Also, since Crete is one of the top tourist destinations, investments in this area are always an excellent choice.

An important motivation for acquiring a residence in Greece and in Crete in particular, has been the 'golden visa' institution since 2013 which provides investors outside the European Union (EU) with the opportunity to purchase property worth more than € 250,000 and in return receive a residence permit for themselves and their families. The residence permit gives the right to travel to all countries of the Schengen Treaty for vacation.

Greek bureaucracy has always been a point of concern for those who have decided to invest in Greece, but surely in recent years, significant measures have been taken to improve and aid those interested in investing. It is remarkable to mention that in the complex and perhaps sometimes lengthy process of acquiring real estate you will no longer find insurmountable obstacles that you would certainly face if you spoke the language.

crete chania: homes, houses, apartments, land & plots: for sale & for rent. greek golden visa, buy a second house for living in crete, renovations projects, houses to renovate, plot & land for investment, For Sale (to buy): residences, holiday houses, condo flats, retirements homes.