Crete
The island of Crete, the largest of the Greek Isles, is located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, about 160 kilometres south of the mainland of Greece. The island is extremely mountainous, dominated by dry rugged landscapes and majestic peaks, covered with snow in the winter and very hot in the summer months. Most of the island's land is used for the growing of vineyards. Crete serves as one of the centres of Greece's tourism industry, providing a wide variety of entertainment and venues, especially attractive to archaeologists, scientists, those interested in ancient history and culture, or simply holidaymakers. Crete is home to one of the oldest civilisations in Europe, which appeared more than 4,000 years ago. Many artifacts and archaeological sites are showcased on the island from this epoch, such as the world-famous Minoan site, Knossos. Venetian castles, unique natural phenomena and dozens of bustling seaside resorts are other attractions of the island as well.