Frangokastello

The peace dividend

A restful holiday by the sea – or endless opportunities to explore: the island of Crete can offer it all, says Eve Kerswill

Taking a villa holiday in Crete

Take an evening drive through the mountains of Crete and you’ll see the peaceful scene of families and friends catching up on the gossip as they sit outside their homes.

A timeless scenario: yet it wasn’t always like this, because this sprawling southern Greek island has a history of invasion and occupation – from the Moors centuries ago to the Nazis.

But these days the only ‘invaders’ are holidaymakers who tend to think of nothing more taxing than whether to fit in just one more swim before ambling to the nearest taverna for lunch. Or which of the island’s hundreds of beautiful beaches to visit today.

Crete is terrific if you want nothing more than a traditional get-away-from-it-all holiday. But it’s also loved by historians, archaeologists, wildlife enthusiasts, walkers and climbers. That’s because it’s got the richest archaeological heritage in Europe; the longest gorge; more mountains and caves than any other island in Greece; hundreds of plants found only on the island and some very rare creatures indeed.

Not a bad view to wake up to…

The superlatives go on: it’s the largest Greek island and the furthest south. Its people live longer than anywhere else in Europe – probably something to do with having the healthiest diet on the continent: lots of fruit, veg and olive oil. The Cretans grow oranges, avocados, tomatoes, vines, chestnuts and olives; their cheeses come from goats and ewes; meat is locally reared, and virtually all Cretan food is free from chemicals and additives, according to our guide, Dimitris.

It’s a stress-free place because there’s virtually no crime in the Cretan community. “Because of our strong family, community and religious ties if anyone does something wrong, they know they will have the disapproval of the whole community to deal with,” said Dimitris.