CRETECRETE TRAVELTRAVEL GUIDEGUIDE

 AAnn insider'sinsider's guideguide toto Crete,Crete, featuringfeaturing thethe island'sisland's bestbest restaurants,restaurants, attractionsattractions andand thingsthings toto do,do, includingincluding howhow toto traveltravel therethere andand aroundaround,the,the nightlifenightlife andand beachesbeaches toto go.go.

 ByBy MariosMarios PapadakisPapadakis WhyWhy Go?Go?

 “Megalónisos”, the “Great Island”, is the Greek moniker for Crete and indeed it is almost a country uunto itself. It is best known asas the cradle of Minoan civilisation during the second millennium BC.  It is also the 5th largest island in Mediterranean sea.  Crete has a big production of olives.  Crete offers many attractions for tourists and many big towns to stay. WhereWhere toto gogo

 Iráklio (Heraklion) Archaeological Museum is the world's greatest showcase of Minoan artefacts. Stop in before visiting nearby Knossos, despite much speculative restoration the most impressive of several Minoan palace complexes. Fast-forwarding in time, the medieval old towns of Réthymno and Haniá are redolent of the Venetianian andand Ottoman tenures on Crete. For hikers, the Samarian Gorge is the most spectacular of about a dozen canyons slashing through rugged mountains to arrive at the sea. CreteCrete attractionsattractions

 Knossos isis thethe largestlargest Bronze age archeological site on Crete and is considered Europe's oldest city. According to the myth, there was a Labyrinth where a mythic creature called Minotaur lived.  Phaistos, currently refers to a Bronze age archeological site at modern Phaistos, a municipality in south central Crete. Ancient Phaistos was located about 5.6 km east of the Mediterranianian Sea and 62 km south of Heraklio, the second largest city of Minoan Crete. The name, Phaistos, survives from ancient Greek references to a city in Crete of that name, shown to be, in fact, at or near the current ruins. WhatWhat toto eateat && drinkdrink

 Crete has figured prominently in the revival in Greek cuisine, drawing on such locallocal ingredientsingredients asas flavouredflavoured rusks,rusks, freshfresh oror curecured meats, wild edible weeds and of course rakí or tsikoudiá, the famous local distilledled clearclear spiritsspirits mademade fromfrom grape pressings in October. WhereWhere toto staystay

 TheThere is a wide variety of hotels in Crete including luxury hotels, boutiqueboutique hotels,hotels, budgetbudget hotelshotels and studio apartments. Read the reviewsreviews andand book.book. NightlifeNightlife

 Town-centreTown-centre barsbars andand dancedance clubsclubs onon CreteCrete oftenoften taketake fullfull advantageadvantage ofof itsits considerableconsiderable VenetianVenetian heritage,heritage, specispecificallyfically vaultedvaulted oror arcadedarcaded ex-warehousesex-warehouses oror shipbuildingshipbuilding factories.factories. OtherOther vvenuesenues tendtend toto bebe outout ofof towntown onon beachbeach strips,strips, andand thesethese maymay begibeginn operatingoperating shortlyshortly afterafter (or(or eveneven before)before) noon.noon.On every town you willwill gogo suchsuch asas ChaniaChania andand AgiosAgios NikolaosNikolaos youyou cancan ffindind plentyplenty ofof clubsclubs andand barsbars toto enjoyenjoy yourselves.yourselves. BeachesBeaches

 Vai is the most popular beach in Crete.  For the exotic Caribbean vibe – this is where Mars's "taste of paradise" Bounty bar advert was filmed in the early 1970s. Also known as Finikodassos , this gently curving golden sand beach is backed by Europe's largest natural palm grove – some 500 densely clustered trees in an oasis fed by a stream – which have stood here for more than 3,000 years. According to legend, the palms grew from date stones discarded by Saracen pirates and washed up by the sea. They are, in fact, a species of palm native to much of southern Greece and known to the ancients. Happily, they seem to be immune to the depredations of the Rhyncophorus weevil which has killed most of Greece's other palms – the trees here secrete a goo which envelops and suffocates the creatures. TryTry Crete,Crete, itit worthsworths visiting!visiting!

Holiday destinations

The island of Samos, Greece A great island…

Samos is a great island where you can visit a lot of places and have fantastic holidays there.

In Samos there are many sights to see , like Pythagorio and Marathokampos. Also at that places there are a lot of different bitches, some good and other which are the best at Samos.

An island of legend and beauty

Samos is described as "an island ruled by legend and beauty. It is the island of the father of mathematics, Pythagoras, the astronomer Aristarchus and the philosopher Epicurus. It is the home of Hera and the land that hosted Herodotus and Aesop. An important center of trade in the Aegean and a major naval force in antiquity, it came into contact with important Mediterranean cultures. An island for all

This island is for all ages , from young children to elderly people. It is ideal for families as it offers a wide range of choices… You will never forget the crystal clear waters…

Kokkari beach was chosen as one of the best European destinations Visit the picturesque Enjoy the local villages dishes . They are delicious The choices are endless Luxurious hotels, rooms, bungalows… Excellent accommodation for all budgets Places to visit…

In Samos there are many sights to see , like Pythagorion and Marathokampos. If you go at Samos you will have fun there and when you return from the island you will be full of memories If you are interested in history you must visit the archaeological museum in Pythagorion and admire the dazzling treasures and valuable collections You will have a chance in a life time to visit the temple of Hera in

The Pythagorion Samos summer wine….

• Sip on a glass of Samow wine before you leave… • Its sweet taste is unique… • You can also visit the wine museum If you ever come to Samos, it’s certain that you will soon be back….there is so much left to see… Zanneio Experimental Junior High School 2016- 17

A project by Nick Mastrominas B3 SummerSummer HolidaysHolidays SpendSpend youryour summersummer holidaysholidays onon thethe wonderfulwonderful islandisland ofof LefkadaLefkada

ByBy MariadaMariada PolitiPoliti Take a trip to the center of Lefkada to see how beautiful this island is. It’s a place where you can relax and see this picturesque view. Another place you can visit is Nidri waterfalls. There you can’t do much but you can enjoy your walk through the olive trees and near the blue river…. And of course you can swim in the waterfalls! And don’t forget these worldwide known beaches, for example Agiofili, Porto Katsiki, Egkremnoi and many more…We also have some of the sunrise which make the seas shine. Something that you might not know is that Vassiliki in Lefkada is the third best destination in Europe for windsurfing! PATRASPATRAS

Patras is the third biggest city in Greece. It has a lot of special monuments to visit. The Patras Carnival is one of the biggest in Europe. PATRAS Patras is the third biggest city in Greece. It has a lot of special monuments to visit. Saint Andrew’s Cathedral (Agios Andreas in Greek) is the largest church in Greece and the third-largest Byzantine-style church in the Balkans, after the Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.

Roman Odeon is an old theatre in Patras which was very popular in the ancient times. Today, it functions as the chief venue for Patras International Festival held every summer and other cultural events. In Patras there are a lot of beautiful beaches, like the beach of Panagopoula and Gianiskari which are very popular.

This is the bridge of Rio-Antirio and it is very big. It was completed in 2004 and it unites the cities of Rio and Antirio. That’s why it is called Rio- Antirio bridge. It also connects Peloponnese with the west Greece. The Patras Carnival or Patrino karnavali is the largest event of its kind in Greece and one of the biggest in Europe. It has more than 180 years of history and is organized every year, 40 days before Easter. The carnival of Patras is not a single event but a variety of events that includes balls, parades, hidden treasure hunt and the children's carnival amongst others. It climaxes in the last weekend of Carnival with the Saturday evening parade of carnival groups, the extravagant Sunday parade of floats and groups, and finally the ritual burning of the carnival king at the St. Nikolaos Street pier in the harbour of Patras. Its characteristics are spontaneity, improvisation, inspiration and volunteerism.The purpose of the carnival is for everyone to have fun! So, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit Patras!

PIRAEUSPIRAEUS is a port city in the region of Attica, Greece. It is located within the Athens urban area, 12 kilometers southwest from its city center, and lies along the east coast. By Xristos Stratigos B3 PLACES OF INTEREST

The Hellenic Maritime Museum and the municipal theatre are places worth visiting. HELLENIC MARITIME MUSEUM

• The first attempt to establish the Hellenic Maritime Museum was in the newly established Greek state in 1867. That year the master of the Navy Gerasimos Zochios, founder of the Navy Retirement Fund, suggested that the Fund takes the task of collecting and conserving objects related to the Greek maritime history. MUNICIPAL THEATER

• The Piraeus Municipal Theatre is a neoclassical building built on plans by architect Ioannis Lazarus and was opened on 9 April 1895. • The theatre has a 600-seat capacity and is located in the centermost place of the city of Piraeus. ENTERTAINMENT • One of the greatest things in Piraeus is night life. Pasalimani or Zea is the night outing place. All along the promenade you will find cafes, bars etc. In the two marinas hundreds of luxury yachts give a flavour of Cote D'Azur and St Tropez in France. Take a walk around Pasalimani and stay for a coffee or a drink on the open area cafeterias around the Gulf of Zea. You can do different things at night such as go to different clubs in Mikrolimano or walk in Pasalimani and spend the night there with friends and family. Visit Piraeus per se or to take a ship from Piraeus port to visit one of the Greek islands! Zante A spectacular island Welcome to Zante An island full of suprises and magical beaches

By Markela Stratigou is a Greek island in the Ionian sea. It is the third largest of the . It covers an area of 405.55 km2 and its coastline is roughly 123 km in length. In Greek mythology the island was said to be named after Zakynthos, the son of a legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus. Zakynthos is full of beautiful beaches. Firstly, there is Laganas. The name "Laganas" comes from the Greek word "yoke" meaning "wireybuzz", referring to the former manufacture of pottery in the area of and Kalamaki. An attraction of Laganas is the migration of the loggerhead sea turtles. Laganas is also known as a party destination in Europe. Keri Secondly, there is Keri. Keri is located on the west of Zakynthos and here you can watch and enjoy one of the most stunning sunsets. Blue Caves

In the north of the island, you can find the blue caves which are only accessible by the sea. The caves attract thousands of visitors each year and are located just below the lighthouse at Cape Skinari. They owe their name to the blue waters inside them. Objects below the water appear to turn blue. This includes people that enter the water to swim. Shipwreck or aka Navagio

Navagio is located on the north-west shore of Zakynthos (Zante), in the Municipality of Elation. The area is defined by its sheer limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and clear blue water, which attract thousands of tourists yearly. Traditional Food

Zakynthos has the best cuisine. You can taste delicious dishes (mainly seafood) but its famous for its sweets. For example, mantolato (nougats) and mantoles. They are made from sugar, honey. and hazelnuts. Night Life

Zakynthos is famous for its buzzling nightlife. There are many bars, clubs and discos. The notorious Laganas Strip is by far one of the best places for nightlife in the whole of Europe and has some amazing nightclubs to go to. Zakynthos is one of the most fantastic islands you have ever visited. So pay a visit to the island and enjoy its beauty by yourself.

By Markela Stratigou ZANTEZANTE GREEKGREEK ISLANDS:ISLANDS: BESTBEST HOLIDAYSHOLIDAYS DESTINATIONDESTINATION

From Peggy Myftarago The island, known internationally as "Zante" or Flower of Levante, is one of the Ionian Islands. It is the eleventh in size Greek island and the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Its area is 406 sq. Km and the population amounts to 40.758 inhabitants. WHERE TO SWIM The island is divided into regions and there are various, exotic and unique beaches such as: the Shipwreck, the Blue Caves Keri, Vassilikos, the Straw, Tsilivi, Banana, and many more in Laganas. Shipwreck and Blue Caves  Welcome to the famous  The Blue Caves are one of the beaches of Zante. The most well known and advertised Shipwreck, as it is called, Zante natural attractions of the island is a shipwreck washed up on a and it is possible to visit them remote beach of the island, either with your own boat, or and today is one of the most one of the many organized boat interesting sights. The wreck trips. happened in 1980, when the  They consist of atypical ship "Panayiotis", which geological formations that have belonged to a Cephalonian, created a series of caves along carrying illegal cigarettes from the northwest coast of the Turkey in international waters, island. They begin immediately after Saint Nicholas to end near sank. Schoinari cape. VASSILIKOS BANANA TSIVILI AND KALAMAKI

Vassilikos is located on the south-east of the island, an area with lots of green and many beaches. Banana Beach is the largest beach on the island and so preferred by locals and foreign visitors. It has crystal clear and shallow waters. The Tsilivi beach is among the most touristic ones. It is an extensive strip of sand and the sea has a sandy bottom up to forty meters from the coast, where the rocks begin. Along the beach there are tourist and sports facilities and you can rent pedal boats or water scooters. Kalamaki is located 7 km southwest of the city and is a quiet resort for a relaxing holiday. It is a peaceful, green village that leads to a magnificent sandy beach. There are many olive groves, farms and pine, coastal forest, which is the natural boundary separating Kalamaki from Laganas, the busiest resort on the island. LAGANAS AND KERI  Keri Lake is an ideal starting point for either visiting the caves and the impressive beaches of Marathia Cape or to organize excursions to the nearby island of turtles surrounded by a beautiful sea and is part of the marine park.  Located about twenty kilometers from the town of Zante, the small village of Keri Lake located on the slope of the Cape Marathia, just opposite of the island Marathonissi. Saint Dionysius: a church worth visiting The current majestic church and the adjacent monastery experienced several phases. Destroyed by the great earthquake that rocked Zante in 1893. Special 1900 fundraising Commission undertook the construction of a new church, the inauguration of which took place on August 22, 1948. Particularly important Temple artifacts are: a) Larnaca the Holy Relic, project Georgios Diamantis Bafa (1829), b) the Despotic icons in temple with silver lining from the same artist (1829), c) the famous painting of the Litany of St. manually priest Nicholas Coutouzi (1766), d) the carved and gilded "Room" St. and more. MANTOLATO Zante has many traditional sweets among them mantolato (nougat). The nougat is fudge with almonds, typical sweet of the Venetians. During the Venetian rule, the nougat was the favorite dessert of the aristocracy. Nougat, except almonds contains honey, sugar, egg whites whipped meringue. The name comes from the Italian word mandorla (almond) and is now popular in the Ionian Islands and the Cyclades. Italy called mandorlato (translated "filled with almonds") and exists in many local variations. NIGHT LIFE IN ZANTE

• Zante is also famous for various events and parties organized for tourists and locals. The nightlife in Zante is divided into two sections, depending on what you prefer each. For those who wish to spend a quiet evening, Zante town and village Vassilikos are the ideal locations. You can enjoy your meal to the sounds of a serenade in some of the restaurants there. These areas are full of restaurants, taverns and cafes for those who prefer to have fun calmly. Contrary, for those who are party animals there are always great parties organized by beaches with popular and new kinds of music for all tastes. Levant flower, mined from medieval tale  The home of our national poet Dionysius Solomon, Zante, endowed by nature with unique beauties, is the third in area and population of the Ionian island and one of the most verdant islands of Greece. With wide sandy beaches, a sea in which a person can distinguish all shades of blue, with the unique Venetian architecture. Zante has a separate, own energy that awakens the senses and helps in physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.  The city was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1953, which leveled the city that tourists called 'Venice of the South "because of their special architectural physiognomy. Known as Zante, or Flower of Levante known for years around the world as one of the best destinations in the world.  The footsteps of the Venetian past of the island can still be distinguished. Wandering the historic Piazza San Marco where the populace burned the golden book of noble. The tree of liberty in the center of the square symbolizes liberation from the Venetians and the reception of French democracy. Above the picturesque district of Bochali with paved streets, flowered courtyards and shops with traditional serenades generated images from another era, as if sprung from a medieval tale. In the shadow of the hill of Strani in which the national Greek poet was inspired the national anthem, dominates the watchful Venetian castle.  Zante is an island with a unique culture and civilization. Met great spiritual bloom and gave birth to great personalities who have excelled in the fine arts, literature, poetry, architecture. It is the island of serenade and light opera.