Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

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Dia Island: Ancient Atlantis Reemerges As a Resort?

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News Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal is interested in Crete as a touristic development bears mixed blessings. The prince, who’s transformed every place he’s invested in quite literally, says he wants to develop the island of Dia, just off Heraklion. But Crete is a special case study in protected antiquity, and Dia may hold secretes the Greeks don”t want destroyed by overzealous development.

Top 10 Chania “In and Out of Town” Attractions

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Crete’s second biggest city, is probably the most well know and picturesque. Chania, a Minoan settlement known to the Greeks as Kydonia, is famous for it’s Venetian Harbor photogenically. The capital of the provence of the same name, Chania is about as iconic a destination as you can imagine. Surrounded by a host of smaller villages and immeasurable natural beauty, the west of Crete’s gem of tourism deserves every accolade. Here’s a bucket list of things any visitor “must see” before leaving this magical Cretan getaway.

The Truth of Knossos: Discovering What the Eteocretans Knew

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Entering the site at Knossos for the first time, I was immediately captivated by an unexpected experience. The 70s-ish architecture in the welcome area outside the palace, these too spoke to me from a special place. Knossos, you see, it’s one of those sites one cannot forget, but for mysterious reasons. Let me show you a bit of one of Greece and Crete’s most underestimated treasures, the lost and found Palace of the Minoan civilization.

Greece Loses Russia Travelers to Agency Flop

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For the Greece tourism sector sanctions against Russia may have already spoiled the end of an otherwise record summer touristic season. At least this is partially true for customers of one of Russia’s largest Greek focused tourism agencies, Labirint. The company, the third to fail in Russia ins the last few months, has put Russian travelers at a disadvantage even though officials say current trips are secure.

Crete’s Famous But Remote Treasures: Elafonisi Beach

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For those out there headed to Crete, driving the countryside is one of the great treats of this marvelous island destination. What’s more, navigating the well maintained Crete roads is a welcome adventure with mountain goats and sheep a plenty to keep visitors company. One such “discovery path”, the road to famous Elaphonisi Beach, is the spotlight of Argo today.

Grotto Homes: Romance the Cretan Way

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On Crete the idea of out-of-the-way places takes on new dimensions. The countryside is as pristine and wild as you can imagine. The effect of this wildness, meeting the cities by the sea, leaves visitors spellbound in a sort of landscape awe. At the civilized heart of rural Crete, a tapestry of villages dot the island like tiny gems. It is in just such a tiny town, literally hidden from view, where you will find the most romantic stay at Grotto Homes.

Crete Week Two: At the Top of the World

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The White Mountains of Crete (Lefka Ori) are a spectacle to behold. The white capped limestone peaks offer the most dramatic backdrop for an Island so famous for seaside pleasures and ancient seafaring. In fact, the spectacle of sheer cliffs rising into the clouds is almost as awe inspiring as the pristine beaches and aquamarine waters of the Cretan and Libyan Seas that surround Crete.

Winning Sailing Attitudes Lead to Winning the Crete Union Cup

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The land of the fabled Minoans was the scene last month of the first Crete Union Cup Regatta sailing event ever organized. Organized as a celebration of the centennial unification of Crete with mainland Greece and with the support of several Crete´s yachting clubs, the Region of Crete, the Hellenic Sailing Federation, and many local sponsors, […]

Cretans Greet Fall with Tsikoudia Festival

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Crete, the largest island in Greece and the fifth in Mediterranean Sea, is also the most fascinating one. With a remarkable history which the traveler can admire all over the island, from the ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos to the Venetian fortress of Rethymo, Crete is renowned for its natural beauty, diverse landscape and fertile valleys and rich gastronomic culture. Crete simply has it all!

Ten Summer “Gems” on Crete

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As Summer draws to a close in the Mediterranean Crete affords a special opportunity for last minute vacation memories. The land of the ancient Minoans is as unique as those distant ancestors were culturally, and as magnificent an adventure as any place in Europe.