In this definitive guide to Crete, John Freely, who has an intimate knowledge of the Great Island, celebrates its spirit as revealed in its ancient culture and its modern way of life. Carefully prepared itineraries, maps, and clear plans of archaeological sites make this an essential companion for any visitor. The author introduces travelers to the Minoan palaces at Knossos, Phaestos, Ayia Triadha, Mallia, and Kato Zakros, as well as to many other places of historic, artistic and scenic interest, including Graeco-Roman ruins, Byzantine churches, Venetian and Ottoman fortresses, meta-Byzantine monasteries and chapels, and the old Greek, Turkish and Venetian quarters of the modern Cretan cities of Iraklion, Rethymnon, and Chania. The book is also a guide to the physical splendors of Crete, particularly to its three majestic mountain ranges and the spectacular Samaria Gorge, as well as to the superb beaches that fringe the island on both the Aegean and Libyan Seas, as at the renowned resort of Ayios Nikolaos.