Archive for 'Curiosities in Greece'

Heraklion is one of Greece's largest cities and is the economic hub of Crete, if you have found a villa in Crete, it will likely be one of the must-see places to plan a day trip to during your time on the island. While not always orderly or neat, it is picturesque in its own way and is, without a doubt, utterly fascinating. In this city, history is everywhere you look and it is home to some of the most important historical sites and institutions in all of Greece, including the Palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. If you are interested in the grand and rich historical heritage and the impressive ruins for which Greece is so well-known, it is certainly a representative destination for familiarising yourself with this incredible past. One of the best ways to begin delving into to history of Heraklion is to walk the city's ancient walls.

We recently wrote about the stunning and secluded beach of Glyka Nera in Crete. Secluded as that beach is, one of the only ways (if you choose not to hike a not insubstantial distance there) to get to the beach is by boat and while Glyka Nera itself is well worth going to, one of the towns that you can get a water taxi to the beach from, Loutro is a special beauty in its own right. It seemed a terrible shame not to mention it and its appeal too. So, if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and were considering planning a trip to Glyka Nera while on the island, as per our earlier recommendation, then we also recommend setting aside some time to explore Loutro.

Greece is home to lots of incredible natural gems from the towering rocky stacks of Meteora to the almost-too-perfect-to-be-real beaches of Balos and everything in between. Those who have found a vacation rental in Greece will quickly discover that the variety and quality of both ancient man-made tourist attractions and architectural gems for which Greece is famous is very much matched by an equal abundance of diverse and extraordinary natural phenomena and beauties. No matter where you are headed, there will, no doubt, be astounding landscapes and natural features to uncover and devour with your eyes and if you have found a vacation rental in Kefalonia, in particular, and you are exploring her landscape, then the most obvious pick among her rich selection of natural gems is the Cave of Melissani.

This truly unique and picturesque cave seems like something plucked from the pages of a fantasy novel: too ethereal and stunning in the soft morning rays or warm golden glow of the evening to be real. But, real it is! Located just outside Sami, the Cave of Melissani is home to an underwater lake so clear that visitors often report it felt like they were on a boat floating through the air and which is visible from above through a large opening in the top of the chamber. This opening is hugged by the lush trees of the forest and this paints a vividly colourful and picturesque image when it is viewed from both above and from inside the cave itself. B-shaped, the cave is 3.5km long, 40m wide, and 36m high and made up of two chambers that are separated by an island at the centre. In Greek mythology, the cave was said to be the home of nymphs – something that seems entirely plausible when one visits this hauntingly beautiful space – and it is actually named after a nymph called Melissani who killed herself and fell in the lake after Pan failed to return her love in one tale.

This week on Easy Reserve, we have been talking about the incredible island gem that is Corfu. A luxury destination in the Ionian Islands in Greece, it is a place for sun, sea, and fun. The landscape of the island is rugged and charming with lots of opportunities for hiking and exploration and also boasts perfect beaches (such as the beach of Porto Timoni that we discussed in our last post) and glittering sapphire waters made for relaxing, sunning oneself, snorkelling, and lazy days on a boat. However, in addition to the overwhelming natural beauty and perfection of the island, Corfu is also an unexpected cultural gem. Having spent time under under Venetian, French, and British rule throughout the centuries before being united with Greece in 1864, it is a place with a diverse and rich cultural heritage and history, which is reflected in the range of architectural styles that one stumbles past on the island and in the excellent cultural institutions on the island, such as the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu.

The Museum of Asian Art of Corfu is located in in the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in Corfu City on the island of Corfu. This Greek Revival style neoclassical gem by Colonel George Whitmore was originally commissioned by Sir Thomas Maitland as the residence of the British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands and was built between 1819 and 1824. It was then used as a Royal residence after Corfu became part of Greece, until the Second World War. While it survived the Italian bombardment of the city during the Corfu Incident in 1923, it was later used for the temporary housing of refugees from Epirus during the Greek Civil War in the 1940s, which left it in a state of disrepair. Thankfully, with the help of a private trust organised by Sir Charles Peake, the then British Ambassador to Greece, the state was able to restore the palace interiors in 1954. The Greek king continued to use the palace for some state occasions until the 1960s but, today, it is solely used to house the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu.

In a move to maintain the good reputation of, and interest in, Greece as a desirable destination for tourists, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, in cooperation with Google, have started the “Greece from Home” initiative. Launched at the start of April by the GNTO and Marketing Greece, with the support of Google, it reinforces Greece's positive image during these difficult and trying times in which travel to the region has been made temporarily impossible and allows people all over the world to stay in touch with Greek culture and access Greek tourist attractions.

Through Youtube videos, virtual tours, pictures, and much more besides, this new website and service will allow those who can't wait for their next trip to Greece to help temporarily satisfying their cravings for all of the things that make us love this country and holiday destination.