Archive for 'Must See Attractions in Greece'

Beautiful beaches are in no short supply in Greece but if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are looking for some particularly scenic and picturesque examples then we have an excellent suggestion of one of her loveliest. Crete's beaches boast those kind of impossibly blue seas, dramatically craggy cliffs, and perfectly scenic settings that make people sigh immediately upon seeing a picture and wish themselves there...well, sigh no longer and get planning a trip to one Crete and one of her most stunning (which is really saying something) beaches; the truly magical Glyka Nera

Located in the Chania region, 43km west of Chora Sfakion and 75km south of the city of Chania, on the far southwest of Crete, Glyka Nera immediately captivates with its striking appearance and sheltered setting that is so far removed from the outside world (you'll need to take a boat or trek to it). Ranked one of the best beaches in Crete, Greece, and Europe, it is named Glyka Nera, or, “sweet water,” for the freshwater springs that gush out of the fine pebbly beach at various intervals.

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.

If you think of a holiday in Crete or Greece, you are likely to picture plenty of time on her incredible beaches, enjoying the stunning deep blue of the sea meeting the pale shores, the pleasant water temperatures, the great weather, and the beautiful surroundings. However, in addition to her beaches, her most obvious and well-known trait, the island is also home to lots of other amazing natural wonders and little surprises to uncover as you explore. One such incredible gem is Lake Kournas.

The only freshwater lake in Crete, this relatively large (at a maximum length of 1.087km and a maximum breadth of 0.88km) and shallow (at 22.5m at its deepest point) but stunning lake is located in a valley among the hills, surrounded by a particularly beautiful landscape, just a few kilometres from the sea. Known as Lake Koressia in antiquity, it is now named for the Arabic word, “kurna,” for, “lake,” (or bath) so calling it Lake Kournas in English is kind of like calling it Lake Lake!

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.

Corfu is one of those perfect and idyllic destinations that people spend their lives dreaming of and adding to bucket lists and is particularly famous and beloved for her lovely beaches, which is why it makes perfect sense that it is home to one of the most unique and charming beaches that we have ever laid eyes on. Porto Timoni is an incredible hidden gem that almost looks too picturesque to be real and is definitely one of our picks of the dreamiest beaches in Greece. If you are spending time in Corfu, it is one of the places that should be immediately pencilled into your itinerary and it is exactly the kind of beach that we are all probably dreaming of right about now...Take a gander at this astounding beauty, picture yourself there, and let's all look forward together to when we can safely travel to the wonderful beaches of Greece once more.

Located near the villages of Agios Georgios Pagi and Afionas on the west coast of Corfu, the beach of Porto Timoni is a unique hidden gem that is framed by lush surroundings. Used as a harbour in antiquity, this amazing peninsula on the coast and natural ring-like phenomenon is actually home to two different beaches that are separated by a small strip of land; Porto Timoni, the bigger beach, and Limni, the smaller beach. The two beaches also form two separate little bays with one looking back at the resort of Agios Georgios and the other out to the island of Mathraki.