http://www.rentcars24.com/ Car hire in Crete, offers high level Car Rental services low priced, based in Heraklion Crete, rent a car in Crete. Car hire in crete, rent a car and win discount rates at very low car hire Crete deals, rent a car in Crete at any location, airport heraklion car hire, chania airport rent economy cars. Copyright Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/94.html Mini guide to HeraklionThe capital of Crete has long been the cultural, economic and political center of the island. Home to ancient monuments and modern amenities, this city is the gateway to historic Crete. The magnificent fortress, Koules, stands sentinel over the port. This castle has been used for centuries as protection for the harbor and as a prison. Now it is open to the public for tours. It contains artifacts and weapons from the past as well as dark hallways and cells that used to incarcerate the city’s prisoners. The city also contains a pre-classical palace, the Knossos, which housed the rulers of Heraklion as they slowly conquered the island’s other cities in ancient times. In the center of the city is the excellent Archaeological Museum of Crete, which displays artifacts from Minoan, classical, Hellenistic and Roman times. In Heraklion there are many options for entertainment and relaxation. In the city’s tavernas and restaurants can be found the local spirit raki as well as Cretian and international cuisine. For sunbathers there are several lovely beaches near the city. Heraklion is also an excellent base for exploring Crete. By car hire in Crete it is easy to make day trips all over the island and still be back in the city for by nightfall. The eastern village of Zakros houses a historic palace as well as an interesting archaeological site situated on a beautiful beach. This city can be reached by daily flights from Athens as well as several other cities around the Mediterranean. Package deals from many European cities are also numerous in the summer. The city of Heraklion is surounded from many tourist resorts , beautiful places for relaxing and swimming . Thalassotherapy centres and swimming pools , as well as mini football grounds , are modern ways of young people entertainment . Hotels and apartments in the city of Heraklion , useful information about the culture and archaeological places.athenscars in Crete is managing to promote the most beautiful directions to drive , as well as the archaeological remains on Crete . Crete is a large and incredibly diverse island where pretty harbour towns like Aghios Nikolaos give way to rolling hills covered with thousands of olive trees. There are mountains here too and, amazingly, they are even capped with snow! For many, Crete is famous as the home of the Minoan's, the ancient civilisation thought to have constructed the elaborate palace at Knossos, excavated by Aurthur Evans at the turn of the 20th century. In Greek mythology this is the birthplace of Zeus who, in the form of a white bull, is said to have abducted Europa and taken her back to Crete as his queen. Legend has it that Europi-Europa gave Zeus three sons, one whom, Minnos, gives his name to the centuries old civilization. You'll see both the Palace of Knossos - where, deep in the labyrinth, Theseus fought the Minotaur – as well as the mysterious Dikti Cave, legendary birthplace of Zeus. Elsewhere Crete is all about lovely beaches, welcoming tavernas and wonderful countryside. Searching for Crete tours, Crete coach holidays & escorted touring holidays of Crete.offers exceptional coach tours across Crete for 2006 ...Crete's best beaches, tours, hotels, restaurants, hiking paths, music, recipes, photos, pictures and personal pages in this guide about the real Crete.Holidays in Crete. Crete hotels and accommodation. Car and bike hire in Crete. Information on rates, reservations, hotel facilities, travel services. The big, beautiful island of Crete, museums, ancient sites, places to go, and sightseeing. Knossos, Gortys, Iraklio, Elounda, many others.Crete was the cradle of early Mediterranean civilisation and is a uniquely fascinating island. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, 160 miles long and up to 38 miles wide. The land is infinitely varied - mountain ranges rise up to over 8,000 feet, Europe’s deepest gorge winds for twelve miles through rock walls at times 1,000 feet high. Countless empty beaches and a clear blue sea surround the island. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/94.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/104.html Crete Car hire 10 Golden Rules 1.Drive carefully through the narrow old city roads. 2.Donot exceed the speed limit of 50km in the cities of Crete and 80km on the high ways. 3.Donot drink and drive,the law in Crete is very strict even if you will be caught with a glass of wine. 4.Donot drive the car on non asphalt roads.Donot drive the hire car on Cretan mountainous roads,there is possibility of car damage underneath. 5.Park your rental car in Crete's parking spaces or inside the hotel parkings. 6.Use the road maps of Crete we supply in order you will make the driving between places easier. 7.Check the hire car before you depart to be sure the tire pressure is correct,lights and fuel level. 8.Donot give the rental car to other hotel residents to drive,insurance covers only the named drivers on the contract. 9.In case of accident,make a phone call on our telephone service station,00302810821424. 10.Enjoy driving,sun and hospitality of Cretan people.We are at any time available for you. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/104.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/107.html Book cheap car hire in Crete securely online. Donot forget to check our special offers which are frequently updated. Car hire in Crete demands a very trustful and reliable car hire company . Athenscars is one of the oldest rental car companies of Crete and offers a wide range of economy cars to choose from. The Best Crete Deals, cheap hire cars. We have brand new Car models in very good prices and you can make your choice from a range of eight car categories for your Car rental.Crete Car rental can't get any better.get the best offersAbout CreteCrete general information:Crete is the largest of the Greek islands (8,336 km²) and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. Crete is about 260 km long and 60 km wide, with a population of approximately 600,000. To the north it broaches the Sea of Crete and to the south the Libyan sea. Crete consists of four prefectures: Chania, Rethimnon, Heraklion and Lasithi. Crete is extremely mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from West to East ( Lefka Ori, Psiloritis, Dikti mountains, Kedros, Thripti).These mountains gifted Crete with fertile plateaus, such as Lasithi, Omalos and Nidha ; caves, such as Diktaion and Idaion ; and gorges such as the famous Samaria. Crete is the home of the wild goat Kri-Kri and a refuge for the vulture Lammergeier. Crete is a location of significant ancient history and a popular tourist destination; its attractions include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos, the classical site of Gortys, the Venetian castle at Rethymnon, and the Samaria Gorge, as well as many other natural sites. Crete was the centre of the Minoan civilization (2600-1400 BC).If there was a beauty contest for Greek islands, Crete would surely be among the favorites.TourismCrete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece; 15% of all arrivals in Greece come through the city of Heraklion (port and airport). Overall, more than two million tourists visited Crete last year. Today, the island's tourism infrastructure caters to all tastes, including a very wide range of accommodation; big hotels but also smaller family-owned apartments. Visitors reach the island via two international airports in Heraklion and Chania, or by boat to the main ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethimnon and Agios Nikolaos . It is very convenient and easy to visit Crete with a rental car. Crete has a warm Mediterranean climate. Summers in the lowlands, are hot and dry with clear skies. Dry hot days are often relieved by a system of seasonal breezes. The mountain areas are much cooler, with considerable rain. Winters are mild in the lowlands with rare frost and snow.Crete History:The first human settlements on the island, dating to the aceramic Neolithic, were growing cereals and had cattle. Ancient Knossos was the site of one of these major Neolithic (then later Minoan) sites .Crete has been the center of Europe´s most ancient civilization; the Minoan. Little is known about the rise of ancient Cretan society. This contrasts with the superb houses, palaces, roads, paintings and sculptures that do remain. Early Cretan history is replete with legends such as those of King Minos, Theseus, Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus passed on orally via poets such as Homer. Crete initially repelled an attack by Rome in 71 BC but was finally conquered in 69 BC, earning the title "Creticus". This word comes from the oroginal word "Kourites", which means the place that borns nice men, donot forget Kouroi are named the ancient Greek men marble statues. So Kourites became Kouriti-Kriti-=Crete. Gortyn was made capital of the island and Crete became a Roman province.Crete was under Byzantine empire´s control when it fell into the hands of Iberian who established an emirate on the island. In 960 Nicephorus Phocas reconquered the island and held it under Byzantine control. Then, in 1204, it fell into the hands of the Venetians at the time of the Fourth Crusade. During Venice's rule, Renaissance swept through the island as one can see from the plethora of artistic works dating to that period. The most notable fruits of the Cretan renaissance were El Greco and Vitsentzos Kornaros. In 1669 after a 21-year siege Candia fell to the Ottoman empire. Cretan participation in the Greek War of Independance was extensive. Uprising by Christians were met with fierce response from the Ottoman authorities. Between 1821 and 1828, the island was the scene of repeated hostilities. Crete eventually was left out to the modern Greek state by the London Protocol of 1830, and soon it was yielded to Egypt by the Ottoman sultan. But sovereignty was returned to the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of London in 1840.Eventually, in 1898, Crete became a complex autonomus state under Ottoman suzerainty and with a Greek High Commissioner. During these years Cretan volunteers played an important role in the Greek struggle for Macedonia. Finally, Crete joined Greece on 1st December 1913. Muslim presence in the island started with the Arab but was cemented by the Ottoman conquest. Many natives, being initially Christians and sharing a Greek culture, converted to Islam, thus regarded by the rest as Turks. On the eve of the Greek War of Independence many among them converted back to Christianity.During World War II, the island of Crete was the scene of the famous Battle of Crete where in May 1941, German paratroopers met fierce resistance by the locals and the British Commonwealth force, subsequently forcing Hitler to forbade further large scale airborne operations during the war.Heraklion is the largest city and capital of Crete. It is also the fifth largest city in Greece. For centuries it was known as Candia, a Venetian adaptation of the earlier Greek name. During the Arab occupation it was called "Handakas".Heraklion is the capital of Heraklion Prefecture, with an international airport named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. The ruins of Knossos, which were excavated and restored by Arthur Evans, are nearby. The archaeological museum located in Freedom square, center of Heraklion city. The Histotric museum located in Sofoklis Venizelos street is nearby too. The Physical History museum is by Sofoklis Venizelos treet-PORT road too. Heraklion generally is a city which is a Great start for driving all around the beautiful island places. It is the place all unique visitors choose to stay their first nights on Crete!Chania is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania Prefecture. It lies along the north coast of the island, about 70 km west of Rethymnon and 145 km west of Heraklion . With 4,248.1 inhabitants/km², the municipality is the most densely populated outside the Athens and Thessaloniki metropolitan areas. The city of Chania can be divided in two parts: the old town and the modern city which is the larger one. The old town is situated next to the old harbour and is the matrix around which the whole urban area was developed. It used to be surrounded by the old Venetian fortifications that started to be built in 1538; of them the eastern and western parts have survived. From the south, the old town is continuous with the new, and from the north the physical border is the sea. The centre of the modern city is the area extending next to the old town and especially towards the south.Agios Nikolaos (or Aghios Nikolaos, Greek: ¢γιος Νικüλαος) is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. In the year 2000, the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, which takes in part of the surrounding villages, claimed around 19,000 inhabitants. The town is the capital of the nomos (province) of Lasithi, and sits partially upon the ruins of the ancient city of Lato pros Kamara. Rethymno (Greek: ΡÝθυμνο, pronounced [ˈreθimno], also Rethimno, Rethymnon, Réthymnon, and Rhíthymnos), a city of approximately 40,000 people, is the capital of Rethymno Prefecture in the island of Crete. It was built in antiquity (ancient Rhithymna and Arsinoe), even though it has never been a competitive Minoan center. It was, however, strong enough to mint its own coins and maintain a mild urban growth. One of these coins is today depicted as the crest of the town with two dolphins in a circle.Rethymno started growing again when the Venetian conquerors of the island wanted to have an intermediate commercial station between Heraklion and Chania acquiring its own bishop and nobility. Today's old town (palia poli) is almost entirely built by Venetians. It is one of the best preserved old towns in Crete.The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, small Venetian harbor and narrow streets. The Venetian Loggia today houses the information office of the ministry of culture. The big municipal gardens are ideal for those in search of shade and tranquility. Throughout the year various activities are organized which draw a large crowd. The Wine Festival is held there annually at the beginning of July. Another festival is held on 7-8th of November, in memory of the destruction of Arkadi Monastery. The old Venetian port of Rethymnon.It has a Venetian castle called the Fortetza which is the one of the biggest and best standing castles in Crete. Other monuments include the Neratze mosque (St. Katherine's Catholic Church), the Great Gate (megali porta, Porta Guerra), the Piazza Rimondi (Rimmondi square), the Venetian Loggia etc. Today its main income is tourism, with large Facilities that have been built the past 20 years and Agriculture especially, for its olive oil and Mediterranean products. It is also the base of the Philosophical School and the University Library of the University of Crete and the School of Social and Political Sciences having 8,000 students every year on its University Campus at "Galos" and where the Academic Institute of Mediterranean Studies is situated.Lasithi (Greek: Λασßθι) is the easternmost prefecture on the island of Crete, to the east of the prefecture of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli. The mountains include the Dikte to the west and the Sitia Mountains to the east. The Sea of Crete lies to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south.To the east of the village of Elounda lies the island of Spinalonga, formerly a Venetian fortress and a leper colony. On the foot of Mount Dikti lies the Lasithi Plateau, famous for its windmills. Vai is well-known for its datepalm forest.Thanks to stunning beaches and its mild climate year-long, Lasithi attracts many tourists. Mass tourism is served by places like Vai, Agios Nikolaos and the island of Chrissi. More off-beat tourism can be found in villages on the south coast like Myrtos, Makrys Gialos or Makrigialos, Xerokambos and Koutsouras.The prefecture is home to a number of ancient remains. Vasiliki, Fournu Korfi, Pyrgos, Zakros and Gournia are ruins of Minoan date, Lato and Itanos were Doric towns. {mosimage}{mosimage}{mosimage}Welcome to economy car hire in Crete. With athenscars-Crete you can hire an economy car in Crete Car Rental in Crete , Crete is an island ...and is ideal for renting a car , Crete is the biggest Greek island(8.260square km)and the 5th biggest island in the Mediterranean,lies across the southern part of the Aegean sea.Cretecars offers economy rental cars in Crete to hire, competitive prices and quality car hire services in crete, car hire in Crete Greece. Car rental Crete Crete offers low Budget car hire deals to all of its clients.Find the Economy Car Rentals in Cretecars hire stations , located all over the island Crete.Explore the beauties of the island, The place Zorbas was born, Hire cars to drive in The south Coast.Make a choise of short or long daily Trips in Crete.Hire a car and drive up to Psiloritis mountain, Omalos mountains.Its terrain is mountinous and it is traversed by three large mountain ranges with peaks reaching something in the region of 2.500meters.Due to our excellent car rental services , we offer economy car hire in Crete Airports , Greece.Reserve your on-line car hire in Crete, Greece, directly with the confirmation in less than 2 hours. Crete has also quite a few plateaux which are formed between the mountain tops,with fertile soil,plenty of water and rich cultivation.There are only a few rivers and it has only one small lakein the province of Apokoronou.We deliver to all Crete island locations; we simplify the car hire in Crete airport so that you can travel when and where you wish it. On our Web site, you will find all the requirements to hire a car in Crete, during your visit in Crete, Greece. CRETECARS is one of the biggest car hire companies on Crete. Get to know Crete with a safe car! We have new Car models in very good prices and you can make your choice from a range of eight categories. We are open all year round with Car Rental locations all over Crete and our service will for sure satisfy you. For safe & reliable car rentals in Crete, offers special rates for car rental all over Crete and Greece. For the most memorable stay in Crete we will show you where to find the famous tourist attractions, the small typical villages, the most beautiful views, the quiet beaches, the hottest nightlife, the good food, the nicest walks or whatever your wishes are... We have been in tourism since 1973 and our goal has always been YOUR satisfaction. We can provide you with the latest car models and all our cars are less than 6 months old. We can also organize tours for you and provide you with first hand information about the "real" Crete. Special Offers on Accommodation in Crete. . Discover the unique beauties of Crete by renting one of our vehicles to unique, attractive prices! Get your "All-Included" car rental quote with NO EXTRA CHARGES, NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. Book your car before coming to Crete and take advantage of our prices. We offer the most competitive rates and the highest quality of car and bikes rental services in Crete. We are a very trustful company and our highest priority is Fast and Friendly customer service. Car Hire in Crete offers low car hire cost with no hidden extras, not only in Crete but also in Greece and many other countries around the world. CRETE CAR HIRE is able to keep the costs down because you complete the booking procedure by yourself. CRETE Car is a fast growing Greek Car Rental company. Founded in Crete and operating one of the biggest local car rentals on the island, now counting with more than 250 cars , we created CRETECARS.gr , offering our services to all tourist destinations in Greece. Due to our high standards and reliable service we have become one of the top Rent a Car AGENCIES in Greece. Rent a Car in East Crete . Rent a Car in West Crete Rent a Car in Heraklion Rent a Car in Lassithi . Rent a Car in Chania . Rent a Car in Rethymnon .The Greek language spoken on the island has a distinct Cretan Greek dialect with an extended vocabulary that is Crete-specific. Cretan wine and tsikoudia, a potent distillate, are the traditional drinks. Crete has its own distinctive Mantinades poetry. The island is known for its Mantinades-based music (typically performed with the Cretan lyra and the laouto) and has many indigenous dances, the most noted of which is probably the Pentozali. Cretan authors have made important contributions to Greek Literature throughout the modern period; major names include Vikentios Kornaros, creator of the 17th century epic romance Erotokritos (Greek Ερωτόκριτος), and in the 20th century Nikos Kazantzakis. In the Renaissance, Crete was the home of the Cretan School of icon painting, which influenced El Greco and through him subsequent European painting.Cretans are fiercely proud of their island and customs, and men often don elements of their traditional dress in everyday life: knee-high black riding boots, black shirts and black headdress consisting of a fishnet-weave kerchief worn wrapped around the head or draped on the shoulders. Black is the color of mourning, and since Cretan families are notionally considered so extended as to include greatgrandparents or second cousins (although they may have little actual contact) as well as all their respective in-laws, one is theoretically justified to be in continuous mourning for some relative or other, however distant. On festive occasions those who are not in mourning wear white.EconomyThe economy of Crete, which was mainly based on farming, and fishing, began to change visibly during the 1970s. While an emphasis remains on farming and stock breeding, due to the climate and terrain of the island, there has been a drop in manufacturing and an observable expansion in its service industries (mainly tourism-related). All three sectors of the Cretan economy (agriculture, processing-packaging, services), are directly connected and interdependent. The island has a per capita income close to 100% of the Greek average, while unemployment is at approximately 4%, ½ of that of the country overall. As in other regions of Greece, olive growing is also a significant industry; a small amount of citrons are still cultivated on the island.The island has three significant airports, Nikos Kazantzakis at Heraklion, the Daskalogiannis airport at Chania and a smaller one in Sitia. The first two serve international routes, as the main gateways to the island for travellers.TourismCrete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Fifteen percent of all arrivals in Greece come through the city of Heraklion (port and airport), while charter journeys to Heraklion last year made up 20% of all charter flights in Greece. Overall, more than two million tourists visited Crete last year, and this increase in tourism is reflected on the number of hotel beds, rising by 53% in the period between 1986 and 1991, when the rest of Greece saw increases of only 25%. Today, the island's tourism infrastructure caters to all tastes, including a very wide range of accommodation; the island's facilities take in large luxury hotels with their complete facilities, swimming pools, sports and recreation, smaller family-owned apartments, camping facilities and others. Visitors reach the island via two international airports in Heraklion and Chania, or by boat to the main ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethimno and Agios Nikolaos. Popular tourist attractions include the archaeological sites of the Minoan civilisation, the Venetian old city and port of Chania, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, the gorge of Samaria, the islands of Chrysi, Elafonisi, Gramvousa, and Spinalonga.Archaeological siteshere are a large number of archaeological sites which include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos, the classical site of Gortys, and the diverse archaeology of Koufonisi, Crete which includes Minoan, Roman and World War II ruins.Enviromentally protected areasThere are a number of environmentally protected areas. One such area is located at the island of Elafonisi on the coast of southwestern Crete. Also, the palm forest of Vai and the Dionysades islands, close to the coast of northwestern Crete, have diverse animal and plant life. Vai has a palm beach and the largest natural palm forest in Europe. The island of Chrysi, 15 km south of Ierapetra, has the largest naturally grown Lebanon Cedar forest in Europe.DevelopmentNewspapers have reported that the Ministry of Mercantile Marine is ready to support the agreement between Greece, South Korea, Dubai Ports World and China for the construction of a large international container port and free trade zone in southern Crete near Tympaki; the plan is to expropriate 850 ha of land. The port would handle 2 million containers per year, while as of 2007, there has been no official announcement of a project not universally welcomed due to its environmental, economic and cultural impact.[1] As of January 2009, it appears the project has been canceled, in part due to the strong opposition from the local population, mostly on environmental grounds.[2]Crete-immigration-Holiday homesCrete's mild climate attracts interest from northern Europeans who want a holiday home or residence on the island. EU citizens have the right to freely buy property and reside with little formality.[3] A growing number of real estate companies cater to mainly British expatriates, followed by German, Dutch, Scandinavian and other European nationalities wishing to own a home in Crete. The British expatriates are concentrated in the western prefectures of Chania and Rethymno and to a lesser extent in Heraklion and Lasithi.Neolithic settlementThe first human settlements on the island, dating to the aceramic Neolithic, used cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and dogs as well as domesticated cereals and legumes; ancient Knossos was the site of one of these major Neolithic (then later Minoan) sites.[4]Minoan civilizationCrete was the center of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoan (c. 2700-1420 BC).[5] This civilization wrote in the undeciphered script known as Linear A. Early Cretan history is replete with legends such as those of King Minos, Theseus, Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus passed on orally via poets such as Homer. Beginning in 1420 BC, the Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenean civilization from mainland Greece. The oldest samples of writing in the Greek language is the Linear B archive from Knossos, dated approximately to 1425-1375 BC.[6]MythologyCrete has a rich mythology mostly connected with the ancient Greek Gods but also connected with the Minoan civilization. The labyrinth of the palace of Knossos has the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur where the Minotaur was slayed by Theseus. The Paximadia islands are believed to be the birthplace of the goddess Artemis and the god Apollo. Their mother, the goddess Leto, was worshipped at Phaistos. Europa and Zeus made love at Gortys and conceived the Kings of the Minoan civilization. King Minos became a judge of the dead in Hades. The goddess Athena bathed in Lake Voulismeni. The ancient Greek god Zeus launched a lightning bolt at a giant lizard that was threatening Crete. The lizard immediately turned to stone and became the island of Dia. The island can be seen from Knossos and it has the shape of a giant lizard. The islets of Lefkai were the result of a musical contest between the Sirens and the Muses. After losing the contest the Sirens were so distraught that their wings fell off, turned white, and fell into the sea at Souda Bay where they formed the islets.Music of Crete- local instruments and the ancient instrument-Cretan LyraThe music of Crete is a traditional form of Greek folk music called κρητικά (kritika). The lyra is the dominant folk instrument on the island; there are three-stringed and four-stringed versions of this bowed string instrument, closely related to the medieval Byzantine lyra. It is often accompanied by the Cretan lute (laoúto), which is similar to both an oud and a mandolin. Thanassis Skordalos and Kostas Moundakis are the most renowned players of the lyra.The earliest documented music on Crete comes from Ancient Greece. Cretan music like most traditional Greek began as product of ancient, Byzantine, western and eastern inspirations. The main instrument lyra, is closely related to the bowed Byzantine lyra. The Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh (d. 911) of the 9th Century, in his lexicographical discussion of instruments, cited the Byzantine lyra (Greek: λύρα - lūrā), as similar to the Arabic rebab and a typical Byzantine instrument along with the urghun (organ), shilyani (probably a type of harp or lyre) and the salandj [1]. Bowed instruments descendants of the Byzantine bowed lyra (lūrā) have continued to be played in post-Byzantine regions until the present day with few changes, for example the Calabrian Lira in Italy, the Cretan Lyra, the Gadulka in Bulgaria, and the Armudî kemençe (or πολίτικη λύρα) in Istanbul, Turkey.Following the Crusades, however, the Franks, Venetians and Genoese dominated the island and introduced new instruments and genres and in particular the three-stringed lira da braccio. By the end of the 14th century, a poetic form called mantinada became popular; it was a rhyming couplet of fifteen syllables. The introduction of the violin by the end of 17th century was especially important.Some of the earliest popular music stars from Crete were Andreas Rodinos, Yiannis Bernidakis (Baxevanis), Stelios Koutsourelis, Stelios Foustalieris, Efstratios Kalogeridis, Kostas Papadakis, Michalis Kounelis, Kostas Mountakis and Thanassis Skordalos. Later, in the 1960s, musicians like Nikos Xylouris and Yiannis Markopoulos combined Cretan folk music with classical techniques. For the above choices, Nikos Xylouris received the negative criticism of conservative fans of the Cretan music but he remained popular, as did similarly-styled performers like Charalambos Garganourakis and Vasilis Skoulas. Nowadays, prominent performers include Antonis Xylouris or Psarantonis, Giorgis Xylouris, Ross Daly, Stelios Petrakis, Vasilis Stavrakakis, the group Chainides, Zacharias Spyridakis, Michalis Stavrakakis, Mitsos Stavrakakis, Dimitrios Vakakis, Georgios Tsantakis, Michalis Tzouganakis, Elias Horeftakis, Giannis Charoulis, etc.As Magrini (1997) has argued, modern marketing of Cretan music has concentrated on the lyra as the most distinctive Cretan instrument, to the extent that other instruments are seldom heard. This includes the violin, as well as the bagpipes [askomadoura].source: www.wikipedia.org Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/107.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/109.html Crete island was an unknown destination for many European people, The last 20years was established as one of best European destinations. It is placed in the first top 10 places list of all tour operator.Many factors changed the way European clients think in order they decide to select this magnificent place on Earth. It is the climate, the civilization, history, culture that incluence any of us. The climate of this island is varrying much than the climate of other mediterranean islands, it is moreover like a subtropical with many tropical elements. Crete is pride for having more tha 300days sun, the temperature is temperate 15degrees during the winter time at most days minimum scale and between 25-41degrees during the summer months.After a visitor arrives in Heraklion airport is necessary to ask for the travel guide of Crete, usually given in the information desk of Heraklion airport. It is showing important places to visit and stop in places that are inheritted with culture, history and hospitality. The second important thing is make sure he will hire a car from one of Crete's specialist car hire providers. This will solve his demand to travel in all far places at a very low cost and very quick. travelling on a bus is much more expensive comparing with the time needed to travel in a public mean from one place to the other. Besides Crete is not famous for having low cost means of trasportation, such as bus transfers or sea transfer, this makes all Crete Car Hire companies to show their good reputation and attract more clients every year.The east part of Crete is the first place a traveller should focus on for at least 3days travelling. Starting from Heraklion airport should stop in Hersonisos Municipality and take a quick look at the Heronisos museum. just 5 km further will meet the village of Malia, there is one important place to stop, at the seaside end of Malia famous beach-the antiquities of Minoan civilization. Sitia is the next stop and is tghe place a traveller should spend his night. many small hotels, located in the sea front of the port, are ready to welcome many visitors every day. Estimate a night cost at 25-40euro depending on the hotel amenities offered. A good dinner in any of Sitan taverns is a must. Fresh fish is sold in very low rates, as many Sitian people do the fisherman job for living. The food is such places is virgin and of an excellent quality. Besides Sitia is awarded for its products the last 20years.The second day is a day for swimming. The traveller should get a good breakfast at the hotel and prepare himself for a fascinated tour around Sitia. A good place to go is Monastery Toplou, the arcitectonic style and its residents show the way a person has to live in order he becomes Monachos, the person who leaves all his life back and changes for religion reasons to a person who lives for the good of other people. Just few km far from Moni Toplou is located the famous Palm Beach of Vai, a valley of thousands foinix trees ending in the seaside of vai. Visitors should sleep or stay among the trees, the clean green blue watres of the seas and the quiet of the area makes this place the most visible place of Crete. After spending 2 hours in this place is time to drive south of Sitia, to Kato Zakros and Xerokampos areas. The best places of east Crete, long beaches and seaside fields with tomatoes and olive trees will be met during driving at these places. the archaeological site of Zakros is of a great interest! Driving further you can turn to Makri Gialos area, a tourist resort with many apts and hotel of low cost. Spend the rest of the night there and get prepared to drive the next day in Ierapetra. The area where many ferries dock and sail in all African countries of north.A good destination is Gaidouronisi or Chrissi island, the virgin island just opposite of Crete. If you select to sail there, estimate you will need more than 4hours to spend over this island before you start again to drive further to Ierapetra, to Arvi village. The banana production village of Crete. Its climate is subtropical and south winds make this climate more like tropical.The last day is good to be spend at the southern part of Heraklion, places such as Lendas, Matala, Kaloi Limenes are worth to stay. Nevertheless Crete has so many nice places to stay at, Crete car hire is necessary in order you explore the beauties of this magnificent place on earth! Choose the correct rent a car Crete and start your vacation! Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/109.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/108.html With two major airports,Crete cannot be classified as undiscovered,but through its size and scale it manages to contain the crowds and to please visitors with widely divergent tastes.While a car is essential for discovering the best of the island,car hire is,fortunately comparatively inexpensive.Welcome to Crete.Welcome to the world of Athenscars-Crete - Car hire Crete. rentcars24.com-Car hire Crete, takes pride in its fleet and the variety and quality of vehicles that offers to all customers. Find the best deals on car hire, find easy car hire terms and trust our agency for your vacation on Crete. Find the best archaeological sites and trust our 7days trip tour:Day 1: land at Heraklion airport and drive to Aquarium center of creteday 2: Stay in one of Ammoudara area hotels and start to drive to Anogeia village and mainly to Psiloritis mountain, pass through the magnificent tour of Mylopotamos and end to spend the day in Arkadi monastery.Day 3: drive to Minoan Palace of Knossos, spend minimum 3hours in the palace and after drive to the city center to visit the archaeological museum of Heraklion, the museum of physical history of Crete, the historical museum and the fortress Koules.Day 4: Drive to Malia antiquities, Visit elounda village and Spinalonga island opposite, go to Kritsa monastery and walk through Agios Nikolaos seaside city.Day 5: Drive in Rethymnon city, visit the old venetian town. drive to south of Rethymnon, Plakias, Agia Galini, Agios Pavlos beaches.Day 6: Based in Rethymnon city, start to drive to Kournas lake, visit Vamos village, swim in Almyrida bay.Day 7: Visit Chania city, drive west to Falassarna beach and have a good meal in kissamos city.Take the easy way to discover the island, exactly as you would like to! All in the most economical way. With Car hire Crete, you'll always find the best car rental solutions for your business and private needs.Our fleet of the latest models at the most attractive prices is available to you whether it is for business or HOLIDAY vacation.With Car hire Crete, customers do not just have a hire car, they have 32 years of experience at their side.With branches all over Crete, our capable and dedicated staff offers a personal, professional service around the areas .Our offices are open 24hours every day. We delivere and collect cars at any time.Let our experience guide you, as hundreds of clients from all over the world have done throughout all these years!Athenscars-Creteis one of the biggest car hire companies on Crete and you will find us highly recommended in a whole host of travel directories.Call us or e-mail us now and we’ll be there when you need us, on time, to offer our knowledge and assistance.Thank you for visiting our site. We hope to see you soon.Athenscars - Car hire Crete we realise that a company's business travel requirements are not always as simple as seems to be.With your car rental - this is what you get:·a great car at a superb price-low-discounted·full insurance (no excess)·personal insurance 4crete island·tires insurance·special cars·baby seat, booster seat·road map, showing distances of each Crete village·wide variety of cars in Crete·free 24 hour delivery to your airport, port or hotel·unlimited kilometres (unlimited mileage)·available throughout Crete·VAT & all taxes includedVisit our beautiful island Crete and we will for sure make your holidays better! find more interesting places here... Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/108.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/102.html HERAKLION PORT CAR HIRE Crete Car Hire –Rentcars24.com is a specialist in cheap car hire in Crete. We are located close to the Heraklion airport and Heraklion port, in the centre of the north coast of Crete with stations covering all major areas. Car Hire in Crete is well worthwhile, and enables you to see more of the largest of the Greek islands, and as many as possible of the numerous places of interest that are to be found here. Crete car Hire allows you to visit historical sites such as the Archaeological Museum of Haraklion(just in the Freedom square), and the ancient Minoan ruins at Knossos(5km far from the city center) and Phaistos(located in the southern part of Heraklion region 70km far), or simply to explore the many fantastic sandy beaches(most blue flagged from EU). You can also use our Car Hire Crete to venture into the stunning mountain ranges, which are peppered with caves and portioned by incredible gorges(mainly in Chania region), like the one at Samaria in Chania region, but be careful of the road quality in some points of the island which is over 39years old in most of its long). You can use our car hire to venture into the stunning mountain ranges...of Crete! We offer cheap car hire in Crete with free delivery to Heraklion airport, Chania airport, all ports, towns and hotels in Crete. Your car rental can also take you on a tour of the cities, towns and villages of beautiful Crete whether to the largest city and capital of it, Heraklion; to Agios Nikolaos, blessed with awesome natural beauty; to the harbour town of Hersonisos; or to the small resort village of Paleochora south of Chania city.Cheap car hire in Crete is best sourced using our price comparison, and booked in advance for certainty and simplicity. An airport pick up will allow you to reap the benefits of our car hire services from the very beginning of your holiday, and will make transfer to your resort easy. Booking your car hire from either Heraklion Airport or car Hire from Chania Airport is recommended as we serve both places with personnel ready to correspond to all, even for those arriving the last minute! Plan your Holidays to Crete - Crete hotels with benefit Fly & Drive! - Find Cheap flights to CreteCrete Car Hire– Rentcars24.com has been established as one of the most reliable and trustful car rental companies in Crete. It is important to refer the last 10years Rentcars24.com is showing a concern for the environment and turned to an eco-friendly car hire policy by providing hybrid cars. All our cars are new and very well maintained. They are delivered always on time and free of charge to every location in Crete, including all Crete airports and ports. Browse our cars and choose the one you like. Check to see the space of cabin as well as the capacity of the vehicle. Make sure the correct size of car is chosen for your needs. Donot forget we do upgrade the vehicles and can provide another hire car in Crete of the same size. Don’t forget to check our Crete Car Hire Special Offers, which are updated frequently. Select the car you want and get an instant Price Quote for your preferred time period and delivery location in Crete – at the airport port or your accommodation. The next step in booking a car from Crete Car Hire – Rentcars24.com is to fill in your personal information and click on the BOOK-RESERVE button. As soon as you validate your email address, then the booking is considered final and no credit card deposit is required - You will pay us on arrival. When you arrive in Crete, a representative of our company will deliver the car you have booked to the airport or any other location you have chosen in Crete. If you have chosen an airport or a port as the car delivery location, then look for our representative carrying the Rentcars24.com + your name written on a sign. Finally, if you need travel ideas for day trips in Crete with your hire car, then check our East Crete day trips and West Crete day trips. Hike the Samaria Gorge in Crete.Crete among Greek Islands The Greek Island Crete is the largest of all, offering numerous golden sandy beaches to laze on and a plethora of history to enjoy; car hire in Crete is the perfect way to explore your chosen island.Heraklion PortOnly a 5 minute car journey away from Heraklion Airport and even closer to Heraklion city itself also known as Iraklion(Handakas), arrange car hire Heraklion Port and explore this bustling part of the island of Crete. Discover the two parts of the Port using car rental Heraklion Port. Wander through the bustling ferry port, or for something altogether more scenic, head to the old Venetian Harbour and marvel at the fishing boats and yachts. Travel to the Venetian fortress of Koules and learn about the history of the famous Cretan monument. Stroll down the marble stairs at the end of the street and you will find the Venetian shipyards.Journey to Rethymno in your hire car from Heraklion Port and head to the old Venetian quarter. Survey the narrow streets and visit the pretty little shops dotted around this area. Relax on the long sandy beach, and stop off at a local taverna and try some traditional Greek cuisine. Crete is filled with a variety of wonders for all to enjoy, see as much as you can with car hire Chania Port, car hire Platanias, car hire Sissi or car hire Souda. Find out more about driving in the Greek Islands, or read our Greek Islands travel guide. You may also like to view information about other destinations in the Greek Islands. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/102.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/78.html Heraklion city is in the middle of island Crete Iraklion is having some of the most interesting sightseeing places.Heraklion airport is only 4km far from the city centre,surrounded from many tourist resorts. CarCrete.com is having a car hire agency in the centre of Heraklion city. Car rental in Heraklion city is necessary in order to visit all the beautiful places of Crete. Crete car hire is making offers and special car rental deals in Crete .Athenscars-crete is having many branch offices , Hersonisos car rental, Malia car hire, Stalis car hire, Gouves car hire, Ammoudara car rental, Heraklion airport car rental. The Palace of Knossos is 7km far from the city centre ,one of the most attractive remains-ruins of Minoan civilization.The Knossos palace was found from the great English archaeologist Arthur Evans(leter knighted).He worked at the palace over a period of 35years,though by 1903 most of the site had been uncovered.Its location and its remains show the way of life 3500-4500years Before.among the 1300 rooms of the main palace were both the sacred and the commercial:lustral baths for holy ceremonies:store rooms for agricultural produsts:workshops for mettallurgy and stone cutting.Nearby are the Royal Villa and the Little Palace.The remains of Minoan civilization in Gortys ,40km far from Heraklion,the palace of Phaestos in South Crete are places you have to visit .The museum of Heraklion ,located in the centre of the city,freedom square is exhibiting the items founded in Knossos and other archaeological places in Crete.The venetian harbour Castle,built when the Venetians were on the island,is one of the most attractive castles in the Meditteranean .athenscars-Crete is making great car hire Crete cheap rates, you can request for Crete car rental  via e-mail or telephone us in :00302810821424.00302810220680 Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/78.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/93.html   Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/93.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/92.html   Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/92.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/75.html RentCars24.com is the best car hire provider for Crete island. Based on Crete, Heraklion airport and Chania airport, delivers cars to every location including all resorts, ports and supports the most difficult destinations of Crete, Greece mainland and islands. Car hire Crete in Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Sitia, Ierapetra, providing car hire solutions since 2008.If you are searching for a car rental in Crete, you are in the correct car rental website. Crete island is ideal for vacation trips and holiday leisure. It is true the magnificent sightseeing tours attract more and more tourists every year. Discover the most far places of Crete in a hire car of Rentcars24.com Think positive and hire a new car from Rentcars24 in Crete island. You win a lot more than time and money, you rent a car from the specialists, offers low priced  car hire rates in Crete.Start searching for the best rate by typing the necessary information in the booking form system.  Car hire Crete is not demanding you to reserve a car with a credit card payment. All clients who reserve their vacation, have an extra discount for their future reservations.  select the correct hire car in Crete that will make you drive pleasant all over the island! Do know we are operating 24hours every day and support all far distances against accident or any difficulty may come. Request or reserve the specific car type that suits your needs for the planned vacation trip on the island Crete, secure you reservation by submitting the necessary information about the pick uplace and the return place too. You donot need to know all flight details when reserving the car but add it when you will be having this. Car hire in Crete with Rentcars24.com is the best choise! Many returning customers recommend Rentcars24.com to their relatives and friends, as they know how trustful car hire in Crete we are!Car rental center in Crete island Greece. Cheap and economy car hire for low budget holidays in Crete. The elite of latest car models, best service and support from the best car rental agency in Greece. Find your car rental in Crete in any location of the island. Rent a car from Heraklion or Chania airport and tour the Crete island best places and top destinations, and beaches. Quality car rental crete services and low cost car in Rethymnon, Heraklion, Chania, Lasithi. Best car rental offers in Crete.  Hire a car and drive south of Crete, where the places are still beautiful and virgin. The sightseeing of Moni Preveli and the Libyan sea are very important places to visit. Nevertheless this island has long distances, you can always say you want to visit each place separately twice!Heraklion Car Rental by rentcars24.com If you want to enjoy a day in Heraklion, then rentcars24 offers free delivery of your preferred rental car to Heraklion Airport or any hotel in or near Heraklion. Check our Special Offers for Heraklion Car Rental Heraklion, the largest city in Crete No other city or town in Crete is as important as the city of Heraklion.  The city of Heraklion possesses a heritage that spans across hundreds of years and manages to bridge the gap created by time in order to embrace the progress of the future.   Heraklion stands at the outskirts of the palace of Knossos, which historians know to be the heart of the ancient Minoan civilisation, and it has known times of peace and times of war.  In 69 BC, the city came into the bosom of the Roman Empire through the conquests of Quintus Caecilius Metellus.  The Byzantine Empire took possession of the city when Rome fell. In 1204, when the Byzantine Empire was no more, Heraklion became a city under Venetian rule.  In 1669, after 21 years of siege, the Venetians relinquished Heraklion and the whole of Crete to Turkish rule under the Ottoman Empire.  Under this rule Heraklion remained, until Crete won its independence in 1897 and became one with Greece in 1913. The Modern Face of Heraklion Today, Heraklion is a city that embraces its long and colourful past but is nonetheless busy with building bridges into the future. With around 200,000 people living within its boundaries, Heraklion is a busy, bustling city.   Within the city is the Heraklion International Airport, the second largest airport in Greece in terms of size and traffic.  It is also a very important port of call in shipping and sea-based transportation. Check our Prices for Heraklion Car Rental with free delivery to Heraklion Airport Though a short drive out of the city will take the traveller to the most famous tourist attraction in Crete – the palace of Knossos – Heraklion itself has many interesting sights that should not be missed. Among these places that should be visited in Heraklion is the Liondaria or Lions Square, officially known as the Plateia Eleftheriou Venizelou.  If Heraklion is the heart of Crete, then Liondaria is the heart of Heraklion.  This is where people meet for business or for pleasure.  Here, one can sit at one of the cafes and be served light Cretan meals while watching people. Other sites that should not be missed when visiting Heraklion are Koules and the ancient Venetian city walls.  Koules, also known as the Castello del Molo and the Rocca a Mare, is a fortress that has protected Heraklion since the 13th century.  It overlooks the old Venetian harbour. As for the ancient Venetian city walls, they are certainly worth a look as these walls were the ones responsible for making the Turkish siege of Heraklion last for 21 years.  This is also the place where the famous Cretan philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis has been laid to rest. The heart of Crete beats in Heraklion, and a holiday to Crete will not be complete without an exploration of this city.  Check our Special Offers for Heraklion Car Rental Crete claimed by many Greeks to be the most authentic of the islands,is by far the largest.It stretches 256km(159mile)east to west and is between 11 and 56km (7and 35milos) wide.A massive mountainous backbone dominates ,with peaks stretching skywards to over 2400 metres (7.874 ft).In the north the mountainous slope more gently,producing fertile plains,while in the south they plunge precipitously into the sea.Crete is called Megalonissos -the Great island- is what the Cretans call their home.Great can certainly be applied to the Minoan civilization ,the first in Europe and one with which Crete is inexorably entwined.With two major airports,Crete cannot be classified as undiscovered,but through its size and scale it manages to contain the crowds and to please visitors with widely divergent tastes.While a car is essential for discovering the best of the island,car hire is,fortunately comparatively inexpensive.Phaestos Minoan palacePhaestos was the second most important palace city of Minoan Crete. Of all the Minoan sites, Phaestos (fes-tos) has the most awe-inspiring location, with all-embracing views of the Mesara Plain and Mt Ida. The layout of the palace is identical to Knossos, with rooms arranged around a central court.In contrast to Knossos, Phaestos has yielded very few frescoes. It seems the palace walls were mostly covered with a layer of white gypsum; there has been no reconstruction. Like the other palatial period complexes, this one had an old palace that was destroyed at the end of the Middle Minoan period. Unlike the other sites, parts of this old palace have been excavated and its ruins are partially super-imposed upon the new palace.The entrance to the new palace is by the 15m/49ft-wide Grand Staircase. The stairs lead to the west side of the Central Court. The best-preserved parts of the palace complex are the reception rooms and private apartments to the north of the Central Court; excavations continue here.This section was entered by an imposing portal with half columns at either side, the lower parts of which are still in situ. Unlike the Minoan freestanding columns, these do not taper at the base. The celebrated Phaestos disc was found in a building to the north of the palace. The disc is in Iraklio's Archaeological Museum. Heraklion city is in the middle of island Crete Iraklion is having some of the most interesting sightseeing places.Heraklion airport is only 4km far from the city centre,surrounded from many tourist resorts.rentcars24.com-Crete is having a car hire agency in the centre of Heraklion city.Car rental in Heraklion is necessary in order to visit all the beautiful places of Crete.Crete car hire is making car hire offers and special car rental deals in Crete .Athenscars-crete is having many branch offices , Hersonisos car rental , Malia car hire , Stalis car hire , Gouves car hire , Ammoudara car rental , Heraklion airport car rental etc.The Palace of Knossos is 7km far from the city centre ,one of the most attractive remains-ruins of Minoan civilization.The Knossos palace was found from the great English archaeologist Arthur Evans(leter knighted).He worked at the palace over a period of 35years,though by 1903 most of the site had been uncovered.Its location and its remains show the way of life 3500-4500years Before.among the 1300 rooms of the main palace were both the sacred and the commercial:lustral baths for holy ceremonies:store rooms for agricultural produsts:workshops for mettallurgy and stone cutting.Nearby are the Royal Villa and the Little Palace.The remains of Minoan civilization in Gortys ,40km far from Heraklion,the palace of Phaestos in South Crete are places you have to visit .The museum of Heraklion ,located in the centre of the city,freedom square is exhibiting the items founded in Knossos and other archaeological places in Crete.The venetian harbour Castle,built when the Venetians were on the island,is one of the most attractive castles in the Meditteranean .athenscars-Crete is making great car hire  Crete low season offers,you can request for car rental in Crete via e-mail or telephone us in :00302810821424.00302810220680. Car Rental In Chania-Crete: Chania , is Crete's  second city and it's capital until 1971.Chania city is located at the west north part of Crete island. Chania is claims to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.It's jewel is the boat-free outer venetian harbour.Mosque of Hassan Pasha,Firkas sea Fortress are still-standing  .The Archaeological museum occupies the church of the Franciscan Friaryone of the best preserved and largest Venetian churches,The church of Aghios Nikolaos,after various architectural and religious conversions,displays both a minaret and a campanile. Rentcars24.com-crete is having a branch car hire agency in Chania and  low season offers. Car hire in Chania is a good option in order to visit the beauties of west Crete . Car rental in Paleochora,Car rental in Georgioupolis, Rent a car in Chania airport.In the new town of Chania ,rent a car and visit the lofty glass-roofed cruciform market,opened by Venizelo in 1913.Those with a sence of history will visit Mournies and Theriso,Villages south of Hania.Car rental in Chania and visit Akrotiri ,a limestone peninsula stretching northeastwards from Chania,is full of interest.Hire a car in Chania and visit the Commonwealth Cemetery,where British and Commonwealth troops killed during the 1941 Battle of Crete are buried.Equal honour is given to three times that number of Germans who are buried in the well-tended cemetery at Maleme.Further out of the Akrotiri is the Monastery of Aghia Triadha,5minutes far the Gouverneto monastery and half an hour downhill driving till Katholiko monastery.Rent a car in Chania and drive West from Chania,where the road hugs the coast,passing through busy small resorts, before arriving at the  Kolymbari village.  Car rental in Chania is useful to drive further west of Chania to Kissamos and Kastelli village,with its wide broad beach.Turn left at Platanos and keep on driving with the Chania hire car till south west.Rent a car in Chania provides a visit to Elafonisi,bordering a shallow lagoon.This is one of the best spots on the whole island for beach lovers.Around the corner to the southwest Chania,lies Paleohora,a self contained resort that has a ruined castle and sand beaches.Occasional boats leave forGavdhos island,Europe’s southernmost point.Keep on dring the Car hire in Chania  and you will meet Hora Sfakion(sfakia)os the home of Sfakians,who epitomize the idependent Cretans.Samaria Gorge is the most exciting and spectacular adventure which Crete offers the average visitor is a walk through the Gorge of Samaria,at 18km or 11ml,one of the longest in Europe.Inside the Gorge exist Xyloskalo area,where the walk starts,Afendis Christos,Portes,and ends down to Aghia Roumeli and the church of Panaghia.Athenscars-crete is operating 24hours everyday at all airports of Crete , Chania airport car hireThe Origin of the City's NameScholars have been trying for years to analyse the etymology of the name "Hania," and to decide on the time when the name was changed from "Kythonia" to "Hania". The new name is first met as "Cania" in the document "Sexteriorum Cretensiu in Militias divisio" in 1211. Then the name "Canea" is mentioned in the document which relinquishes the Chania area to the Venicians in 1252. As for the change of the name from "Kythonia" to "Hania", the most convincing point of view is that of Prof. N. Platonas, who associates it with the existence of a big village "Alhania", named after the God "Valhanos" (Vulcan). The Sarasin Arabs found this name easier to use but confused it with their own word "Al Hanim" (the Inn). After the departure of the Arabs, the syllable "Al", probably taken to be the Arab article "Al" (the), was dropped when the name was translated into the Greek "Hania" and the Latin "Canea".  Crete chania special offers discount car rental in Crete , economy cars...Rethymnon prides itself on being Crete's intellectual capital,still possesses an intact old town with a small picturesque Venetian harbour.Rethymnon city is located west of Crete.Rethymno city is 65km far from Heraklion city and 65km far from Chania city.Car rental in Rethimno is necessary in order to explore the beauties of island Crete.Rethymno area has some of the most beautiful and attractive places of Crete to visit like Fortetsa castle,west of the venetian harbour,from where excellent views may be enjoyed .Car rental in Rethymnon gives you the chance to visit Agia Galini,one of the most quiet places on Crete,surrounded with a wonderful beach,apts,hotels and friendly local people,fresh fish.Rent a car in Plakias,a small village south of Rethymnon,with one of the most famous beaches on Crete .Moni Preveli is a fntastic place, a beach,a river going in the sea,a monastery and a relaxing atmosphere opposite the Libyan African sea. Rentcars24.com is recommending you to drive on the mountain of Psiloritis,through small villages and visit the Monastery of Arcadi ,which is open all year .Car rental in Crete,car rental in Rethimno is cheap and easy.Athenscars-crete if offering special dicounted rates all year round.For request or car hire reservation confirm with an e-mail please.The archaeological site of Knossos is sited 5 km southeast of the city of Iraklion.There is evidence that this location was inhabited during the neolithic times (6000 B.C.) . On the ruins of the neolithic settlement was built the first Minoan palace (1900 B.C.) where the dynasty of Minos ruled.This was destroyed in 1700 B.C and a new palace built in its place.The palace covered an area of 21,000sq.m, it was multi- storeyed and had an intricate plan. Due to this fact the Palace is connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur.Between 1.700-1.450 BC, the Minoan civilisation was at its peak and Knossos was the most important city-state. During these years the city was destroyed twice by earthquakes (1.600 BC, 1.450 BC) and rebuilted. The city of Knossos had 100.000 citizens and it continued to be an important city-state until the early Byzantine period. Knossos gave birth to famous men like Hersifron and his son Metagenis, whose creation was the temple of Artemis in Efesos, the Artemisio, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The site was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. The excavations in Knossos begun in 1.900 A.D. by the English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1851- 1941) and his team, and they continued for 35 years. The most important findings of the city of Knossos are:  The Great Palace.The Great Palace covered an area of 20.000 sq. meters and had 1.400 rooms. Every section of the Palace had a specific use. In the west side of the Palace were the chambers of the ceremonies, of the administration and of the public storehouse. The Throne room is also located here. To the west of the Throne room was the great west Court of the Palace and the theatre, where all the ceremonies and gatherings took place. The East side of the Palace, had more floors, verandas and official rooms with wonderfull frescos, and was the side of the Palace where the Queen had her private chambers. The entrance to the Palace today is through the West Court. The West Entrance leads to the Corridor of Procession. Its walls were decorated with a fresco depicting a procession, which today is exhibited in the Archaelogical Museum of Heraklion . To the left of the corridor is the Propylaeum of the Palace, where the huge double horns - a holly symbol of the Minoan religion- are located. A staircase leads to the Central Court , where the Throne room is sited, and another one to the upper floor. There are various rooms on the same level with the Throne, like the Antechamber, the Pillar crypt, the room of the Tall Jar and the Treasure room of the High priest, were various precious objects, now exchibited at the Iraklion museum, were found.Near the south west corner of the Court a road leads to the Corridor of the Procession were the famous fresco of the "Prince of the Lillies" was found. The original is displayed in the Iraklion museum, and a copy located in its place..  The Little Palace. It is located west of the Great Palace and is the second bigger building of Knossos. In one of its chambers was found the wonderfull Bull's Head made of steatite, which is exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.  The Royal Villa. It is located northeast of the Great Palace and it is considered part of it. A magnificent jar was found here, with papyrus in relief.  The House of the High Priest . This building is considered to be the House of the High Priest due to the stone altar that was found there. The altar is surrounded with double axes stands.  The Caravan Serai. It is located opossite to the Great Palace and it was the official entrance to the palace. It served as public baths with running water, where the traveller or visitor of Knossos should bath before visiting the King.  The Royal Temble Tomb-Sanctuary. It is located south of the Palace and it is considered to have belonged to one of the Last Minoan Kings. Chronology of Minoan Crete 2600 BCE EM I Pre-Palace period  EM II   EM III   MM Ia  2000 BCE MM Ib Old Palace period  MM IIa   MM IIb  1700 BCE MM IIIa New Palace period  MM IIIb   LM Ia   LM Ib   LM II  1400 BCE LM IIIa Post Palace period  LM IIIb   LM IIIc  1100 BCE  Sub-Minoan On Friday 23 March 1900 at 11 a.m. Arthur Evans began his excavation of Knossos. Although he was not the first to excavate at the site, that honour belongs to a Greek appropriately called Minos Kalokairinos in 1878, it was to be Evans who uncovered the Knossos Palace and brought to light a hitherto unknown civilisation -- possibly the oldest in Europe. The basic excavation of the site took four years and for the rest of his life Evans continued working on the site, reconstructing and building, often in an attempt to preserve the remains from the weather to which they had been exposed for the first time in 3,500 years. Evans designated the building at Knossos a palace and named the civilisation that had built it the Minoans, after King Minos of Greek mythology. Since then the actual function of the building and of the other palaces has been questioned and new interpretations advanced. Alternative views consider the four large palaces of Minoan Crete to be temples or administrative centres or both, and in one interpretation, Knossos is seen as a necropolis -- a huge burial site to which only a small band of priests and embalmers had access. Here, following convention, the name Palace is used throughout. Evans, like all of us, was a product of his time, and his time was Victorian England. He was an amateur archaeologist as were many archaeologists at the time. Only wealthy men of leisure could afford to carry out the kind of archaeological dig that Evans carried out at Knossos and professional archaeologists received even less government support then than they do now. We are fortunate that Evans was a rather better archaeologist than many of his generation, thanks in part to his father, himself an amateur archaeologist. No less important, he had the support of an excellent team of British archaeologists including Theodore Fyfe and Duncan Mackenzie as well as talented Greeks including the Cypriot Gregorios Antoniou and the Cretan Emmanouel Akoumianakis, known as Manolaki, who much later was killed fighting the Germans in the Battle of Crete. Mackenzie, in particular, was to play a crucial role in the excavations as he kept daybooks in which he recorded all the developments at the excavation site. He probably had the most scientific approach of any archaeologist working in the Aegean at that time. Sadly he later suffered from severe mental illness which rendered him incapable of working. Although much criticism has been levelled at Evans in the intervening 100 years for the way in which he rebuilt parts of Knossos, matters might have been worse still if Heinrich Schliemann had succeeded in buying the site of Knossos. The story goes that if the Turk who was selling the land had not exaggerated the number of olive trees included in the sale and thereby incensed the businessman in Schliemann then he and not Evans would have been the owner of the site and Knossos might have been excavated in the same insensitive way that Schliemann excavated Troy. Given Evans' background in the wealthy middle class of Victorian England it is not surprising that he superimposed an image of British monarchical society onto Minoan society. Evans identified Knossos as a palace and then set about identifying the various rooms used by the Kings and Queens of the Minoans. He also rebuilt large parts of the site. In some cases this was clearly unavoidable. The great staircase, for example, would have collapsed onto the workmen on the site if action had not been taken to restore it. It is perhaps a fruitless task to criticise from the position of today's scientific approach to archaeology what Evans did then. We should be grateful that he was willing to sink so much of his personal fortune into the excavations at Knossos and devote the rest of his long life to the study of the Minoans. We don't have to accept everything he said about that civilisation -- a further 60 years of excavations have taken place since Evans' death. But Evans provided the basis on which all further study of Minoan society has been based. Welcome to Crete.Welcome to the world of carCrete.com-Crete - Car hire Crete. Car hire Crete, takes pride in its  fleet and the variety and quality of vehicles that  offers to all customers. Take the easy way to discover the island, exactly as you would like to! All in the most economical way. With Car hire Crete, you'll always find the best car rental solutions for your business and private needs.Our fleet of the latest models at the most attractive prices is available to you whether it is for business or HOLIDAY vacation.With Car hire Crete, customers do not just have a hire car, they have 32 years of experience at their side.With branches all over Crete, our capable and dedicated staff offers a personal, professional service around the areas .Our offices are open 24hours every day. We delivere and collect cars at any time.Let our experience guide you, as hundreds of clients from all over the world have done throughout all these years!Rentcars24.com is one of the biggest car hire companies on Crete and you will find us highly recommended in a whole host of travel directories.Call us or e-mail us now and we’ll be there when you need us, on time, to offer our knowledge and assistance.Thank you for visiting our site. We hope to see you soon.Rentcars24.com- Car hire Crete we realise that a company's business travel requirements are not always as simple as seems to be.With your car rental - this is what you get:a great car at a superb price-low-discountedfull insurance (no excess)free 24 hour delivery to your airport, port or hotelunlimited kilometres (unlimited mileage)available throughout CreteVAT & all taxes includedVisit our beautiful island Crete and we will for sure make your holidays better!http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/p4xhk/crete_island_was_an_unknown_destination_for_many/Contact our online service by phone or send an SMS: 0030 698 17 18 888 .RentCars24.com, Crete & Greece, Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/75.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/74.html TOYOTA HILUX 5SEATER A/C 4DR 4WD OFF ROAD VW Caddy a/c 5dr 1600cc Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Fiat seicento 1.1L 3dr A/C mini car or similar FIAT PANDA-HYUNDAI I10 A/C 5DR 1.2L Nissan Note a/c 5dr family car Chevrolet Matiz topless 1.0L or similar HYUNDAI ATOS PRIME a/c 5dr 1.1L TOYOTA AYGO - A/C 5DR-Hyundai I10 Hyundai Getz - Hyundai i20 a/c 5dr 1 | 2 > >>   Opel Corsa a/c 5dr 1.2L Toyota Corolla-Vw Passat 1,6L a/c 5dr Fiat Scudo Mini Bus 9seater a/c 5dr 2.0L Nissan Primastar 9seater a/c 5dr 2.0L Fiat Sedici-Suzuki sx4 jeep 4wd SUV a/c 5dr   Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/74.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/70.html Car hire in crete,rent a car and win discount rates at very low car hire deals,rent a car in Crete at any location,airport heraklion and chania airport and sitia airport,car rentals with econonomy car hire in Crete,attractive car hire solutions,excellent car hire deals,full insurance with no excess, Pick up from all Crete Airports Heraklion and Chania and Full Insurance-Unlimited Mileage 24h service-Lowest prices-Book now We Are a Local Company With Years of Experience in Car Rentals Crete We Pride Ourselves to offer lowest car hire pices and Great Service-Excellent Service- Great Rates from the Crete Specialists!Welcome to economy car hire in Crete. With athenscars-Crete you can  hire an economy car in Crete Car Rental in Crete , Crete is an island ...and is ideal for renting a car ,  Crete is the biggest Greek island(8.260square km)and the 5th biggest island in the Mediterranean,lies across the southern part of the Aegean sea.Cretecars offers economy rental cars in Crete to hire, competitive prices and quality car hire services in crete, car hire in Crete Greece. Athenscars Crete offers low Budget car hire deals to all of its clients.Find the Economy Car Rentals in Cretecars hire stations , located all over the island Crete.Explore the beauties of the island, The place Zorbas was born, Hire cars to drive in The south Coast.Make a choise of short or long daily Trips in Crete.Hire a car and drive up to Psiloritis mountain, Omalos mountains. Its terrain is mountinous and it is traversed by three large mountain ranges with peaks reaching something in the region of 2.500meters.Due to our excellent car rental services , we   offer economy car hire in Crete Airports , Greece.Reserve your on-line car hire in Crete, Greece, directly with the confirmation in less than 2 hours. Crete has also quite a few plateaux which are formed between the mountain tops,with fertile soil,plenty of water and rich cultivation.There are only a few rivers and it has only one small lakein the province of Apokoronou.We deliver to all Crete island locations; we simplify the car hire in Crete airport so that you can travel when and where you wish it. On our Web site, you will find all the requirements to hire a car in Crete, during your visit in Crete, Greece.   CRETECARS is one of the biggest car hire companies on Crete. Get to know Crete with a safe car! We have new Car models in very good prices and you can make your choice from a range of eight categories. We are open all year round with Car Rental locations all over Crete and our service will for sure satisfy you. For safe & reliable car rentals in Crete, offers special rates for car rental all over Crete and Greece. For the most memorable stay in Crete we will show you where to find the famous tourist attractions, the small typical villages, the most beautiful views, the quiet beaches, the hottest nightlife, the good food, the nicest walks or whatever your wishes are... We have been in tourism since 1973 and our goal has always been YOUR satisfaction. We can provide you with the latest car models and all our cars are less than 6 months old. We can also organize tours for you and provide you with first hand information about the "real" Crete. Special Offers on Accommodation in Crete. . Discover the unique beauties of Crete by renting one of our vehicles to unique, attractive prices! Get your "All-Included" car rental quote with NO EXTRA CHARGES, NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. Book your car before coming to Crete and take advantage of our prices. We offer the most competitive rates and the highest quality of car and bikes rental services in Crete. We are a very trustful company and our highest priority is Fast and Friendly customer service. Car Hire  in Crete offers low car hire cost with no hidden extras, not only in Crete but also in Greece and many other countries around the world. CRETE CAR HIRE is able to keep the costs down because you complete the booking procedure by yourself. CRETE Car is a fast growing Greek Car Rental company. Founded in Crete and operating one of the biggest local car rentals on the island, now counting with more than 250 cars , we created Rentcars24.com , offering our services to all tourist destinations in Greece. Due to our high standards and reliable service we have become one of the top Rent a Car AGENCIES in Greece. Rent a Car in East Crete . Rent a Car in West Crete Rent a Car in Heraklion Rent a Car in Lassithi . Rent a Car in Chania . Rent a Car in Rethymnon . Culture of Crete .                 Crete car hire,rent a car,car rental Crete,Chania,Heraklion car rental,airport heraklion rent a car,kreta.kriti,rent,auto,cheap car hire,economy car hire,rental cars,airport service,port delivery,Santorini,Kos,Mykonos,Athens. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/70.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/79.html Car Hire Crete offers, buy and save up to 30%We are offering low car hire prices for all car hire groups in Crete island. It is important you will check our Crete  car hire cheap prices before you end reserving a car anywhere else. All of our offers do include the 100% Full insurance which is without excess or any risk for the client. We are presenting our Crete Heraklion airport car hire offers and Crete Chania airport car hire offers, you can buy an offer for Heraklion port car hire or Chania port car hire too. Far destination such as Sitia airport car hire is covered too.  DAYSCAR TYPE Crete car hireRATE SEASONbook 7Hyundai atos prime 1100cc 5dr a/c abs airbags cd new115euro Low seasonbook 7Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L abs airbags cd new 4seater135euro Low seasonbook  7Vw Caddy 7seater a/c 5dr abs airbags cd new279euro Low season book 7Nissan Primastar 2.0L long a/c 5dr cd 9seater mini bus 299euro Low season book  7Suzuki jimny jeep cabrio 1.3L 4wd 2dr soft top abs airbags199euro Low seasonbook 14Hyundai atos prime a/c 5dr 1100 cc abs airbags cd 4seats210euro Low season book  14Citroen C3-corsa a/c 5dr 1200cc abs airbags cd 5seats289euro Low season book  Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/79.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/63.html Car Rental Terms & Conditions in Crete:1.Age of Driver:Drivers age must be minimum ,21years old to hire cars of A-B Group size:1.0L-1.1L-1.15L23years old to hire cars of C-D-E Group size:1.2L-1.3L-1.4L26years old to rent cars of F-F1 Group size:1.5L-1.6L-1.8L-2.0L-2.4L2.Full Collision damage Waiver Insurance:By Renting a car from Rentcars24.com The client has F.C.D.W insurance in order he will be covered from any damage caused to the vehicle during the car hire period without excess-risk 100%.2. a)When the age of driver is young and lower than 24 years old, may occure a damage risk according to car type and car type.The full insurance will not be 100% no risk.When the driver is over 24 years old, the insurance is covering all  costs 100%.3.Third Party insurance:The client is covered for damages caused to third part.4.Personal Insurance:This insurance is covering the passengers in the hire car.5.Theft insurance:The cars are always insured against thieves 100%.6.Loss of car keys:The client is not covered in case of loss or stolen car keys, the cost of car keys is covered from the client.7.Wheels and under side of car insurance: The tires and under side of car are covered only on asphalt road, this insurance is not valid for off road driving.8.Glass insurance:The client is fully covered for damages caused on Glass parts of the car 100%.9.Accident-What is necessary to do when happens:The client has to contact Rentcars24.com telephone numbers which are written on the Rental agreement and the Reservation sheet.Information will be given after from the local staff.The car must not be moved from the place of accident until the insurance comes or the local Police of the area.A written statement of what happened must be filled in from the client.10.When is a reservation completed:The reservation is completed when you receive a receipt email confirming the car type you booked, the car hire rate, the place of pick up and all pick up details from Rentcars24.com With a Reference Reservation NUMBER.If you will not receive such an email-contact us please.11. Offers:The offers we advertise are current offers-If you are not sure of exact dates of you holidays-Choose an offer of Rentcars24.com reserve the car and specify/change the exact dates-time some days before arriving in the destination place.12.Cancellation policy: a)The client can cancel the Reservation of car rental, we would like to know this minimum 2-3days before the reservation, for specific models such as cabrios,mini busses, jeeps and other special cars-an early notice is required please more..b)Rentcars24.com  is having the wright to cancel a reservation that is made the last 12hours, due to the time needed-minimum 12hours we to receive it {All our offers are valid for everyone wishes to buy} or a  reservation that hasnot the necessary information-flight?hotel pick up name? time? etc. To avoid a misunderstanding, we kindly ask you to phone a mobile  tel.number service and ask if your reservation is valid, tel.0030 6936790870. THERE MAY BE A SYSTEM FAILURE THE TIME YOU RESERVE A CAR, FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON WE REPLY VERY FAST.13.Payment Method:The client can reserve a car by using a credit card.The rest amount of money can be paid either with cash or Credit card-Visa-Mastercard-American Express.14.Refuelling Charge:The car hire provider-Rentcars24.com-will deliver the vehicle with an exact amount of fuel.The return of the car must be with the same amount of fuel.15.Late Night arrival-EARLY morning arrival:If you flight arrives late night hours because of scheduled arrival time or delayed flight arrival-the car hire provider Rentcars24.com will be there to wait for you in the arrivals area.16.Destroy of the interior of the car is not covered from any Insurance, the client has to keep the interior of the car clean.17.Baby seat-Booster seats are provided to all Clients-We want you notify us of child/baby age and weight in order correct seat will be placed in the vehicle.18.A reservation is valid when a client reserves a car and gives all necessary information such as pick up place(with specification of place)-time of pick up-and  become a vaild active member of Rentcars24.com , it is guaranteed that personal information is not given to third party but are kept ,  such as address-tel.number and email. if this information is not supplied-reservation will not be valid.19.Pick up in a hotel:Rentcars 24.com is delivering cars to hotels, no extra to hotels located close to our stations, delivery of car to a very far area from us may cost of extra.20.No additional charges on flight delays All our employees are informed all the time for the arrival as well as their changes that might occur. They wait for your arrival flight to deliver you the car, even if there is a delay. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/63.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/96.html Welcome at Crete car hire. Our Car hire website provides you with useful information concerning car hire in Crete. The economy car rentals in Crete. Heraklion car hire and Chania car hire. Find out the lowest rates of car hire in Crete. The economy car rental rates and car rental offers, car hire all over Crete. Nevertheless you arrive in Heraklion or any other Crete destimation, we will be able to serve you! Trust the experienced rental car company, the oldest of Crete. Eventhough tax rapidly increased up in Greece, we kept low competitive rates for you.    Hiring a car in Crete demands a very trustful and reliable car hire company. You can hire a car at any location of Crete . We deliver cars to your hotel in Crete, Heraklion airport car hire , Chania airport car hire, Heraklion port car hire, Chania port car hire, as well as in Rethymnon and Agios Nikolaos cities. Car Hire Crete : To Hire a Car is better solution than to travel by bus or any other means of transportation in Crete.  Book cheap car hire in Crete securely online. Donot forget to check our special offers which are frequently updated. Car hire in Crete demands a very trustful and reliable car hire company . CarCrete is one of the oldest rental car companies of Crete and offers a wide range of economy cars to choose from.The Best Deals, cheap hire cars.   We have brand new Car models in very good prices and you can make your choice from a range of eight car categories for your Car rental.Crete Car rental can't get any better.get the best offersWelcome to economy car hire in Crete. With carCrete you can  hire an economy car in Crete Car Rental in Crete , Crete is an island ...and is ideal for renting a car ,  Crete is the biggest Greek island(8.260square km)and the 5th biggest island in the Mediterranean,lies across the southern part of the Aegean sea.Cretecars offers economy rental cars in Crete to hire, competitive prices and quality car hire services in crete, car hire in Crete Greece. car Crete offers low Budget car hire deals to all of its clients.Find the Economy Car Rentals in Cretecars hire stations , located all over the island Crete.Explore the beauties of the island, The place Zorbas was born, Hire cars to drive in The south Coast.Make a choise of short or long daily Trips in Crete.Hire a car and drive up to Psiloritis mountain, Omalos mountains. Its terrain is mountinous and it is traversed by three large mountain ranges with peaks reaching something in the region of 2.500meters.Due to our excellent car rental services , we   offer economy car hire in Crete Airports , Greece.Reserve your on-line car hire in Crete, Greece, directly with the confirmation in less than 2 hours. Crete has also quite a few plateaux which are formed between the mountain tops,with fertile soil,plenty of water and rich cultivation.There are only a few rivers and it has only one small lakein the province of Apokoronou.We deliver to all Crete island locations; we simplify the car hire in Crete airport so that you can travel when and where you wish it. On our Web site, you will find all the requirements to hire a car in Crete, during your visit in Crete, Greece.   CRETECARS is one of the biggest car hire companies on Crete. Get to know Crete with a safe car! We have new Car models in very good prices and you can make your choice from a range of eight categories. We are open all year round with Car Rental locations all over Crete and our service will for sure satisfy you. For safe & reliable car rentals in Crete, offers special rates for car rental all over Crete and Greece. For the most memorable stay in Crete we will show you where to find the famous tourist attractions, the small typical villages, the most beautiful views, the quiet beaches, the hottest nightlife, the good food, the nicest walks or whatever your wishes are... We have been in tourism since 1973 and our goal has always been YOUR satisfaction. We can provide you with the latest car models and all our cars are less than 6 months old. We can also organize tours for you and provide you with first hand information about the "real" Crete. Special Offers on Accommodation in Crete. . Discover the unique beauties of Crete by renting one of our vehicles to unique, attractive prices! Get your "All-Included" car rental quote with NO EXTRA CHARGES, NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. Book your car before coming to Crete and take advantage of our prices. We offer the most competitive rates and the highest quality of car and bikes rental services in Crete. We are a very trustful company and our highest priority is Fast and Friendly customer service. Car Hire  in Crete offers low car hire cost with no hidden extras, not only in Crete but also in Greece and many other countries around the world. CRETE CAR HIRE is able to keep the costs down because you complete the booking procedure by yourself. CRETE Car is a fast growing Greek Car Rental company. Founded in Crete and operating one of the biggest local car rentals on the island, now counting with more than 250 cars , we created CRETECARS.gr , offering our services to all tourist destinations in Greece. Due to our high standards and reliable service we have become one of the top Rent a Car AGENCIES in Greece. Rent a Car in East Crete . Rent a Car in West Crete Rent a Car in Heraklion Rent a Car in Lassithi . Rent a Car in Chania . Rent a Car in Rethymnon .                                           Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/96.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/111.html Car hire in Heraklion Airport for all Budgets: Hire luxury cars or Small economy vehicles At Car hire in Heraklion Airport you can rest assured that there are solutions for all budgets and tastes and that our well trained personnel will help you choose the vehicle that meets your needs, always at the most reasonable and competitive prices. Cheap Car Hire in Heraklion with no additional chargesCheap car hire in Heraklion with no additional or hidden charges and without small letters. You can enjoy our services and your vacation with the assurance and guarantee of a dependable company that will not hesitate to suggest you all possible ways to cut down on expenses in Crete, upon request. Other benefits Usually the car hire Heraklion Airport is always a busy location but apart from renting a car you will be able to enjoy other services. For instance, there is a small shop and a café with soft drinks that will keep you busy in case you will have to wait at the airport. Available is also a help desk that will provide you with any important information that you may need in relation to the airport and its environs. Choose the correct car hire in Crete and start your vacation!Starting out in the city of Heraklion, you will be in the center of the island and you will have the choice to drive in any direction to check out some of the secluded beaches and quaint traditional towns. Drive east and you will be on your way to Malia. Drive further and you can go all the way to the eastern tip of the island at Kato Zakros and Vai palm beach. This is place that is rarely not visited by tourists, and you will surely find a totally different place than in the big cities. If you would rather drive west, you will come across small towns like Bali and Panormo before you reach the larger city of Rethymnon and eventually Chania. On the far western tip of the island, you will arrive in Falasarna where you can enjoy swimming all day. Drive to the southern part of the island and you will enjoy some similar experiences. There is really no formula for finding the perfect island oasis, eveerywhere is wrth to go, you should just drive the car hire Crete Airport until you discover your peace of paradise. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/111.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/88.html Cheap car hire Crete, Cheap car hire Heraklion, cheap car hire Chania, cheap car hire rethymnon, cheap car hire Heraklion airport, cheap car hire Chania airport, cheap car hire Sitia airport.  Find the correct hire Cheap car in Crete, choose rentcars24.com cheap car hire Crete to reserve your car. we guarantee the conditions of car hire will be correct as well as the insurances and coverage. Nevertheless what the car make is, we will have it available for you on time. Would you be interested in reserving a cheap car with us please. If you are planning on going to relax and unwind, Crete is the best place to be for it is both romantic and mystical at the same time. It is a big city, so better get your reservations ahead of time, know what the Crete transfer procedures are and of course, know how to move about this magical city by knowing what your options are as how to rent a car in Crete. It would be much easier discovering the city thru a rent a car Crete services. Whatever it is that makes you visit Crete, you will surely find all the assistance you need in the local tourist agencies. This Mediterranean island, has been the number one among many tourist destinations for many years now, and thus has the best offers on the island. Additionally, its staff is always available, polite and willing to help and provide information and suggestions to the visitors of Crete. With a fleet always updated and modern, including all types of cars, the agency is definitely the best around. Economy cars, luxury and off road vehicles will make transporting in Crete as easy as it gets. Contact the Cheap Car Hire Crete agency to see yourself the unique offers and get answers to any questions you may have. Harry up , the summer is only a few days away. Even if you desire to make extreme holidays on Crete by visiting its mountainous areas, car hire Crete has the solution by providing you with the appropriate car category, such as Suzuki Jimny (4WD car). Crete's landscape is renowned for its high mountain range crossing from west to east, formed by three different groups of mountains. These mountains gifted Crete with fertile plateaus, such as Lasithi, Omalos and Nida; caves, such as Dikteon and Ideon; and gorges, such as Samaria. If you book earlier you will get variety for preference and which vehicle like to drive in good price. If you will go in the Summer Season there will be less possibility for you to hire cars. To take a car rent in Murcia some companies may demand for driving license, proof of insurance, particular age or not and also demand for credit cards to move on. Crete Car rent companies are having different charges in different places. Before you take one you have to ensure that it is included in all the taxes, fees & extra money or not. If you are not prepared for any optional pay and extra charges, then there is no need to get agree and strike on extra charges. Cheap Car rental services in Heraklion are the most elegant services that you can avail during your trip to this part of the world. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/88.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/84.html     find more cars for Crete car rental  Engine: 1300cc Seats:5 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: Yes         Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/84.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/50.html Kretarent company and Rentcars24.com are runnned from Emm.Mavrakis s.a. based on Crete of Greece, Papandreou 126, Heraklion. You can contact us dialing the following telephone numbers:0030 2810220680. 0030 6936 790 870. if you would like to send a specific request, click on menu contact , fill in the request form or send an email to our email address- info@rentcars24.com . Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/50.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/106.html Driving with Crete car hire is easy and enjoyable.There is only one way connecting East Crete with West Crete.  is offering ,to all customers ,a road map of Crete island ,Greece that shows the most important places to visit.The best car rental offers on Crete. Rent a car in Crete and visit the beautiful south coast sea sides and beaches.Crete car hire rates are attractive and discounted during all summer months for Crete car hire.Hiring a car in Crete is a guide to paradise...Crete car hire is the best car hire provider for Crete island. Based on Crete, Heraklion airport and Chania airport, delivers cars to every location including all resorts, ports, offering quality car rental crete services, value for money deals and large Car hire Crete in Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Sitia, Ierapetra, providing car hire solutions since 1973. The leading Crete car hire specialist with free delivery to the airport, all ports and hotels in Crete.You are in the correct car rental website.Crete is ideal for vacation trips and holiday leisure. It is true the magnificent sightseeing tours, with the hire cars, attract more and more tourists every year. Discover the most far places of Crete in a hire car of Cretecars. Think positive and hire a new car from AthensCars in Crete island. You win a lot more than time and money, you rent a car from the specialists.Start searching for the best rate by typing the necessary information in the booking form system. Select the correct hire car for Crete, that suits your needs, to drive to all far destinations! Type the necessary information the reservation requires and press the BOOK button. You will receive an email confirmation and the reservation will be considered as Final.You do not need to provide a credit card deposit to reserve a car from Car hire Crete.We Pride Ourselves to offer lowest car hire pices and Great Service-Excellent Service- Great Rates from the Crete Specialists! Nevertheless the car type you choose to hire in Crete, we will be on time to the arranged place!Crete car hire - athenscars is a specialist in making cheap car hire in Crete.It is located close to the Heraklion airport, in the centre of Crete island. Crete car hire - athenscars has been established as one of the most reliable and trusted car hire agencies in Crete of Greece with large car rental Crete fleet and great coincern on good deals.We recognise that for some of our customers, compromise just isn’t an option. That’s why we created the Prestige range of cars that will exceed even the most discerning of expectations.Featuring vehicles from prestigious names like Mercedes,VW,Subaru, gives you the chance to love the road in the finest possible environment. Sleek lines, sumptuous interiors and thrilling shows of power mean you can enjoy the perfect driving experience without the slightest hint of compromises or the smallest of corners being cut.And whatever the occasion, whether business or pleasure, we guarantee a car from the Compact/Luxury will make your day an extraordinary one.We offer the cheapest car hire in Crete deals with free delivery to Heraklion airport, Chania airport, all ports, all over Crete.günstige autovermietung kretaMietwagen Heraklion | Günstige Leihwagen auf Kreta | Preisvergleich für günstige Leihwagen | Niedrigste Preise in Kreta | Ohne versteckte Kosten-Hier buchen! | Mit unseren Mietwagen entdecken Sie die Kreta.Sie suchen einen billigen Mietwagen in Kreta? Günstige Mietwagen in Kreta finden Sie bei athenscars im Preisvergleich. Nutzen Sie unseren Mietwagen-Preisvergleich zur Auswahl des für Sie günstigsten Mietwagen auf Kreta. unsere Autovermietung bietet online super-günstige, neue und vollkaskoversicherte Mietwagen auf ganz Kreta. Vollkaskoversicherung auch absolut ohne selbst beteiligung. Mietwagen Heraklion auf Kreta: Entdecken Sie mit Ihrem günstigen Leihwagen die größte Stadt der Insel Kreta - Heraklion. Hier Mietwagen-Preisvergleich für Ihren Mietwagen auf Kreta starten und zu günstigen all-inclusive Preisen bei kreta mietwagen buchen. Kreta Reisen, Griechenlandspezialist mit Schwerpunkt Kreta. Reservieren Sie schnell und bequem ein Mietfahrzeug zu attraktiven Internet Konditionen. Mietwagen Kreta gegründet in Heraklion, bieten Qualität Autovermietung Kreta, Sonderangebote und grosse Flotte neueste Modelle an. Vermieten Sie Ihr Mietfahrzeug für Kreta am Flughafen Heraklion oder Flughafen Chania, Leihwagen am Hafen von Rethymnon auf Kreta, und Auslieferung zu Ihrem Hotel auf ...Mietwagen Kreta: Sie möchten einen Mietwagen Kreta, der billig ist? Bei Kretarent können Sie ihn sofort buchen, Ihren Mietwagen – billig Kreta. Contact our online service by phone or send an SMS:tel. 0030 6936790870 .Rentcars24.com, Crete - Greece, Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/106.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/105.html We Hired a Car in Crete of Greece,July 2009. After checking around for special car hire offers, i decided to make a reservation at Car Hire in Crete -Athenscars. i really made the best decision. I was excited the car was the one i chose, over the internet web page of car hire in Crete-athenscars. People welcomed us at Heraklion airport, helped us finding the wright way to our accomodation in Chania.Our days were spent one by one fantastic. I was pleased the car we hired was well maintained and clean, to drive all around the island, mostly when my husband decided to drive up to the white mountains of Chania-Omalos, having no problem at all.Car Hire in Crete -Athenscars was the wright choise for us. I recommend all visitors take a look at http://www.rentcars24.com special rates in Crete. Thank you for making our holidays pleasant, Crete offers of the week HERAKLION PORT CAR HIRECrete Car Hire –athenscars is a specialist in cheap car hire in Crete. We are located close to the Heraklion airport and Heraklion port, in the centre of the north coast of Crete with stations covering all major areas. Car Hire in Crete is well worthwhile, and enables you to see more of the largest of the Greek islands, and as many as possible of the numerous places of interest that are to be found here. Crete car Hire allows you to visit historical sites such as the Archaeological Museum of Haraklion(just in the Freedom square), and the ancient Minoan ruins at Knossos(5km far from the city center) and Phaistos(located in the southern part of Heraklion region 70km far), or simply to explore the many fantastic sandy beaches(most blue flagged from EU). You can also use our Car Hire Crete to venture into the stunning mountain ranges, which are peppered with caves and portioned by incredible gorges(mainly in Chania region), like the one at Samaria in Chania region, but be careful of the road quality in some points of the island which is over 39years old in most of its long). You can use our car hire to venture into the stunning mountain ranges...of Crete!We offer cheap car hire in Crete with free delivery to Heraklion airport, Chania airport, all ports, towns and hotels in Crete. Your car rental can also take you on a tour of the cities, towns and villages of beautiful Crete whether to the largest city and capital of it, Heraklion; to Agios Nikolaos, blessed with awesome natural beauty; to the harbour town of Hersonisos; or to the small resort village of Paleochora south of Chania city.Cheap car hire in Crete is best sourced using our price comparison, and booked in advance for certainty and simplicity. An airport pick up will allow you to reap the benefits of our car hire services from the very beginning of your holiday, and will make transfer to your resort easy. Booking your car hire from either Heraklion Airport or car Hire from Chania Airport is recommended as we serve both places with personnel ready to correspond to all, even for those arriving the last minute! Plan your Holidays to Crete - Crete hotels with benefit Fly & Drive! - Find Cheap flights to CreteCrete Car Hire– athenscars has been established as one of the most reliable and trustful car rental companies in Crete. It is important to refer the last 10years athenscars is showing a concern for the environment and turned to an eco-friendly car hire policy by providing hybrid cars. All our cars are new and very well maintained. They are delivered always on time and free of charge to every location in Crete, including all Crete airports and ports. Browse our cars and choose the one you like. Check to see the space of cabin as well as the capacity of the vehicle. Make sure the correct size of car is chosen for your needs. Donot forget we do upgrade the vehicles and can provide another hire car in Crete of the same size. Don’t forget to check our Crete Car Hire Special Offers, which are updated frequently. Select the car you want and get an instant Price Quote for your preferred time period and delivery location in Crete – at the airport port or your accommodation. The next step in booking a car from Crete Car Hire – Rentcars24.com is to fill in your personal information and click on the BOOK-RESERVE button. As soon as you validate your email address, then the booking is considered final and no credit card deposit is required - You will pay us on arrival. When you arrive in Crete, a representative of our company will deliver the car you have booked to the airport or any other location you have chosen in Crete. If you have chosen an airport or a port as the car delivery location, then look for our representative carrying the Rentcars24.com + your name written on a sign. Finally, if you need travel ideas for day trips in Crete with your hire car, then check our East Crete day trips and West Crete day trips.Hike the Samaria Gorge in Crete.Crete among Greek Islands The Greek Island Crete is the largest of all, offering numerous golden sandy beaches to laze on and a plethora of history to enjoy; car hire in Crete is the perfect way to explore your chosen island.Heraklion PortOnly a 5 minute car journey away from Heraklion Airport and even closer to Heraklion city itself also known as Iraklion(Handakas), arrange car hire Heraklion Port and explore this bustling part of the island of Crete. Discover the two parts of the Port using car rental Heraklion Port. Wander through the bustling ferry port, or for something altogether more scenic, head to the old Venetian Harbour and marvel at the fishing boats and yachts. Travel to the Venetian fortress of Koules and learn about the history of the famous Cretan monument. Stroll down the marble stairs at the end of the street and you will find the Venetian shipyards.Journey to Rethymno in your hire car from Heraklion Port and head to the old Venetian quarter. Survey the narrow streets and visit the pretty little shops dotted around this area. Relax on the long sandy beach, and stop off at a local taverna and try some traditional Greek cuisine. Crete is filled with a variety of wonders for all to enjoy, see as much as you can with car hire Chania Port, car hire Platanias, car hire Sissi or car hire Souda. Find out more about driving in the Greek Islands, or read our Greek Islands travel guide. You may also like to view information about other destinations in the Greek Islands.The Greek language spoken on the island has a distinct Cretan Greek dialect with an extended vocabulary that is Crete-specific. Cretan wine and tsikoudia, a potent distillate, are the traditional drinks. Crete has its own distinctive Mantinades poetry. The island is known for its Mantinades-based music (typically performed with the Cretan lyra and the laouto) and has many indigenous dances, the most noted of which is probably the Pentozali. Cretan authors have made important contributions to Greek Literature throughout the modern period; major names include Vikentios Kornaros, creator of the 17th century epic romance Erotokritos (Greek Ερωτόκριτος), and in the 20th century Nikos Kazantzakis. In the Renaissance, Crete was the home of the Cretan School of icon painting, which influenced El Greco and through him subsequent European painting.Cretans are fiercely proud of their island and customs, and men often don elements of their traditional dress in everyday life: knee-high black riding boots, black shirts and black headdress consisting of a fishnet-weave kerchief worn wrapped around the head or draped on the shoulders. Black is the color of mourning, and since Cretan families are notionally considered so extended as to include greatgrandparents or second cousins (although they may have little actual contact) as well as all their respective in-laws, one is theoretically justified to be in continuous mourning for some relative or other, however distant. On festive occasions those who are not in mourning wear white.EconomyThe economy of Crete, which was mainly based on farming, and fishing, began to change visibly during the 1970s. While an emphasis remains on farming and stock breeding, due to the climate and terrain of the island, there has been a drop in manufacturing and an observable expansion in its service industries (mainly tourism-related). All three sectors of the Cretan economy (agriculture, processing-packaging, services), are directly connected and interdependent. The island has a per capita income close to 100% of the Greek average, while unemployment is at approximately 4%, ½ of that of the country overall. As in other regions of Greece, olive growing is also a significant industry; a small amount of citrons are still cultivated on the island.The island has three significant airports, Nikos Kazantzakis at Heraklion, the Daskalogiannis airport at Chania and a smaller one in Sitia. The first two serve international routes, as the main gateways to the island for travellers.TourismCrete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Fifteen percent of all arrivals in Greece come through the city of Heraklion (port and airport), while charter journeys to Heraklion last year made up 20% of all charter flights in Greece. Overall, more than two million tourists visited Crete last year, and this increase in tourism is reflected on the number of hotel beds, rising by 53% in the period between 1986 and 1991, when the rest of Greece saw increases of only 25%. Today, the island's tourism infrastructure caters to all tastes, including a very wide range of accommodation; the island's facilities take in large luxury hotels with their complete facilities, swimming pools, sports and recreation, smaller family-owned apartments, camping facilities and others. Visitors reach the island via two international airports in Heraklion and Chania, or by boat to the main ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethimno and Agios Nikolaos. Popular tourist attractions include the archaeological sites of the Minoan civilisation, the Venetian old city and port of Chania, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, the gorge of Samaria, the islands of Chrysi, Elafonisi, Gramvousa, and Spinalonga.Archaeological siteshere are a large number of archaeological sites which include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos, the classical site of Gortys, and the diverse archaeology of Koufonisi, Crete which includes Minoan, Roman and World War II ruins.Enviromentally protected areasThere are a number of environmentally protected areas. One such area is located at the island of Elafonisi on the coast of southwestern Crete. Also, the palm forest of Vai and the Dionysades islands, close to the coast of northwestern Crete, have diverse animal and plant life. Vai has a palm beach and the largest natural palm forest in Europe. The island of Chrysi, 15 km south of Ierapetra, has the largest naturally grown Lebanon Cedar forest in Europe.DevelopmentNewspapers have reported that the Ministry of Mercantile Marine is ready to support the agreement between Greece, South Korea, Dubai Ports World and China for the construction of a large international container port and free trade zone in southern Crete near Tympaki; the plan is to expropriate 850 ha of land. The port would handle 2 million containers per year, while as of 2007, there has been no official announcement of a project not universally welcomed due to its environmental, economic and cultural impact.[1] As of January 2009, it appears the project has been canceled, in part due to the strong opposition from the local population, mostly on environmental grounds.[2]Crete-immigration-Holiday homesCrete's mild climate attracts interest from northern Europeans who want a holiday home or residence on the island. EU citizens have the right to freely buy property and reside with little formality.[3] A growing number of real estate companies cater to mainly British expatriates, followed by German, Dutch, Scandinavian and other European nationalities wishing to own a home in Crete. The British expatriates are concentrated in the western prefectures of Chania and Rethymno and to a lesser extent in Heraklion and Lasithi.Neolithic settlementThe first human settlements on the island, dating to the aceramic Neolithic, used cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and dogs as well as domesticated cereals and legumes; ancient Knossos was the site of one of these major Neolithic (then later Minoan) sites.[4]Minoan civilizationCrete was the center of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoan (c. 2700-1420 BC).[5] This civilization wrote in the undeciphered script known as Linear A. Early Cretan history is replete with legends such as those of King Minos, Theseus, Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus passed on orally via poets such as Homer. Beginning in 1420 BC, the Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenean civilization from mainland Greece. The oldest samples of writing in the Greek language is the Linear B archive from Knossos, dated approximately to 1425-1375 BC.[6]MythologyCrete has a rich mythology mostly connected with the ancient Greek Gods but also connected with the Minoan civilization. The labyrinth of the palace of Knossos has the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur where the Minotaur was slayed by Theseus. The Paximadia islands are believed to be the birthplace of the goddess Artemis and the god Apollo. Their mother, the goddess Leto, was worshipped at Phaistos. Europa and Zeus made love at Gortys and conceived the Kings of the Minoan civilization. King Minos became a judge of the dead in Hades. The goddess Athena bathed in Lake Voulismeni. The ancient Greek god Zeus launched a lightning bolt at a giant lizard that was threatening Crete. The lizard immediately turned to stone and became the island of Dia. The island can be seen from Knossos and it has the shape of a giant lizard. The islets of Lefkai were the result of a musical contest between the Sirens and the Muses. After losing the contest the Sirens were so distraught that their wings fell off, turned white, and fell into the sea at Souda Bay where they formed the islets.Music of Crete- local instruments and the ancient instrument-Cretan LyraThe music of Crete is a traditional form of Greek folk music called κρητικά (kritika). The lyra is the dominant folk instrument on the island; there are three-stringed and four-stringed versions of this bowed string instrument, closely related to the medieval Byzantine lyra. It is often accompanied by the Cretan lute (laoúto), which is similar to both an oud and a mandolin. Thanassis Skordalos and Kostas Moundakis are the most renowned players of the lyra.The earliest documented music on Crete comes from Ancient Greece. Cretan music like most traditional Greek began as product of ancient, Byzantine, western and eastern inspirations. The main instrument lyra, is closely related to the bowed Byzantine lyra. The Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh (d. 911) of the 9th Century, in his lexicographical discussion of instruments, cited the Byzantine lyra (Greek: λύρα - lūrā), as similar to the Arabic rebab and a typical Byzantine instrument along with the urghun (organ), shilyani (probably a type of harp or lyre) and the salandj [1]. Bowed instruments descendants of the Byzantine bowed lyra (lūrā) have continued to be played in post-Byzantine regions until the present day with few changes, for example the Calabrian Lira in Italy, the Cretan Lyra, the Gadulka in Bulgaria, and the Armudî kemençe (or πολίτικη λύρα) in Istanbul, Turkey.Following the Crusades, however, the Franks, Venetians and Genoese dominated the island and introduced new instruments and genres and in particular the three-stringed lira da braccio. By the end of the 14th century, a poetic form called mantinada became popular; it was a rhyming couplet of fifteen syllables. The introduction of the violin by the end of 17th century was especially important.Some of the earliest popular music stars from Crete were Andreas Rodinos, Yiannis Bernidakis (Baxevanis), Stelios Koutsourelis, Stelios Foustalieris, Efstratios Kalogeridis, Kostas Papadakis, Michalis Kounelis, Kostas Mountakis and Thanassis Skordalos. Later, in the 1960s, musicians like Nikos Xylouris and Yiannis Markopoulos combined Cretan folk music with classical techniques. For the above choices, Nikos Xylouris received the negative criticism of conservative fans of the Cretan music but he remained popular, as did similarly-styled performers like Charalambos Garganourakis and Vasilis Skoulas. Nowadays, prominent performers include Antonis Xylouris or Psarantonis, Giorgis Xylouris, Ross Daly, Stelios Petrakis, Vasilis Stavrakakis, the group Chainides, Zacharias Spyridakis, Michalis Stavrakakis, Mitsos Stavrakakis, Dimitrios Vakakis, Georgios Tsantakis, Michalis Tzouganakis, Elias Horeftakis, Giannis Charoulis, etc.As Magrini (1997) has argued, modern marketing of Cretan music has concentrated on the lyra as the most distinctive Cretan instrument, to the extent that other instruments are seldom heard. This includes the violin, as well as the bagpipes [askomadoura].source: www.wikipedia.org View Athenscars s.a. company Profile.“Athenscars” est le meilleur fournisseur de voitures en Crète. Vous nous trouvez aux points stratégiques, a l’aéroport port hotel de Héraklion et celui de la Chania. Nous pouvons envoyer des voitures partout sur l’ile, a touts les stations balnéaires touristiques, aux ports etc. La qualité de notre service, le respect a vous, nos clients et a la valeur de votre argent et les solutions que nous vous offrons depuis 1973 sont formidable. C’est la raison de votre préférence a nous .Les “Athens cars” envoie des voitures aux aeroports, aux ports et aux hôtels de toute la Crête sans chargement. Vs ns trouvez sur la juste “location de voitures” Web site.L’ile de la crête est idéale pour faire des vacances, se reposer et s’amuser .C’est une ‘e vacances, se reposer et s’amuser. C’est une évidence que l’internet des touristes qui louent des voitures pour faire le tour de la crête s’augment chaque année .louez une voiture de “Athenscars”et visitez les places les plus éloignées de l’ile .Louez une voiture de “Athens cars” des spécialistes de la Crète et gagnez d’argent et du temps! Cherchez ns via internet. C’est votre meilleur choix qui satisfait vos besoins. Ecrivez les informations nécessaires pour les réservations de la voiture et envoyez nous le message. Vous allez recevoir un e-mail-réponse qui confirmera votre réservations desiree.L’usage du crédit carde n’est pas obligatoire. Le « Athens cars »offre le service spécial sous les prix bas. Ns sommes a l’heure a la palce indiquée avec le model de la voiture de votre choix indiquée avec le model de la voiture de votre choix. Le « Athens cars » a gagne votre confiance et respect parmi plusieurs autres locations de voitures en Crête. Ns avons une grande variété de voitures et ns offrons les meilleurs accords a nos clients. Ns reconnaissons qu’une partie respective de notre clientèle n’a pas l’envie de compromettre. Contact our online service by phone or send an SMS:tel. 0030 6936790870, 0030 2810821424, 00302810220680.AthensCars, Crete - Greece, Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/105.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/95.html Crete Car Hire As a result of the geographic position of the island Crete and the tempestuous history, the Cretans have always been subjected to a variety of influences, however the particular character of the islanders has not changed. They have a passion for indepence and freedomand a deep love for their homeland, which has been strengthened by their struggles against the various invaders. Cretan people are sociable ans warm, hospitable and friendly to strangers, optimistic and open hearted. In their daily life they are impulsive and despite foreign influences and models, they retain their customs and traditions, especially in the villages and small towns, of Crete, where even today one sees men in the characteristic local "Vraka" or long buggy trousers, black fringed kerchief and high boots.    Heraklion city - Crete car hire Heraklion city is in the middle of island Crete Iraklion is having some of the most interesting sightseeing places.Heraklion airport is only 4km far from the city centre,surrounded from many tourist resorts.Athenscars-Crete is having a car hire agency in the centre of Heraklion city.Car rental in Heraklion is necessary in order to visit all the beautiful places of Crete.Crete car hire is making car hire offers and special car rental deals in Crete .Athenscars-crete is having many branch offices , Hersonisos car rental , Malia car hire , Stalis car hire , Gouves car hire , Ammoudara car rental , Heraklion airport car rental etc.The Palace of Knossos is 7km far from the city centre ,one of the most attractive remains-ruins of Minoan civilization.The Knossos palace was found from the great English archaeologist Arthur Evans(leter knighted).He worked at the palace over a period of 35years,though by 1903 most of the site had been uncovered.Its location and its remains show the way of life 3500-4500years Before.among the 1300 rooms of the main palace were both the sacred and the commercial:lustral baths for holy ceremonies:store rooms for agricultural produsts:workshops for mettallurgy and stone cutting.Nearby are the Royal Villa and the Little Palace.The remains of Minoan civilization in Gortys ,40km far from Heraklion,the palace of Phaestos in South Crete are places you have to visit .The museum of Heraklion ,located in the centre of the city,freedom square is exhibiting the items founded in Knossos and other archaeological places in Crete.The venetian harbour Castle,built when the Venetians were on the island,is one of the most attractive castles in the Meditteranean .athenscars-Crete is making great car hire Crete low season offers,you can request for car rental in Crete via e-mail or telephone us in :00302810821424.00302810220680.Agios Nikolaos city - Crete car hire This city, on the Greek island of Crete, is one of the most popular resort areas in the Mediterranean. Continuously inhabited since antiquity, this city’s ideal warm climate attracts visitors every year. Located between the picturesque lake Voulismeni in the south and the sea of Agios Nikolaos  to the north, city Agios Nikolaos has become a popular destination for the active and passive alike. Those who wish to sit and relax in coffee shops  by the lake, and those who prefer other activities such as swimming, windsurfing or sun bathing can head for the lovely beach. All day small boats leave the harbour to visit the Venetian fortress of Spinaloga island, near Elounda. Every summer the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos organizes Naval week, swimming, water skiing and wind-surfing contests are organized. And other  cultural events, such as music and dance events, theatrical performances, exhibitions and shows., The lakeshore is ringed with small tavernas, cafes and restaurants and the shoreline has sandy beaches for sunbathing and swimming. Paddleboats can be rented for a leisurely cruise around the lake and harbour, which have recently been connected by a canal. Just south of lake Voulismeni is the Lasithi Plateau area. A drive around this mountain-fringed region will reveal extensive pear and apple orchards, many of old-style windmills and Dikteon Cave - the mythological place of birth  of the infant Zeus,Greece’s ancient God. Agios Nikolaos does not have an airport of its own, but can be reached by car or by frequent bus connections from Heraklion and Sitia which both have airports. Hiring a car in Agios Nikolaos is cheap and easy,Economy Car Hire in Agios Nikolaos.Rethymnon city - Crete car hire Rethymnon prides itself on being Crete's intellectual capital,still possesses an intact old town with a small picturesque Venetian harbour.Rethymnon city is located west of Crete.Rethymno city is 65km far from Heraklion city and 65km far from Chania city.Car rental in Rethimno is necessary in order to explore the beauties of island Crete.Rethymno area has some of the most beautiful and attractive places of Crete to visit like Fortetsa castle,west of the venetian harbour,from where excellent views may be enjoyed .Car rental in Rethymnon gives you the chance to visit Agia Galini,one of the most quiet places on Crete,surrounded with a wonderful beach,apts,hotels and friendly local people,fresh fish.Rent a car in Plakias,a small village south of Rethymnon,with one of the most famous beaches on Crete .Moni Preveli is a fntastic place, a beach,a river going in the sea,a monastery and a relaxing atmosphere opposite the Libyan African sea.Athenscars-Crete is recommending you to drive on the mountain of Psiloritis,through small villages and visit the Monastery of Arcadi ,which is open all year .Car rental in Crete,car rental in Rethimno is cheap and easy.Athenscars-crete if offering special dicounted rates all year round.For request or car hire reservation confirm with an e-mail please.Chania city - crete car hire Car Rental In Chania-Crete: Chania , is Crete's second city and it's capital until 1971.Chania city is located at the west north part of Crete island. Chania is claims to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.It's jewel is the boat-free outer venetian harbour.Mosque of Hassan Pasha,Firkas sea Fortress are still-standing .The Archaeological museum occupies the church of the Franciscan Friaryone of the best preserved and largest Venetian churches,The church of Aghios Nikolaos,after various architectural and religious conversions,displays both a minaret and a campanile. Athenscars-crete is having a branch car hire agency in Chania and low season offers. Car hire in Chania is a good option in order to visit the beauties of west Crete . Car rental in Paleochora,Car rental in Georgioupolis, Rent a car in Chania airport.In the new town of Chania ,rent a car and visit the lofty glass-roofed cruciform market,opened by Venizelo in 1913.Those with a sence of history will visit Mournies and Theriso,Villages south of Hania.Car rental in Chania and visit Akrotiri ,a limestone peninsula stretching northeastwards from Chania,is full of interest.Hire a car in Chania and visit the Commonwealth Cemetery,where British and Commonwealth troops killed during the 1941 Battle of Crete are buried.Equal honour is given to three times that number of Germans who are buried in the well-tended cemetery at Maleme.Further out of the Akrotiri is the Monastery of Aghia Triadha,5minutes far the Gouverneto monastery and half an hour downhill driving till Katholiko monastery.Rent a car in Chania and drive West from Chania,where the road hugs the coast,passing through busy small resorts, before arriving at the Kolymbari village.Car rental in Chania is useful to drive further west of Chania to Kissamos and Kastelli village,with its wide broad beach.Turn left at Platanos and keep on driving with the Chania hire car till south west.Rent a car in Chania provides a visit to Elafonisi,bordering a shallow lagoon.This is one of the best spots on the whole island for beach lovers.Around the corner to the southwest Chania,lies Paleohora,a self contained resort that has a ruined castle and sand beaches.Occasional boats leave forGavdhos island,Europe’s southernmost point.Keep on driving the Car hire in Chania and you will meet Hora Sfakion(sfakia)or  the home of Sfakians,who epitomize the idependent Cretans.Samaria Gorge is the most exciting and spectacular adventure which Crete offers the average visitor is a walk through the Gorge of Samaria,at 18km or 11ml,one of the longest in Europe.Inside the Gorge exist Xyloskalo area,where the walk starts,Afendis Christos,Portes,and ends down to Aghia Roumeli and the church of Panaghia.Athenscars-crete is operating 24hours everyday at all airports of Crete , Chania airport car hireThe Origin of the City's NameScholars have been trying for years to analyse the etymology of the name "Hania," and to decide on the time when the name was changed from "Kythonia" to "Hania". The new name is first met as "Cania" in the document "Sexteriorum Cretensiu in Militias divisio" in 1211. Then the name "Canea" is mentioned in the document which relinquishes the Chania area to the Venicians in 1252. As for the change of the name from "Kythonia" to "Hania", the most convincing point of view is that of Prof. N. Platonas, who associates it with the existence of a big village "Alhania", named after the God "Valhanos" (Vulcan). The Sarasin Arabs found this name easier to use but confused it with their own word "Al Hanim" (the Inn). After the departure of the Arabs, the syllable "Al", probably taken to be the Arab article "Al" (the), was dropped when the name was translated into the Greek "Hania" and the Latin "Canea". Lasithi - Crete Car HireLassithi is het meest oosterlijke departement met als hoofdstad Agios Nikolaos. Deze stad is pas in 1870 gebouwd en heeft ongeveer 10.000 inwoners. In het centrum ligt een klein meertje met vissersboten (men zegt bodemloos). Bezienswaardigheden zijn de Agia Triada kerk, het archeologisch museum (di-zo 8.30-15.00 uur) en het folkloristisch museum (zo-vr 10.00-13.30 en van 19.00-21.30 uur). Vlakbij Agios Nikolaos ligt Spinalonga of Kalidon (het lepra-eiland). Tot 1954 werden naar dit venetiaanse vestingeiland en spookstadje nog leprozen verbannen. Een van de mooiste Byzanthijnse kerken op Kreta met goed bewaard gebleven muurschilderingen is de Panagia i Kera bij het plaatsje Kritsa. De zuidelijkste stad van Europa heet Ierapetra en ligt in het departement Lassithi. je kunt hier een kijkje nemen in het fort of van hieruit in de zomermaanden overvaren naar het mooie eilandje Chrisi. In het noordoosten van het departement vind je het palmenstrand van Vai en een rijk klooster Moni Toplou met een van de mooiste iconen van Griekenland. Lassithi staat bekend om haar hoogvlakte met talloze oude windmolentjes. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/95.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/58.html Minoan Era-Europe's oldest civilization among the centuries.Crete was the centre of Europe's most ancient civilization ; the Minoan, often referred to as the 'cradle' of European civilization. Little is known about the rise of ancient Cretan society, as very limited written records remain, and many are written in the undeciphered script known as Linear A. This contrasts with the superb palaces, houses, roads, paintings and sculptures that do remain. Though early Cretan history is replete with legends such as those of King Minos; Theseus and the Minotaur; and Daedalus and Icarus passed on via Greek historians and poets such as Homer, it is known that the first human settlement in Crete, dating to the aceramic Neolithic, introduced cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs, as well as domesticated cereals and legumes.Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman EraCrete continued to be part of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine empire, a quiet cultural backwater, until it fell into the hands of Arabs (see Al-Hakam I) in 824, who established an emirate on the island. In 960 Nicephorus Phocas reconquered Crete for the Byzantines, who held it until 1204, when it fell into the hands of the Venetians at the time of the Fourth Crusade. The Venetians retained the island until 1669, when the Ottoman Turks took possession.In the partition of the Byzantine empire after the capture of Constantinople by the armies of the Fourth Crusade in 1204, Crete was eventually acquired by Venice, which held it for more than four centuries. During Venice's rule, the Greek population of Crete, most famously El Greco, were exposed to Renaissance culture. During the 17th century, Venice was pushed from Crete by the Ottoman Empire, with most of the island lost after the siege of Candia (1648–1669) ; this made up possibly the longest recorded siege in history.Modern Greek StateThe Greek War of Independence began in 1821 and Cretan participation was extensive ; an uprising by Christians met with a fierce response from the Ottoman authorities and the execution of several bishops, regarded as ringleaders. Between 1821 and 1828, the island was the scene of repeated hostilities.Shortly after Crete had been left outside the modern Greek state by the London Protocol of 1830, it was yielded to Egypt by the Ottoman sultan. Egyptian rule lasted for ten years, until 1840, when it was returned to the Ottoman Empire on July 3, 1840 by the Treaty of London.Several uprisings between 1833 and 1897 were unsuccessful, while in 1898 Crete became autonomous and remained so until 1913, when it joined Greece officially on December 1, 1913.Contemporary estimates vary, but on the eve of the Greek War of Independence a minority not more than 40% of the population in the island may have been Muslim. Some amongst these were crypto-Christians who converted back to Christianity; many others fled Crete because of the unrest. By 1900, 11% of the population was Muslim -- in the island's historical context they came often to be known as Turks regardless of language, culture, and ancestry. Those remaining were forced to leave in 1924 in the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey.In World War II, the island of Crete provided the setting for the Battle of Crete (May 1941), wherein German invaders, especially paratroops, drove out a British Commonwealth force commanded by General Sir Bernard Freyberg.MACEDONIA (Mακεδονία)Ancient Macedonia (500 bC to 146 bC)Macedonia is known to have been inhabited since Paleolitic times. Its recorded history began with the emergence of the ancient kingdom of Macedon centred somewhere between the northern part of Greek Macedonia and the Bitola district in the south of the present-day Republic of Macedonia. By 500 BC, the early Macedonian kingdom had become subject to the Persian Empire but played no significant part in the wars between the Persians and the Greeks.King Alexander I of Macedon (died 450 BC) was the first Macedonian king to play a significant role in Greek politics, promoting the adoption of the Attic dialect and culture. The Hellenic character of Macedon grew over the next century until, under the rule of Philip II of Macedon, Macedon extended its power in the 4th century BC over the rest of northern Greece. Philip's son Alexander the Great created an even bigger empire, not only conquering the rest of Greece but also seizing control of the Persian Empire, Egypt and lands as far east as the fringes of India.Much of the impetus towards the creation of this common identity was provided by Alexander the Great. Alexander's conquests produced a lasting extension of Greek culture and thought across the ancient Near East, but his empire broke up on his death. His generals divided the empire between them, founding their own states and dynasties - notably Antigonus I, Antipater, Lysimachus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy I, and Seleucus I. Macedon itself was taken by Cassander, who ruled it until his death in 297 BC. Antigonus II took control in 277 BC following a period of civil strife. During his long reign, which lasted until 239 BC, he successfully restored Macedonian prosperity despite losing many of the subjugated Greek city-states. His successor Antigonus III (reigned 229 BC-221 BC) re-established Macedonian power across the region.Macedon sovereignty was brought to an end at the hands of the rising power of Rome in the2nd century BC. Philip V of Macedon took his kingdom to war against the Romans in two wars during his reign(221 BC-179 BC). The First Macedonian War (215 BC-205 BC) was fairly successful for the Macedonians but Philip was decisively defeated in the Second Macedonian War in (200 BC-197 BC). Although he survived war with Rome, his successor Perseus of Macedon (reigned 179 BC-168 BC) did not; having taken Macedon into the Third Macedonian War in (171 BC-168 BC), he lost his kingdom when he was defeated. Macedonia was initially divided into four republics subject to Rome before finally being annexed in 146 BC as a Roman Province.Minoan Civilizations Quite a number of traces of these Doric cities have survived down to the present day: at Prinia, some 40 km from Herakleion, traces have been found on a low hill of one of the most important Archaic sanctuaries of the 7th century B.C. Gortyna, approximately 45 km from Herakleio , was from time to time the most important and powerful city in Crete. Traces of all the periods in the history of the island have been found here. Of particular interest are the inscriptions giving the Laws of Gortyn, which include legislation in family law and the law of inheritance.fter the destruction of the palaces and the collapse of the Minoan culture, Crete was conquered by the Dorians, who sailed across from mainland Greece. The Doric cities of Crete had the same system of government as Sparta, that is, they a senate consisting of the nobility of the city. The towns were protected by walls and each had its own acropolis. The cities could be kept united under the leadership of Knossos, but only when this was necessary for the purposes of repelling some new invader.Crete is an island of significant ancient history and a very popular tourist destination; its attractions include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos, the Venetian castle at Rethymnon, and the Samaria Gorge, as well as many other natural sites, monuments, and beaches. Crete was the centre of the Minoan civilization, the oldest form of Greek and hence European civilization. Today Crete consists of four prefecture, Chania, Heraklion, Rethymnon and Lassithi. Crete island is known for the characteristic diversity in its mountainous landscape, natural beauty and coastal shores. Search for chania apartments , chania accommodation , chania villas, heraklion hotel, and accommodation in all areas of Crete. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/58.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/57.html  Rentcars24.com  car hire proposes you places to visit:DAY 1 HERAKLION CITY1. Visit Heraklion archaeological Museum of Heraklion located in Freedom square.2. Spend some time walking through traditional walk streets of Heraklion city, Morozzini fountain, freedom square, cafee of the old city, city centre, new built port road.3. Visit the Fortress of Koules, located in the old port of Heraklion among dekades of traditional fish boats.4. Take your time to have a fantastic lunch in one of the port taverns of Heraklion.5. In the afternoon visit the Knossos Palace and the archaeological Minoan civilization of Knossos. You will need minimum 2-3hours to make the round of the Palace.6. In the evening make your choise to drive to one of the traditional villages close to Heraklion city. We suggest to drive to Archanes village(south of Heraklion), Damasta Village(west of Heraklion -located on the old road Heraklion Rethymnon).The Greek language spoken on the island has a distinct Cretan Greek dialect with an extended vocabulary that is Crete-specific. Cretan wine and tsikoudia, a potent distillate, are the traditional drinks. Crete has its own distinctive Mantinades poetry. The island is known for its Mantinades-based music (typically performed with the Cretan lyra and the laouto) and has many indigenous dances, the most noted of which is probably the Pentozali. Cretan authors have made important contributions to Greek Literature throughout the modern period; major names include Vikentios Kornaros, creator of the 17th century epic romance Erotokritos (Greek Ερωτόκριτος), and in the 20th century Nikos Kazantzakis. In the Renaissance, Crete was the home of the Cretan School of icon painting, which influenced El Greco and through him subsequent European painting.Cretans are fiercely proud of their island and customs, and men often don elements of their traditional dress in everyday life: knee-high black riding boots, black shirts and black headdress consisting of a fishnet-weave kerchief worn wrapped around the head or draped on the shoulders. Black is the color of mourning, and since Cretan families are notionally considered so extended as to include greatgrandparents or second cousins (although they may have little actual contact) as well as all their respective in-laws, one is theoretically justified to be in continuous mourning for some relative or other, however distant. On festive occasions those who are not in mourning wear white.EconomyThe economy of Crete, which was mainly based on farming, and fishing, began to change visibly during the 1970s. While an emphasis remains on farming and stock breeding, due to the climate and terrain of the island, there has been a drop in manufacturing and an observable expansion in its service industries (mainly tourism-related). All three sectors of the Cretan economy (agriculture, processing-packaging, services), are directly connected and interdependent. The island has a per capita income close to 100% of the Greek average, while unemployment is at approximately 4%, ½ of that of the country overall. As in other regions of Greece, olive growing is also a significant industry; a small amount of citrons are still cultivated on the island.The island has three significant airports, Nikos Kazantzakis at Heraklion, the Daskalogiannis airport at Chania and a smaller one in Sitia. The first two serve international routes, as the main gateways to the island for travellers.TourismCrete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Fifteen percent of all arrivals in Greece come through the city of Heraklion (port and airport), while charter journeys to Heraklion last year made up 20% of all charter flights in Greece. Overall, more than two million tourists visited Crete last year, and this increase in tourism is reflected on the number of hotel beds, rising by 53% in the period between 1986 and 1991, when the rest of Greece saw increases of only 25%. Today, the island's tourism infrastructure caters to all tastes, including a very wide range of accommodation; the island's facilities take in large luxury hotels with their complete facilities, swimming pools, sports and recreation, smaller family-owned apartments, camping facilities and others. Visitors reach the island via two international airports in Heraklion and Chania, or by boat to the main ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethimno and Agios Nikolaos. Popular tourist attractions include the archaeological sites of the Minoan civilisation, the Venetian old city and port of Chania, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, the gorge of Samaria, the islands of Chrysi, Elafonisi, Gramvousa, and Spinalonga.Archaeological siteshere are a large number of archaeological sites which include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos, the classical site of Gortys, and the diverse archaeology of Koufonisi, Crete which includes Minoan, Roman and World War II ruins.Enviromentally protected areasThere are a number of environmentally protected areas. One such area is located at the island of Elafonisi on the coast of southwestern Crete. Also, the palm forest of Vai and the Dionysades islands, close to the coast of northwestern Crete, have diverse animal and plant life. Vai has a palm beach and the largest natural palm forest in Europe. The island of Chrysi, 15 km south of Ierapetra, has the largest naturally grown Lebanon Cedar forest in Europe.DevelopmentNewspapers have reported that the Ministry of Mercantile Marine is ready to support the agreement between Greece, South Korea, Dubai Ports World and China for the construction of a large international container port and free trade zone in southern Crete near Tympaki; the plan is to expropriate 850 ha of land. The port would handle 2 million containers per year, while as of 2007, there has been no official announcement of a project not universally welcomed due to its environmental, economic and cultural impact.[1] As of January 2009, it appears the project has been canceled, in part due to the strong opposition from the local population, mostly on environmental grounds.[2]Crete-immigration-Holiday homesCrete's mild climate attracts interest from northern Europeans who want a holiday home or residence on the island. EU citizens have the right to freely buy property and reside with little formality.[3] A growing number of real estate companies cater to mainly British expatriates, followed by German, Dutch, Scandinavian and other European nationalities wishing to own a home in Crete. The British expatriates are concentrated in the western prefectures of Chania and Rethymno and to a lesser extent in Heraklion and Lasithi.Neolithic settlementThe first human settlements on the island, dating to the aceramic Neolithic, used cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and dogs as well as domesticated cereals and legumes; ancient Knossos was the site of one of these major Neolithic (then later Minoan) sites.[4]Minoan civilizationCrete was the center of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoan (c. 2700-1420 BC).[5] This civilization wrote in the undeciphered script known as Linear A. Early Cretan history is replete with legends such as those of King Minos, Theseus, Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus passed on orally via poets such as Homer. Beginning in 1420 BC, the Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenean civilization from mainland Greece. The oldest samples of writing in the Greek language is the Linear B archive from Knossos, dated approximately to 1425-1375 BC.[6]MythologyCrete has a rich mythology mostly connected with the ancient Greek Gods but also connected with the Minoan civilization. The labyrinth of the palace of Knossos has the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur where the Minotaur was slayed by Theseus. The Paximadia islands are believed to be the birthplace of the goddess Artemis and the god Apollo. Their mother, the goddess Leto, was worshipped at Phaistos. Europa and Zeus made love at Gortys and conceived the Kings of the Minoan civilization. King Minos became a judge of the dead in Hades. The goddess Athena bathed in Lake Voulismeni. The ancient Greek god Zeus launched a lightning bolt at a giant lizard that was threatening Crete. The lizard immediately turned to stone and became the island of Dia. The island can be seen from Knossos and it has the shape of a giant lizard. The islets of Lefkai were the result of a musical contest between the Sirens and the Muses. After losing the contest the Sirens were so distraught that their wings fell off, turned white, and fell into the sea at Souda Bay where they formed the islets.Music of Crete- local instruments and the ancient instrument-Cretan LyraThe music of Crete is a traditional form of Greek folk music called κρητικά (kritika). The lyra is the dominant folk instrument on the island; there are three-stringed and four-stringed versions of this bowed string instrument, closely related to the medieval Byzantine lyra. It is often accompanied by the Cretan lute (laoúto), which is similar to both an oud and a mandolin. Thanassis Skordalos and Kostas Moundakis are the most renowned players of the lyra.The earliest documented music on Crete comes from Ancient Greece. Cretan music like most traditional Greek began as product of ancient, Byzantine, western and eastern inspirations. The main instrument lyra, is closely related to the bowed Byzantine lyra. The Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh (d. 911) of the 9th Century, in his lexicographical discussion of instruments, cited the Byzantine lyra (Greek: λύρα - lūrā), as similar to the Arabic rebab and a typical Byzantine instrument along with the urghun (organ), shilyani (probably a type of harp or lyre) and the salandj [1]. Bowed instruments descendants of the Byzantine bowed lyra (lūrā) have continued to be played in post-Byzantine regions until the present day with few changes, for example the Calabrian Lira in Italy, the Cretan Lyra, the Gadulka in Bulgaria, and the Armudî kemençe (or πολίτικη λύρα) in Istanbul, Turkey.Following the Crusades, however, the Franks, Venetians and Genoese dominated the island and introduced new instruments and genres and in particular the three-stringed lira da braccio. By the end of the 14th century, a poetic form called mantinada became popular; it was a rhyming couplet of fifteen syllables. The introduction of the violin by the end of 17th century was especially important.Some of the earliest popular music stars from Crete were Andreas Rodinos, Yiannis Bernidakis (Baxevanis), Stelios Koutsourelis, Stelios Foustalieris, Efstratios Kalogeridis, Kostas Papadakis, Michalis Kounelis, Kostas Mountakis and Thanassis Skordalos. Later, in the 1960s, musicians like Nikos Xylouris and Yiannis Markopoulos combined Cretan folk music with classical techniques. For the above choices, Nikos Xylouris received the negative criticism of conservative fans of the Cretan music but he remained popular, as did similarly-styled performers like Charalambos Garganourakis and Vasilis Skoulas. Nowadays, prominent performers include Antonis Xylouris or Psarantonis, Giorgis Xylouris, Ross Daly, Stelios Petrakis, Vasilis Stavrakakis, the group Chainides, Zacharias Spyridakis, Michalis Stavrakakis, Mitsos Stavrakakis, Dimitrios Vakakis, Georgios Tsantakis, Michalis Tzouganakis, Elias Horeftakis, Giannis Charoulis, etc.As Magrini (1997) has argued, modern marketing of Cretan music has concentrated on the lyra as the most distinctive Cretan instrument, to the extent that other instruments are seldom heard. This includes the violin, as well as the bagpipes [askomadoura].Creta Culture is by far of the greatest of Europe. source: www.wikipedia.org  Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/57.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/97.html Driving in Crete is easy and enjoyable.There is only one way connecting  East Crete with West Crete. Athenscars is offering ,to all customers ,a road map of Crete island ,Greece that shows the most important places to visit.The best car rental offers on Crete.Rent a car in Crete and visit the beautiful south coast sea sides and beaches.Crete car hire rates are attractive and discounted during all summer months for Crete car hire.Hiring a car in Crete is a guide to paradise... Crete is in the middle of the Meditteranean sea.Its location is ideal for people who want to combine the European with the Greek way of life.The Greek cuisine influenced from the Cretan traditional cuisine .Crete is producing olive oil of an excellent quality ,like in Sitia that every year wins the degree of worlds best quality. Hospitality in Crete is recognised just with a glance to local people.carCrete proposes many tourist attractions to visit.Crete is the place where the ancient God Dias,Zeus was born into.The place of birth is located on the Lassithi plateau area,where Oros -Mountain Dikti is placed,inside a cave ,where Mythology shows the unique place of birth of God Dias.This cave is protected from the archaeology and is all day open to visit. It seems sometimes strange to realise how important the Minoan civilization was and the influence it showed to all European culture the last 4500 years.The spirit of Olympic Games started from Crete,Minoan civilization,based in Heraklion Knosos Palace,where Olympic games took place for the first time as Tavrokatharpsia.Minoan Palace ,Knossos Palace is located 7km far ,south of Heraklion city centre.The museum ,archaeological museum of Heraklion is of a great interest ,exhibiting the items found in Knosos palace.carCrete, Crete, car rental rates, bike rental rates, car hire, Greece, Griechenland, Kreta, Iraklion, Heraklion, Stallis, Malia, carhire, carrental, autovermietung, book now rental car, quote rental rates-economy,licence,tour,trip,kriti,krhth,hellas,iraklion,iraklio, rent car guide,car rental guide crete,car hire guide crete, car rental guide crete,rentacar guide crete, airport heraklion,airort heraklion delivery, iraklion airport rent a car, airport herklion car hire, airport iraklion car rental, airport nikos kazanzakis, knossos kreta,knossos,crete labbiritnth,labirinth of kreta,rent a car ,rent car airport chania,car rental chania, car hire chania, car hire hania,car rental hania, car rental retymnon,car hire retymnon,car hire matala, car rental matala,pantheonpalace,alexanderbeach, cactus beach hotel,ikaros village,golfaufkreta,golfoncrete, heraklionflughafen,vermieten,zumieten,aphroditebeach, eloundabeach,bluesea hotel, blueagean, leiwagen, stalida, stalis, malia, hersonnisos, hersonissos, hersonisos, knossosroyal, knossosvillage, holidayson crete, imflughafen, hafen, kriti, mochlos, ierapetra,hiracar, carrental,ag.galini, car hire heraklion,car rental heraklion,car rental chania, car rental sitia,car rental heraklion port, car rental heraklion airport,, Kreta, Iraklion, Heraklion, rent a car, Stallis, Malia, carhire, carrental, autovermietung, book now rental car, quote rental rates, special offers Kreta Motorrad Kreta mietauto Kreta mietwagen Kreta motorradmotorradvermietung car hire crete crete rent a bike kreta rent a bike crete car Car Hire Crete - Welcome to Crete Car HireIf you're looking to hire a car on Crete, you've come to exactly the right place!We have lots of experience in hiring cars on this beautiful island and can help make your visit a truly memorable one.Please browse this site for further details of what we can offer, then take a moment to check our rates for a friendly, personal service and the very best deals around in car hire. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/97.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/83.html    find more cars with briefly description Aygo Engine: 1.0L Seats: 4 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: Yes i10-Engine: 1.1L Seats: 4 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: Yes Panda Engine: 1.1L Seats: 4 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: Yes         Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/83.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/103.html Overview of Crete : Trust our advices of what you can do in a week time on Crete !Seaside:Bathe in warm waters at Elafonisi of south west Chania, or relax in the shade of the palm forest of Vai beach. Walk in deserted beaches, find your own private beach and spend your day quiet.InlandTalk to Cretan old people and children in any of the villages of Psiloritis mountain, feel the hospitality of Cretans and stop for a fresh juice to a traditional coffe shop- kafeneio!Escape:Visit Anogia village and walk inland the mountainous villages, olive groves in Fodele and Banana groves in Arvi village, find fresh fruits oranges and mantarin in Chania region, walk in the fantastic phoenix trees of Vai Palm beach, walk through ancient Ruins of Minoan civilization at Knossos palace in Heraklion.Adventure:Walk or Trek the fantastic Samaria Gorge at Chania region, find specious animals and plants during the direction as well as churches. Go for water skiing at any organized beach with blue flag, cycle with a biking team in the mountains of the island, through sunny and dusty areas.Eat & Drink:You can taste fresh seafood mainly to any of southern Cretan villages, taste the grilled lamb at the mountainous villages as well as vegetarian food at every local Tavern, Cretan have a great tradition in vegetarian food, eat the fresh home made pies-where in every place on the island are different cooked. Eat Feta cheese and Myzithra cheese.Nightlife:Loud and fun-fuelled Malia and Malia beach bars, Hersonisos port and Hersonisos town bars, keep the party-hungry happy with all-night clubbing, drinking races and a karaoke overdose. Eat at a luxury VIP restaurant of Elounda or Hersonisos and taste Gourmet food at high standards.Take Home-what to take with you.Fill your bags with Cretan olive oil, Cretan wine, Cretan cheese,Tsikoudia- raki, Thyme honey, herbs and nuts at Heraklion Central Market. Find handcrafted leather boots, bags and blue pottery in Chania Agora Market center, and cavernous cellars stocking Greek wines in Archanes and Peza villages.Prepare:Make sure you will have a pair of sunglasses ready to wear, be patient to taste all Cretan diet food and wines.Crete YearCome to taste the fantastic Rethymnon carnival on February, visit the eastern part of Crete, Sitia, to find calmness and peace. Stay in a stone made house at Elia village of Chania and feel the smell of the environment and juices of life!PublicHolidays:New Year's Day (1 Jan), Epiphany (6 Jan), Orthodox Shrove Monday (Mar), Independence Day (25 Mar), Easter Monday (Mar-Apr), Labour Day (1 May), Pentecost (Jun), Assumption (15 Aug), Ochi Day (Greece entered WW2 in 1940 on 28 Oct), Christmas (25-26 Dec) and many other of Saint namedays that differ from place to place and village to village.Cretans are very Religious people.Weather:Crete sizzles at temperatures of up to 43-46°C in July and mostly August, when partying picks up a pace and the busiest resorts. Come in winter time when temperatures hover around 15°C to see the mountains covered in snow and almond trees bloom. The island is carpeted with flowers in spring – expect highs of around 20-25°C.Febry=uary and mid January months are very warm. Generally the weather is very mild in this part of Greece. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/103.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/67.html 1.Age limits-How old do i have to be to hire a car in Crete?The age of the driver has to be 23years old to hire an A or B 1000-1400cc category car, for Category C -D-E 1600cc cars 25years old, for Category E1-F 2000-2400cc cars 26years old.A valid EU driving licence or a US-Canadian needed as well as an international driving licence from another continent.2.Car Types-Which car type is the best for me to hire?What size of car do you recommend to me?Can i email Rentcars24.com car rental for car proposal?Rentcars24.com is replying all email requests concerning car rental in Crete.The experienced car hire staff will show options of the best possible car types for your vacation in Crete, will recommend ,with briefly details of each car seperately, the correct vehicle.Feel free to send all your requests to info@rentcars24.com3.Full insurance- When am i fully insured?How can i know iam fully covered against any car damage or theft of car or part of my rental car in Crete?are you supplying a Full Full insurance or is it Full written only on the internet?Rentcars24.com has the following car insurance coverages:Theft of car-The client is fully covered in case the hire car is stolen on Crete.Damage of car-Any damage on the rental car has to be announced to our local car rental agency of Crete, when any damage happens, call our service tel.number written on the rental agreement and let the staff know what happened, the time it happened and ask for help. The accident will be fully covered from Rentcars24.com in the following occasions:a)when the driver is not drunk, b)when the driver is not under the influence of drugs, c)when the car is driven on asphalt roads, d)when the car is driven on Crete island and not on any other place of Greece that should need a written authorization to ship the car,e)when the car is driven from the renter, f)when the accident is reported on time to our service station tel.numbers 0030 2810821424.In case an accident happened and the driver forgot to call Rentcars24.com, will be covered only in the occasion he has the police report copy that is given on accidents.We recommend you should telephone when an accident happens to give instrcutions and take care of accident, it is the best way when you are on holidays.Our Full collision damage waiver insurance includes the following coverages too:- Public Liability Insurance (P.L.I)- Thieves Insurance (T.I) - Delivery & Collection in Heraklion Airport or in Heraklion area- 19% V.A.Taxes- Free Car replacement in case of damage or breakdown- Free 24 hours road assistance all over island Crete - Free Baby seats or Children Seats or booster seats always upon request- Free Road Map of island Crete- Tires insurance supplied-according to car type.4.Change of car-How can i change my Crete rental car?Iam not happy with it, the size of buggage boot is small.Can i change the vehicle i hired?I donot like its condition.All clients have the wright to ask for car replacement, when the cars condition is poor.When the car size is the wrong one, we can change the car in Crete and supply the next size chosen from you, when there is an available one.5.Safari direction-Can i drive with my 4wd hire car on safari?Am i covered to drive on an off road direction of Crete with the car?The jeeps and 4wd hire cars are not allowed to be driven on an non asphalt directions of Crete.They can be driven on a dusty road but not on the sandy beaches or full of stones roads. Rentcars24.com organizes 4wd safari days and can let you know when and how they are taking place.6.Chauffer service-Do you supply a chaffer service in Crete?Rentcars24.com is supplying a chauffer service in Crete in cooperation with Travel agencies which have special cars with professional drivers.7.Car keys-What is happening if i lose or if i destroy or if car keys get stolen from me?The car keys is not covered from any Full insurance, in case of destroy-loss-stolen keys,you will have to pay the cost to replace the original key.The cost sometimes is very high as many cars have remote contol systems and have to be baught from its origin factory.8.Operation hours-What times do you operate in Crete?We are operating 24hours every day.9.Delivery costs-Am i charged extra to hire a car out of office hours?Rentcars24.com is not charging extra to hire a car in Heraklion airport or Chania airport between 06.00hours-22.00hours every day.Our online system shows the extra cost for each car hire between 22.01hours-0600hours, according to Month period, sometimes may be of 0 cost.10.Baby seat- Can i order a baby seat-booster seat-infant seat with you?Yes a baby seat can be arranged on car reservation and can be supplied when you hire the car, they are not charged of extra.11.Cancellation policy-What happens if i would like to cancel my reservation with your car hire Crete?You can cancel your reservation for Crete.Therefore you will have to do this ontime, you cannot reserve a car and cancel it the last minute!THis is a risky policy many tourists follow in order they succeed in finding a lower car hire Crete rate.It is most of times wrong.When a good car is reserved with a very reasonable rate,it is useless trying to find a lower rate the last minute.You will always have to look for comments on internet  as many car hire dealers cheat clients and make them pay extra and much more than they should.12.Extras-What is not really included within your car hire offers?Fuel is not included, the client will has to return the car with same amount of fuel back to us.Traffic penalties-Traffic fines-Fines-Municipality fines are paid from the Renter.The renter has to park his car and drive it according to E.U. law.13.Payment-How can i pay the cost?You can pay the car hire cost by cash, however a credit card is accepted too.American express is charged of +4% extra, other cards such as VISA or MASTERCARD are not charged of extra.14.Reservation of car-How can i make a reservation?It is very easy to reserve a car.You will have to follow our 4step reservation system to complete your booking online.other ways to reserve a car:Telephone our car hire agency staff to ask for an offer:0030 2810821424.Chat with us by using our chat live and find the lowest rate.Fax your request and get a Fax reply very quickly:0030 2810822167.Web-Send an email to us and get a reply within 2hours.15.Earlier arrival-What if i arrive earlier than the reservation time of pick up?You will have to wait for us to come infront of the arrivals meeting point exit, or contact our office to ask for instructions about meeting us earlier.16.Meeting point-How will i recognize the person who will be waiting for me ?The person who will be waiting for you will be holding a sign in his hands,writting your name on it, however you can recognize Rentcars24.com signs as well.17.Number of Drivers-How many drivers can drive the rental car?We always inform maximum 2 drivers can drive the car, adding an extra driver will cost 2euro daily.18.Documents-What are the necessary documents i have to have with me in order to hire the car?A valid EU or US-CANADIAN driving licence or an international one from another continent.A passport or ID of  EU card as well has to be shown to our collaborator on car delivery.19.Reply-I emailed you-Faxed you-but no answer has come to me yet?Please try again or telephone us for a fast reply.20.TELEPHONE SERVICE-Contact our online service-0030 2810821424-24hours every day or mobile:0030 698 17 18 888 Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/67.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/61.html  Rentcars24.com  car hire proposes you places to visit:DAY 1 HERAKLION CITY1. Visit Heraklion archaeological Museum of Heraklion located in Freedom square.2. Spend some time walking through traditional walk streets of Heraklion city, Morozzini fountain, freedom square, cafee of the old city, city centre, new built port road.3. Visit the Fortress of Koules, located in the old port of Heraklion among dekades of traditional fish boats.4. Take your time to have a fantastic lunch in one of the port taverns of Heraklion.5. In the afternoon visit the Knossos Palace and the archaeological Minoan civilization of Knossos. You will need minimum 2-3hours to make the round of the Palace.6. In the evening make your choise to drive to one of the traditional villages close to Heraklion city. We suggest to drive to Archanes village(south of Heraklion), Damasta Village(west of Heraklion -located on the old road Heraklion Rethymnon).  Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/61.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/65.html Kretarent.gr is the best car hire provider for Crete island. Based on Crete, Heraklion airport and Chania airport, delivers cars to every location including all resorts, ports, offering quality car rental crete services, value for money deals and large Car hire Crete in Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Sitia, Ierapetra, providing car hire solutions since 2008. The leading Crete car hire specialist with free delivery to the airport, all ports and hotels in Crete.You are in the correct car rental website.Crete is ideal for vacation trips and holiday leisure. It is true the magnificent sightseeing tours, with the hire cars, attract more and more tourists every year. Discover the most far places of Crete in a hire car of Rentcars24.com Think positive and hire a new car from Rentcars24 in Crete island. You win a lot more than time and money, you rent a car from the specialists.Start searching for the best rate by typing the necessary information in the booking form system.  Select the correct hire car for Crete, that suits your needs, to drive to all far destinations! Type the necessary information the reservation requires and press the BOOK button. You will receive an email confirmation and the reservation will be considered as Final. You donot need to provide a credit card deposit to reserve a car from Car hire Crete - Rentcars24.comWe Pride Ourselves to offer lowest car hire pices and Great Service-Excellent Service- Great Rates from the Crete Specialists! Nevertheless the car type you choose to hire in Crete, we will be on time to the arranged place!find some important client REVIEWS Contact our online service by phone or send an SMS:tel. 0030 6936 79 08 70,  George Parasiris.Kretarent RentCars24.com, Crete - Greece, Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/65.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/112.html         Crete Car Rental - A Great Idea For TravellersCrete car hire is one of more popular choices among international visitors and this is the reason that you would always find great rush when it comes to getting the bookings done. People, who are planning to visit Crete, need to plan ahead of time as you cannot rely on the on-spot car rental bookings. There are many car rental companies in Crete, but as the car rental services are in high demand in July and August, you would notice shortage of vehicles to take you to the hopping islands. By hiring cheap car rental service you can easily enjoy your journey without a hassle.Some of the prominent locations that almost all the car rental services in Crete cover are Agios Nikolaos Crete, Hersonisos, Malia, Stalis, Sisi, Milatos, Sitia, Elounda, Ierapetra, Ammoudara, heraklion, rethimnon, Chania, platanias, Agia Marina, Maleme, Paleochora. Some Important Crete Car Hire TipsIf you are a first time visitor to Greece and you plan to rent a car here, then make sure that these tips are kept in mind:In Greece you drive on the right hand side of the road.Like other countries, it is illegal to use your mobile when driving in Greece.In most of the situations the speed limit is 50km/hr in built up areas, 110km/hr outside of cities and 120km/hr on motorways.If you follow these tips, it would be easy for you to enjoy your trip to Greece by obtaining the services of a car rental company.Some Good Reasons To Consider The Option Of Crete Car HireCar hire in Crete is not only hassle-free but is fun filled also. If you have a big car rental period, then you can stop at all the locations that come your way and enjoy the sightseeing. Car hire services in Crete are quite economical as compared to other countries. Crete’s island tax can be lower than other islands. However, to get the booking done, one might need to pay the fee as quick as possible. This is not always demanded as many reservations are made without deposit payment. Check pur online guidelines and find the best possible deal that suits your needs!Some other reasons to go for Crete car hire are:- Most of the travelers are concerned about their comfort and the car rental companies in Crete take care of this completely. If you have a driving license, then the car rental experience is going to turn out more convenient.Complete Safety Security: - Acquiring the services of a Greece car rental company implies safety at its best. The drivers here are professionally trained to deliver the best whenever needed.If we look at all these factors, it would be clear that hiring a car in Crete is going to turn out as a great option. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/112.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/89.html   Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/89.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/101.html Μόλις 5 χιλιόμετρα από το κέντρο του Ηρακλείου, το ανάκτορο της Κνωσσού αποτελεί το σημαντικότερο πόλο έλξης για τους τουρίστες. Καταλαμβάνει 20.000 τ.μ. τα οποία πλαισιώνονται από μεγαλόπρεπα δαιδαλώδη οικοδομήματα, βασιλικά ανάκτορα, στολισμένα με πολύχρωμες τοιχογραφίες, με θέματα παρμένα από τη ζωή του παλατιού, όπως ταυρομαχίες, θρησκευτικές εκδηλώσεις κ.α. Ο Μινωϊκός πολιτισμός προκαλεί επάξια το θαυμασμό όλων: ζωγραφική, αρχιτεκτονική, μικροτεχνία, κεραμική, θέατρο, εμπόριο με Λιβύη και Αίγυπτο, τα αγωνίσματα, ίσως το αρχαιότερο στον κόσμο.    Tavrokatharpsia Knossos palace picture-Interior tarace Bull-Symbol of Minoan civilization                            Read More about Holocaust of Arkadi Monastery As the attackers poured in, the ammunition stores in the monastery were exploded deliberately on the orders of the Abbot. Hundreds were killed in the internal blast, Cretans and Turks alike, this enraged the assailants that they put most of the surviving defenders to death. There are celebrations annually on the anniversary of the 7-9 November blast. Arkadi nowadays There are still monks and a couple of nuns living at the monastery; they take care of the church and the surrounding buildings as well as the small museum where relics from the monastery and the church are kept. In the museum you can also buy very good copies icons made in the traditional way and other religious items. Outside the grounds of the monastery there is a cafeteria and a souvenir shop. Here they sell local handcrafts, honey, Raki, komboloi's of a very good quality (the traditional string of beads that many men play with), and many other souvenirs and of course postcards. A popular walk from Arkadi to the village of Pikris. Privatly you can book a walk from Arkadi to the village of Pikris,The walk starts with a tour around the monastery of Arkadi and the small museum there. After that we start descending to the village of Pikris, some 6 kms from Arkadi. The walk will take you from the monastery down the mountainside through meadows and fields. Like Egypt, Crete was the site of a very early, very advanced society. The Minoan civilization were people who used to inhabit Crete till they were destroyed by natural and political means. These people have captured the imagination of many and remain in many ways an enigma. The Minoan civilization lasted over 1500 years, from 2600-1100 BC. It reached the height of its prosperity in the 18th - 16th centuries. Very little was known about Minoan Crete before the great excavations of Greek and foreign archaeologists that began about 1900, and the discovery of the palaces of Knossos and Mallia with their astonishing architecture and amazingly distinctive finds. Its history had passed into the realm of legend and remained a distant memory in Greek tradition and mythology. When I visited Crete I found the preserved artworks of the Minoans to be exquisite and delightful. I was captivated by the romance and exuberance, the tasteful use of color the sheer artistry and clarity. The paintings and sculpture expressed the euphoria of the process of life and even death. What really intrigued me is how often the subject matter was dancing. In my imagination I could see from the images in the museum in Herakleion and in the archeological sites of Mallia and Knossos, how in particular the women moved. Circle type dancing as exists today was apparent, but I also was intrigued to discover images which suggested vigorous hip movements and trance moves sometimes depicted by solitary dancers that are not a part of contemporary traditional Cretan folk dance. I wanted to immerse my self in the surreal, civilized and beautiful world of the Minoans. The erotic spiral haired heavily made up and stylized women dancing, seemed to have a vibrancy which shone out and invited the willing to join them in their dance. Clues to how the Minoans danced can be observed in the traditional art forms central to Minoan culture - ceramics, frescos and stone carvings. In the early period, the ceramics were characterized by linear patterns of spirals, triangles, curved lines, crosses, fishbone motives and such. In the middle Minoan period naturalistic designs such fish, squids, birds and lilies were common. The 'palace style' of the region around Knossos is characterized by strong geometric simplification of naturalistic shapes. Repeats are used, animal human composites are common themes as are highly symbolic and stylized human figures. After researching the temples and palaces of ancient Minoa I felt compelled to stitch together the images of dancing I saw on the freezes and three dimensional representations. I cut out scanned images and arranged them, using my intuition and studied the myths to create a dance style inspired and directed by the ancient artworks I had seen. Of all the cultures I have looked at the Minoans seem to have been the happiest and most joyful. What must it have felt like to dance like them? We can never truly know because Dance is always a response and in context with ones natural and social environment. However it is possible to obtain insights if one’s intention is clear and true. We can gain insights of the subtle non-verbal nuances of any culture by observing their dance. art and mythology. The ancient Greeks believed that dancing was invented in Crete by the goddess. The Minoan civilization was the full flowering of a culture with a sacred female presence at its center. Crete, a Greek word, means "strong, or ruling, goddess". Of all the ancient civilizations, the Cretan goddess reigned the longest as a goddess who was one in herself, without losing all or part of her power to a divine husband. When women occupy a low position in society it is usually correlated by a covering of the body and some times face. We can assume from images of Minoan women, as their sexuality is fully expressed, that women must have occupied a high position in society. When one is attempting to rediscover or recreate a dance it is important to look at the culture and the psychology of a people. Minoan women were powerful leaders in religion and society. Their culture seemed to be peaceful feminine and artistic. There are so many images of people dancing it seems safe to assume that dance was a major part of spiritual, domestic and social cohesion and even altered consciousness. A great deal of knowledge of Minoan culture is based on 3,000 year old clay tablets and elaborate wall paintings and floor mosaics, suggesting much about Minoan social relationships and religion. Drawings, paintings, and small statues frequently describe dancers and musicians. Often the dancers are in a circle or line, often with a musician or musicians in the center. Some times they are alone. In some images dancing is a highly symbolic and surreal activity, strange creatures, human, plant and animal composites populate many of the art forms. I could see that the flowing ebbing and curved shapes of nature are replicated in the dance moves. The Minoans were inspired by what they saw around them. The patterns the bees make when they perform their in flight dance. The playful exuberance of the dolphin jumping out of the sea. The circambulation of the sun and the moon. The changing face of the night sky, the patterns that emanate from flowers, birds’ courtship rituals. The movements of snakes, and the shapes of the Cretan terrain. All these elements seem to be encapsulated in the dance. Minoan dances given in front of palace audiences, seems to have involved small companies dancing formal figures. We can see that dancers occasionally whirling at speed. Snake arms and vigorous hip movements were also in the Minoan dance vocabulary. Religious dancing in sacred groves and at alters is also depicted, which is less stylized and far more ecstatic and abandoned. There is much evidence to suggest that drugs were used to help elevate the proceedings. The poppy goddess is wearing seed heads cut for opium extraction. The Minoan culture must have been very well organized for its people to spend so much time in altered states of consciousness creating art and dancing. This is a world that seemed to me like a goddess inspired utopia. In the Herakleion Archeological Museum I felt an energy and vibrancy that seemed to emanate from the goddess figures I looked at. They seemed to radiate an energy which a receptive person could easily connect with. The poppy goddess with her hands facing towards the viewer seemed to invite reciprocal connection. These figures often resided in domestic contexts. I am intrigued to how her obvious poppy antennae and blissed out look suggest a dreamy state of consciousness. This inspired me to create a dance piece that will affect the consciousness of the viewer and dancer alike.The tiny dancers on a gold ring (fig 1) suggest trance dances that I have observed in a variety of Middle Eastern cultures. The dancer in the middle seems to be creating an energy that the others are engaging in, either receiving or giving energy to the others. The strange creatures in the background are perhaps physical depictions of emanations from the dancers. I have recreated this dance scenario based on what I have observed and learnt from various middle eastern dances. One of the most enigmatic and powerful of the Minoan goddesses is “the Snake Goddesses". This particular goddess is usually considered to be a household divinity. She looks fierce has bare breasts and holds a snake in each hand. To me she looks like she is performing a dance. She resembles a protecting goddess. Of course she is one of many goddesses whose emblem is the snake. The snake also inspires so many Middle Eastern and Indian dance moves. Minoan culture shares many symbols with predynastic Egypt, including the ankh and Hathor-like images such as cows and suckling calves. Evans remarks that the Minoan snake goddess and her attributes show a remarkable resemblance to Wazet, a manifestation of Hathor who sometimes appears as a serpent and carries a papyrus scepter with a snake wound around it. Babylonian Ishtar is similar to the snake goddess as are other artistic, mythological and ritualistic emblems from ancient Mesopotamia. The Minoan mother goddess was often represented by snakes, and was linked to the Earth shaker, a male represented by the bull and the sun, which would die each fall and be reborn each spring. This is identical to Sumerian myths of the dying and resurrecting sun god the consort and son of Innana. The inclusions of lions with goddesses are also related to how Ishtar is visually depicted. The Bull is featured as a central divine animal. Many Minoan murals portrayed athletic competitions, which youths performing daring acrobatics on the backs of charging bulls. The orientation of the palaces on Crete was determined in relation to Sirius, as was the position of Hathor's temple on the Nile. Like the Egyptians, the Cretans celebrated the New Year at the early rising of Sirius in July. Evans speculates that during the unsettling time of the military unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, refugees from Lower Egypt may have emigrated to Crete. Perhaps dance moves were shared from a variety of cultures that the Minoans traded with. The Minoans were thought not to be of Greek origin and spoke a different language. Perhaps they originated in Syria. Where the Minoans originally came from can only be speculated. Minoan art suggests that the society was interested in the mythological and spiritual and ritualistic qualities of animals, harvests, and the underworld. Other illustrations have led to some theories that the Minoans also believed in animal-headed demons. Minoan art suggests an influx of West Asian imagery. In Anatolia, Cybele is the goddess of Mt. Ida; the Cretan Mt. Ida is a sacred mountain. Dikte is the name of sacred places in both areas. Remarkably similar Neolithic clay figures, mostly of women, are found in Crete as in Asia Minor. Symbols connected to the goddess and Cretan religion are the bull, the dove, the serpent, the sacred tree, her double axe and the labyrinth. The worship of the goddess is connected with mind altering states initiated presumably by opium, drums, music and dance. Dance/costume and music collude to create the experience of performance. It is fascinating that the Cretan woman’s costume is totally unique. The smooth form was fitted at the waist and flared gently to the ground. The ruffle style consisted of several succeeding layers of ruffles gradually increasing in circumference as it approached the ground. They were commonly decorated along the hem, sides and shoulder line with bands of woven tape or embroidery. Women wore bodices composed of smooth fitted lace that fastened beneath the breasts leaving them exposed. Minoans liked to dance through a classic labyrinth in a single path meant for meditative circumambulation. It was originally a spiral, but slowly evolved into the maze of angular turns familiar to us today. To enter it is to experience a ritual death; to escape from it is to be resurrected. Our modern world separates reality into component parts and it is hard for us to grasp the holistic nature of ancient peoples. In the ancient world, prayer was an active, trance-inducing combination of chanting, music and dance. The danced line into the labyrinth was a sacred path into the inner realm of the goddess. Ancient labyrinths are almost always associated with caves, often appearing at the cave's mouth. Caves were the first Paleolithic temples, and the association of caves with sacred ceremonies consecrated to the goddess continued in Crete and Anatolia. And elsewhere. The labyrinth also represents descent into the unconscious structure of the mind, in search of wisdom and enlightenment. The Hindu mandalas are use for concentration in Yogic meditations, are often labyrinthine in design. When I was rehearsing and formulating the Minoan goddess choreography. I found a shiny silver Cretan coin in the middle of the floor. One of my rituals before dancing is to tidy the room and brush the floor. So I can only attribute metaphysical forces to its appearance. For me it is a sign that this dance vocabulary has a special otherworldly significance that does not fit into modern paradigms. Recreating dance moves from ancient Minoa can give us some insights into the psychological and spiritual feelings of the ancient dancers, as dance moves create emotions in their wake. However translating still images to movement sequences can only ever be a vague interpretation of the original. This is partially true as cultural, geographical, social and religious factors all affect the dance experience. The art of Crete is so focused on the aesthetic qualities and a very naturalistic pleasing of the senses. Their art has informed us of a culture who lived for the enjoyment of life, who connected the domestic to the spiritual and whose dance was a true celebration of being alive in a beautiful world.                     Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/101.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/85.html      Engine: 1450cc Seats:5 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: YesArcondition:Yes  find more cars for Crete car rental        Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/85.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/91.html   Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/91.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/110.html Mini guide to Heraklion Mini guide to HeraklionThe capital of Crete has long been the cultural, economic and political center of the island. Home to ancient monuments and modern amenities, this city is the gateway to historic Crete.The magnificent fortress, Koules, stands sentinel over the port. This castle has been used for centuries as protection for the harbor and as a prison. Now it is open to the public for tours. It contains artifacts and weapons from the past as well as dark hallways and cells that used to incarcerate the city's prisoners.The city also contains a pre-classical palace, the Knossos, which housed the rulers of Heraklion as they slowly conquered the island's other cities in ancient times. In the center of the city is the excellent archaeological Museum of Heraklion Crete, which displays artifacts from Minoan, classical, Hellenistic and Roman times.In Heraklion there are many options for entertainment and relaxation. In the city's tavernas and restaurants can be found the local spirit raki as well as Cretian and international cuisine. For sunbathers there are several lovely beaches near the city.Heraklion is also an excellent base for exploring Crete. By car hire in Crete it is easy to make day trips all over the island and still be back in the city for by nightfall. The eastern village of Zakros houses a historic palace as well as an interesting archaeological site situated on a beautiful beach.This city can be reached by daily flights from Athens as well as several other cities around the Mediterranean. Package deals from many European cities are also numerous in the summer.The city of Heraklion is surounded from many tourist resorts , beautiful places for relaxing and swimming . Thalassotherapy centres and swimming pools , as well as mini football grounds , are modern ways of young people entertainment . Hotels and apartments in the city of Heraklion , useful information about the culture and archaeological places.Rentcars24.com car hire in Crete is managing to promote the most beautiful directions to drive , as well as the archaeological remains on Crete .Crete is a large and incredibly diverse island where pretty harbour towns like Aghios Nikolaos give way to rolling hills covered with thousands of olive trees. There are mountains here too and, amazingly, they are even capped with snow!For many, Crete is famous as the home of the Minoan's, the ancient civilisation thought to have constructed the elaborate palace at Knossos, excavated by Aurthur Evans at the turn of the 20th century. In Greek mythology this is the birthplace of Zeus who, in the form of a white bull, is said to have abducted Europa and taken her back to Crete as his queen. Legend has it that Europi-Europa gave Zeus three sons, one whom, Minnos, gives his name to the centuries old civilization.You'll see both the Palace of Knossos - where, deep in the labyrinth, Theseus fought the Minotaur - as well as the mysterious Dikti Cave, legendary birthplace of Zeus. Elsewhere Crete is all about lovely beaches, welcoming tavernas and wonderful countryside. Searching for Crete tours, Crete coach holidays & escorted touring holidays of Crete.offers exceptional coach tours across Crete for 2006 ...Crete's best beaches, tours, hotels, restaurants, hiking paths, music, recipes, photos, pictures and personal pages in this guide about the real Crete.Holidays in Crete. Crete hotels and accommodation. Car and bike hire in Crete. Information on rates, reservations, hotel facilities, travel services. type http://www.athenscars.grThe big, beautiful island of Crete, museums, ancient sites, places to go, and sightseeing. Knossos, Gortys, Iraklio, Elounda, many others.Crete was the cradle of early Mediterranean civilisation and is a uniquely fascinating island. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, 160 miles long and up to 38 miles wide. The land is infinitely varied - mountain ranges rise up to over 8,000 feet, Europe's deepest gorge winds for twelve miles through rock walls at times 1,000 feet high. Countless empty beaches and a clear blue sea surround the island. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/110.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/82.html    find more cars with briefly description Aygo Engine: 1.0L Seats: 4 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: Yes i10-Engine: 1.1L Seats: 4 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: Yes Panda Engine: 1.1L Seats: 4 transm.: Manual Doors: 5 Abs: Yes Cd-Radio: Yes Airbag: Yes Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/82.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/77.html Car hire in Chania port at very attractive rates! Are you planning a trip to Chania, Crete? You have visited the car rental agency of Chania port. You can have a quick look at our very best car hire offers for Chania city and west Crete. You will benefit our offers and will be satisfied due to our latest model of cars!We pride ourselves to be very correct and offering reasonable attractive rates to all new or returning customers. Our Fleet of latest car hire in Crete models, will release you to choose any of the economy or larger size cars we offer. Select the model of car that will, be ideal for you car hire adventure on Crete, provide you with trust and safety to drive everywhere on the island. Select the car type and provide the necessary information-following the online steps to reserve a car in Chania port. It is important to provide a telephone number of yours, home or mobile. After finalizing your order, make sure you received the voucher-reservation.  Chania port is located in the east part of Chania city, it is 5km far from the city center. Whether you arrive in Chania Souda port or Chania Marathi port base, car hire Chania port staff will be there to deliver the selected car on time! it is true we are the favourite car rental agency of Chania visitors. We are punctual and professional car hire in Crete. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/77.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/76.html Heraklion Port car rental Are you arriving in Heraklion Port and need a rental car? Rentcars24.com is the correct car hire supplier for Heraklion port, delivering cars on time, early morning noon afternoon or evening hours. Choose the correct car that suits your needs, make sure your luggage fit in the buggage boot. Our online system shows the car groups and size of their buggage boots. If you are unsure of car size you have chosen, supply information regarding number of luggage and passengers in the remarks space of the car hire reservation-Heraklion port. After choosing the correct car for Heraklion port, reserve it by supplying the necessary information regarding the ferry name and estimated arrival time in Heraklion. One representative of rentcars24.com will be waiting for you just outside and opposite the ferry, holding a sign writing your name. You will not have to walk long distance to find your hire car, we will have it there ready for you! Heraklion city is located in the middle of the island Crete. Its location has the advantage a guest can drive anywhere on Crete ,regardless the short distances with the rental car.  Ηeraklion port car rentals are always discounted, as our ψαρ ηιρε location is not far from there, we do not charge of extra cost. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/76.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/86.html Rent a car Crete, Crete Rent a car, Crete rent car. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/86.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/81.html Rethymnon area city and hotels, prefecture of Rethymno, sightseeing history Rethymnon city is considered Crete's secret gem! Local people know it is the prefecture which combines all beauties of Crete together.  Rethymnon is the city where Moni Preveli is located, south and opposite of the African coast, the Palm beach with the green water rivers running into the sea surrounded from the Magnificent Palm Trees and sandy beach accross the lake side and the seaside!  The Monastery of Arkadi is located in the Mountainous surroundings of Psiloritis, close to the city. It's frighten brave history shows how all brave Cretan people faught against the Turks.  The physical port of Bali is located in Rethymnon too, it is consisted of 4 physical sandy beaches ports, where many people swim all year months. It is an area where many Greek people choose to spend their weekend holidays. Plakias area is located south of Rethymnon, it is the famous long 7km beach. Its smaller part is the famous Cretan Rude Beach of Plakias, Sandy and nice clean waters beach. Hire a car and drive at this beautiful Cretan place of Rethymnon. Psiloritis mountain is located in Rethimno area too. Psiloritis mountain is the highest mountain of Crete with 2453meters hight. There are many villages surrounding the mountain, It is very cold during the winter period and very warm the summer period. Idi Oros is named the top part of Psiloritis, on this Mountain is Idi cave, the place where Mythology shows Ancient God Zeus-Dias was born in. On Psiloritis mountain is located the recently found cave Sfendoni in Zoniana village, a cave with a very interesting history remains of ancient people.  Agia Galini is located south of Rethymnon, it is the physical port and the startpoint of many local fishermen. The area is virgin and the surroundings really interesting to walk. It is 40 minutes far from Rethymnon and is easy to reach with your rental car, either from Heraklion airport or from rethymnon city. Nevertheless Rethymnon has fantastic places to spend you holidays to, the city is a very attractive startpoint for your holidays too. It is a city of nearly 40thousand people, new builty arround the Venetian remains and walls. Its local people are extremely helpful and warm. They keep the tradition and follow for centuries the Cretan music and dances. Rethymno city has the most beautiful 4-5star hotels of all of its prefecture.The Rethymno prefecture (Greek: Νομός Ρεθύμνου or Ρεθύμνης) was created while Crete was still an autonomous state, and was preserved after the island joined Greece in 1913. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the Rethymno regional unit was created out of the former prefecture. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/81.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/80.html Rethymnon port car hire, port rent a car in Rethymnon. Rethymnon is located in the west  part of Heraklion and eastern of Chania. Rethymno is the territory of Crete which has the most beautiful beaches and the highest mountainous terrains of Crete. Hiring a car in Rethymnon is ideal to explore the most beautiful parts of the island, from the high mountain of Psiloritis to the palm beach of Moni Preveli and the caves of Matala beach. You can have two ways of car hire in Rethymnon, Select to hire a car in Rethymnon port: You can reserve a ferry ticket in Athens and travel to Rethymnon port. We can wait for you infront of the ferry holding a sign writing your name on it. The car will be at the port ready to hire, renting a car in rethymnon is very easy. Hire a car in Rethymnon city: You can reserve a car and pick it up in your accommodation, hotel or villa. The pick up of the car will be confirmed from us after providing us with the necessary pick up car rental details and will arrange it. Rentcars24.com recommends you whould take advantage of the local directory provided with your car hire contract and visit all recommended places of Rethymnon, renting a car in rethymnon cannever be better. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/80.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/90.html   Group A. Mini Cars 1.Hyundai i10 a/c 5dr 1.1L 2.Hyundai atos 1.1l Prime a/c  3.Toyota Aygo a/c 5dr 1.0L Group B. Economy cars 1.Chevrolet Matiz a/c topless 2.Hyundai Getz a/c 5dr 1.2L 3.Chevrolet Spark a/c 5dr Group C. Compact cars 1.Citroen C3 a/c 5dr 1.2L 2.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.25L 3.Ford Fiesta a/c 5dr 1.3L 4.Toyita yaris a/c 5dr 1.3L 5.Nissan Micra a/c 5dr 1.3L Group D. Medium Size cars - family 1.Peugeot 307 a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Citroen Xsara a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.Nissan Note a/c 5dr 1.4L 4.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 5.Chevrolet Lacetti a/c 5dr 1.4L Group E. Sedan cars 1.Hyundai Matrix a/c 1.6L 5dr 2.Toyota Corolla a/c 5dr 1.6L 3.Nissan Note/Tiida a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F. Automatic cars 1.Opel corsa a/c 5dr 1.4L 2.Hyundai accent a/c 5dr 1.4L 3.HYundai MAtrix a/c 5dr 1.6L Group F1. Mini bus 6-7seaters 1.Fiat Multipla a/c 5dr 6seater 2.Fiat Doblo a/c 5dr 7seater 3.VW caddy a/c 5dr 7seater  Group F2. Mini bus 9seater 1.Nissan Primastar Long 9seater 2.Fiat Scudo 9seater Group G. Cabrio cc 1.Renault Megane 1.6L  2.Peugeot 206 1.6L 3.Citroen Pluriel cabrio 1,4l 4.Fiat Punto 1.3L 5.Peugeot 307 1.6L Group H.Off road Jeeps 4wd 1.Suzuki  jimny 1,3l cabrio 2.Suzuki sx4 5doors 1.6L 3.Fiat sedici 5doors 1.6L 4.Toyota Hilux 2.0L a/c 4dr    Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/90.html http://www.rentcars24.com/1/113.html "Greece in general is a very safe country for a solo female traveller and as long as you take simple sensible precautions as you would anywhere else, you'll have no problems at all. Greek people are overwhelmingly honest and friendly and once you';ve visited the same bar or restaurant twice, you'll be the owner's friend for ever".If you are staying in Chania for a couple of days mid-May and seek advice on a planned walk to view the monasteries at Agia Triada, Gouverneto and Katholiko-this is the expert to advise you.We have been looking at the best way to do this without hiring a car, and our options are either a taxi or a (KTEL) bus from/to either Stavros or Chania Airport, or a combination of these options.Are there 'direct' walking paths between Stavros and Gouverneto/Katholiko without returning to the road at Agia Triada?From Google earth it doesn't look like the coast is accessible, but can we go 'over the top'? We found one website which talks of a valley between Katholiko and Stavros, but I cannot pick this out on the map.If there are paths, how difficult are they and what would be a rough walking time? Is a round trip Stavros-Monasteries-Stavros do-able in 5-6hrs?About how much would a taxi cost to Agia Triada, and would we be able to pick one up in Stavros if we didn't catch the bus back?Answer:My Harms Verlag West Crete map shows a footpath between Stavros and Moni Katholiko, threading between the high hills on either side. It also shows an "unpaved secondary road" between Koumares and Stavros, reachable by footpath from Agia Triada.So yes, a round trip is possible, but whether it is do-able in 5-6 hours is debatable. The distances aren't great, and 5 or 6 hours might be enough for a brisk walk (although I don't know the Katholiko-Stavros path or how long it would take) but that would be defeating the purpose of going to see the monasteries! Agia Triada and Gouverneto are both still functioning monasteries and are beautiful and interesting to explore: you need time for them. Katholiko is possibly the most interesting of the three, because the most is isolated and ruinous.If you are staying in Chania, I think you'd make the most of your day by taking a taxi to Agia Triada, doing your walk to Gouverneto and Katholiko from there, and making your way back from Stavros by bus if that's feasible, or taxi. If a taxi isn't available in Stavros, Chania Radio Taxis will collect you anywhere (get a card with phone number from the driver who takes you to Agia Triada).If you decide to walk from Katholiko to Stavros, you should have the Harms Verlag map: don't try it without a map, and don't rely on googlemap. Similarly, if you do it in the other direction, starting from Stavros, you need a map to get you to Koumares and onto the unpaved track to Stavros.Another option is to go back to Agia Triada from Katholiko and call a Chania taxi to collect you there. I did it this way several years ago and enjoyed the reverse walk, but you might be some of the many people who don't like to retrace their steps.The taxi then cost 30 euro each way .You are very welcome: I'm sure you'll enjoy the walk. If you haven't done any walking inCretebefore, be aware that the footpaths are almost without exception stony, and rough and tough on the feet: you need good hiking boots or shoes with thick soles and deep tread. Don't expect to be able to walk as fast as you do on footpaths in BritainThe path from Agia Triada-Gouverneto-Katholiko is well marked and well trodden, but I would imagine the Katholiko-Stavros path may not be. Be careful, take a charged mobile phone with you, and tell someone at your hotel in Chania where you are going and when to expect you back.Any way there is not going to be useful if you hire a car, you will have to do it roundtrip and return at the startpoint again, if you are so well trained, this is a good idea and the rates of the rent a car Crete are very competitive that period. Good luck. Car hire Crete, car rental Crete, Heraklion,Chania http://www.rentcars24.com/1/113.html