The largest Greek island, lying in the south Aegean Sea. Crete was the heart of the rich Minoan civilization of 3000-1100 BC. Its huge palace at KNOSSOS has been excavated and restored. The island (8366 km2, 3229 sq miles) rises east to west to a limestone backbone peaking at Mount Ida (2456 m, 8058 ft) in the White Mountains. The scenery varies from wild gorges to fertile plains where rare herbs and wild orchids abound.
Crete flourished under Venetian occupation (1210-1669), producing some of Greece's finest medieval painting, poetry and drama. It was impoverished under Turkish rule (1669-1896), and was united with Greece in 1912-13. In May 1941, there was fierce fighting in the north of the island, when in the first massive paratroop operation of the Second World War, German forces seized Maleme airfield and went on to defeat 40 000 British, Commonwealth and Greek troops. Besides tourism, industry today includes weaving and embroidery. The main town and capital is HERAKLION.
Locals hypothesize that the legacy of Italian blood and culture in Cologne, colonized by the Romans more than 1500 years ago, makes the people more jovial and lighthearted. Cologne is the largest city on the Rhine.
Kolsch is not only the dialect spoken here but, also the name of their own top-fermented beer. There are more than 4,000 pubs, restaurant's and brewery taverns in Cologne.
Unlike many of the world's large cities, Cologne, with a population of over a million, gets better every day, there are more things to do and see, more new and innovative buildings... more
Travel is an opportunity to learn, whether geography, languages, history or other subjects.
Cologne is situated on the beautiful Rhine River.