CRETE – the beautiful Greek island where myth and reality are forever interwoven – the island of King Minos, of Theseus and Ariadne, of the monstrous Minotaur and the Labyrinth. Here lived the palace-based Bronze Age Minoans with their sophisticated fashions, art and jewellery – and the dangerous sport of bull-leaping. As time passed Minoans gave way to Mycenaeans, Greek-speaking, bronze-clad heroes of Homer whose palaces were mysteriously destroyed around 1200 BC. They were followed by new people, also Greek-speaking, who developed new art forms and a complex legal code until they became subject to the might of Rome. Latin Roman was followed by Greek Byzantine rule until Constantinople fell to forces of the Fourth Crusade; Venice then acquired and fortified the island which it held against the Turks until 1669. Turkish rule did little for the island and Crete did not regain its independence until 1898. Then, in 1913, Cretans were granted their dearest wish – enosis, union with Greece. In the modern period, the Second World War was not a happy time for the island. Invaded in May 1941 it remained under harsh German occupation until the end of the war.

The major cultures left much for us to study. The Minoans and Mycenaeans left complex, magnificent palaces and exquisite works of art – naturalistic wall paintings, colourful and delicate statuary, and beautiful and intricate gold jewellery. The Greeks left their myths, and their Law Code inscribed on tablets of stone. The Romans left their capital city, Gortyn, the Byzantines their churches and monasteries, the Venetians their imposing castles and fortifications. On the tour we will explore many of these fascinating sites in the company of our very popular historian, Mike Clegg, on our way, attempt to unravel fact from fiction, reality from myth – not forgetting to admire Crete's dramatic scenery from the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean to the rugged grandeur of its mountainous spine.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Friday): Fly London Heathrow – Heraklion (Crete) via Athens. Transfer to our hotel in Rethymno. Dinner and overnight (7 nights).
Day 2: We begin our programme with a tour of Rethymnon, Crete's most attractive town, including visits to the Archaeological Museum and Venetian Fortress.
Day 3: This morning we visit Heraklion taking in the Venetian Castle guarding the harbour and the world-famous Archaeological Museum that holds the major finds from Knossos and other Minoan sites. In the afternoon we visit the amazingly complex Minoan Palace of Knossos, excavated by the British archaeologist, Sir Arthur Evans, at the beginning of the 20th century. Dinner under own arrangements.
Day 4: Today we travel to the south of the island to explore the abandoned Roman city of Gortyn (and see the Greek Gortyn Law Code) before moving on to the Minoan settlement of Aghia Triada and the Minoan Palace of Phaistos.
Day 5: We drive west today, to Crete's second city, Chania. We will include visits to the Maritime and Archaeological Museums and the War Cemetery at Souda Bay, the final resting place of 1527 Commonwealth soldiers killed in the last ten days of May 1941 in the Battle of Crete. Dinner under own arrangements.
Day 6: Driving eastwards initially we visit the Minoan Palace of Malia before heading into the mountains to the unique Lasithi Plateau with its hundreds of windmills, and the Dikteon Cave, the reputed birthplace of Zeus.
Day 7: Our final trip takes us east again to the attractive seaside town of Elounda for a boat trip to the Venetian fortress island and former leper colony of Spinalonga.
Day 8: Return Heraklion – London Heathrow via Athens.