Cretan Art
The Cretan art, which has its origin in the Minoan period, from 2500 B.C. still plays an important role on Crete today. Crete presents itself as a colorful landscape with its special architecture and its remarkable people.
As early as the Minoan period, the Cretan civilization was way ahead, compared to her surrounding countries like Egypt.
The Cretan art finds its origin in the fact that the people of Crete were already trading for centuries. The religious influence was inconsiderable; this gave way for an enormous commercial spirit for those days. The many discoveries from the excavations show us in which abundant and luxurious way, life on Crete was 5000 years ago. It is significant that only a few finding can be related to religion. No temples or important religious monuments were exposed.
Nowadays the influence of the Greek Orthodox Church is present in many ways. Whether this is the reason that the Greeks are not the trade people as in the past, remains a question mark.
A fact is though that the way of living, the joie de vivre, the art and the architecture remained.
Because of the many interesting sides of the Cretan art we organize this 5 day tour. We will take you along the island and let you experience the joie de vivre by yourself. We will go back to the past and we will finish with impressions of the present architecture and modern art.
Day 1
After breakfast in the hotel in Heraklion, we will leave by luxury touring car to Knossos and the National Museum in Heraklion. At both occasions we will be shown around by a private guide.
After lunch in Heraklion we will go to the hotel in Chania. Except of the dinner together, the rest of the day is at your free disposal.
Day 2
After breakfast we will visit in this beautiful town the Archeological Museum, that is situated in the former monastery of St. Francis which, during the Turkish occupation, was the Muslim Mosque of Yussuf Pasha.
Here we will find a beautiful collection of items, found at the excavations of Cania, Kissamos, Lissos and several other places. Next to these, the museum also has a temporary exhibition of local art.
After lunch in the hotel, we will make, together with a private guide, a walk through the harbor and the old part of Chania. Thus you will get a good impression of the traditional and the modern architecture. The rest of the day you can spend as you like.
Day 3
After breakfast we will travel to the south. Our first stop will be at Phaestos: the second biggest Minoan palace on Crete. In the archeological museum in Heraklion we already admired the many items found during the excavation of Phaestos.
After lunch we will go to the southernmost town of Europe: Ierapetra. It will now be late in the afternoon and it will be pleasant to take a rest on one of the many terraces of Ierapetra. You will be free to do what you like for the rest of the day after arrival at the hotel.
Day 4
After breakfast a local guide will join us for a walk through Anatoli, an almost deserted mountain village with a rich history. Among other things we will visit the local church that accommodates a rich collection of icons from the El Greco period. We will continue to Kalamafka to visit this village and the small rock chapel of the Holy Cross, which can be reached via 225 steps. After lunch in Kalamafka, we will return to the hotel.
From 18.00 till 20.00 hrs we will have a lecture of the Cretan art by a local artist in his workshop. Together with the artist we will have a traditional dinner in a local tavern.
Day 5
After breakfast we will leave Ierapetra and we will return to the hotel in Heraklion. On our way back we will visit the Monastery of Selinari and the excavation of Malia. This is probably one of the most stunning excavations of Crete. With an area of 7500 m2 it is third in size. It is also the most provincial palace that has been uncovered.
After our farewell lunch, we will return to the hotel in Heraklion.
