Gay owned and run accommodation, and lodgings, bed and breakfast hotel and inn for the independent gay and lesbian travel ler near Hersonissos, Crete, Greece
© 2010 Villa Ralfa All logos reproduced by permission. All pictures and text are copyright! Last updated 10/04/10
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All around the island of Crete, Greece, you will find remnants of past civilisations from Neolithic, through Minoan to Roman, from the Venetian and Byzantine occupations and through to the present day.
Because Crete is such a large island we have a considerable advantage in that you are never lost for something to do other than go to the beach or sit in a bar!
On the other hand unless you are a real archaeology buff, you can suffer with history overload! A little bit of planning ensures that you can have a happy mix of history, sightseeing, and beaching during your stay.
Villa Ralfa is around 30 minutes drive from the main Minoan site at Knossos, or you can take the bus), and 10 minutes from the Palace at Malia, which we recommend for those who want to see a bit of Minoan civilisation without overdoing it!
If you want a full day out with sun and civilisation then to the east you can visit the famous Vai Beach and also take in the Minoan site at Kato Zakros.
The main museums are located in Heraklion the capital, with the central archaeological museum a must see, but for a more recent history and folklore museum don’t forget the Museum of Crete, The Natural History Museum, or indeed the Kazantzakis Museum in Myrtios. Also in Heraklion you can see the remains of the Venetian occupation with the fort at the harbour, the city walls and also some fine buildings some restored and some not!
Also around the island are a number of churches and monasteries varying from plain to richly decorated, many of them with legends associated with them.
Because Crete is such a large island we have a considerable advantage in that you are never lost for something to do other than go to the beach or sit in a bar!
On the other hand unless you are a real archaeology buff, you can suffer with history overload! A little bit of planning ensures that you can have a happy mix of history, sightseeing, and beaching during your stay.
Villa Ralfa is around 30 minutes drive from the main Minoan site at Knossos, or you can take the bus), and 10 minutes from the Palace at Malia, which we recommend for those who want to see a bit of Minoan civilisation without overdoing it!
If you want a full day out with sun and civilisation then to the east you can visit the famous Vai Beach and also take in the Minoan site at Kato Zakros.
The main museums are located in Heraklion the capital, with the central archaeological museum a must see, but for a more recent history and folklore museum don’t forget the Museum of Crete, The Natural History Museum, or indeed the Kazantzakis Museum in Myrtios. Also in Heraklion you can see the remains of the Venetian occupation with the fort at the harbour, the city walls and also some fine buildings some restored and some not!
Also around the island are a number of churches and monasteries varying from plain to richly decorated, many of them with legends associated with them.
To see the best of Crete, we recommend that you hire a car for at least part of your stay, although you can see quite a lot of the island by public transport and by taking organised trips and cruises. Some trips like the one to Samaria Gorge are best done by coach as it is a long day, although you can do the ‘Sunday Walk’!
To be fair, for the uninitiated, driving on Crete can be a bit of a challenge as the mountain roads can be narrow with steep hills and hairpin bends, but once you get the hang of it, and realise that 20km an hour is as fast as you can go, and you are on holiday so what is the rush anyway, it is not difficult!
From the fertile plateaus of Lassithi and Messara, to the heights of Mount Psiloritis there is a great variation in scenery around the island, with endless seas of olive trees shimmering in the sunlight to stark limestone rocky outcrops, (often home to lammergeiers), the island can be both dramatic and welcoming. Add in the traditional mountain villages hanging from the cliffs and the surprises you find round the next corner, you will not get bored! For longer day trips and a bit of cruising there are ferries leaving Ierapetra and Hora Sfakia on the south coast to the islands of Chrissi and Gavdos (the most southerly point in Europe).
To be fair, for the uninitiated, driving on Crete can be a bit of a challenge as the mountain roads can be narrow with steep hills and hairpin bends, but once you get the hang of it, and realise that 20km an hour is as fast as you can go, and you are on holiday so what is the rush anyway, it is not difficult!
From the fertile plateaus of Lassithi and Messara, to the heights of Mount Psiloritis there is a great variation in scenery around the island, with endless seas of olive trees shimmering in the sunlight to stark limestone rocky outcrops, (often home to lammergeiers), the island can be both dramatic and welcoming. Add in the traditional mountain villages hanging from the cliffs and the surprises you find round the next corner, you will not get bored! For longer day trips and a bit of cruising there are ferries leaving Ierapetra and Hora Sfakia on the south coast to the islands of Chrissi and Gavdos (the most southerly point in Europe).
