1 - 12 of 12 Posts

greggd12

Active member
This is a must visit place in Crete! El Greco was a highly influential artist of the Spanish Renaissance. You can visit the Museum of El Greco which is located in the village of Fodele here you will find replicas of El Greco’s major works as well as related documents.

Museum-of-El-Greco-720x480.jpg
 
I've never heard of El Grecos work! THanks for sharing I'm checking out his work now and it looks so cool. I didn't know there were so many Italians in Greece
 
  • Like
Reactions: greggd12
He's actually from Spain! Here is more about the artist https://www.wikiart.org/en/el-greco
He's actually from Spain! Here is more about the artist https://www.wikiart.org/en/el-greco
This is a must visit place in Crete! El Greco was a highly influential artist of the Spanish Renaissance. You can visit the Museum of El Greco which is located in the village of Fodele here you will find replicas of El Greco’s major works as well as related documents.

View attachment 420
My wife and I visited
He's actually from Spain! Here is more about the artist https://www.wikiart.org/en/el-greco
My wife and I visited his birthplace in Crete. He was born in that village in Crete but at the time it was part of Venice. He later went to Italy to pursue his art. Do a search the Wikipedia article.
 
This is a must visit place in Crete! El Greco was a highly influential artist of the Spanish Renaissance. You can visit the Museum of El Greco which is located in the village of Fodele here you will find replicas of El Greco’s major works as well as related documents.

View attachment 420
When we were in Crete, the driver we hired brought us to this hidden gem. I'm attaching some of the photos I took. The Museum which is the house where El Greco is born is on a hill overlooking the church he must have attended?IMG_1667.jpg

IMG_1665.jpgIMG_1664.jpeg
This is a must visit place in Crete! El Greco was a highly influential artist of the Spanish Renaissance. You can visit the Museum of El Greco which is located in the village of Fodele here you will find replicas of El Greco’s major works as well as related documents.

View attachment 420

This is a must visit place in Crete! El Greco was a highly influential artist of the Spanish Renaissance. You can visit the Museum of El Greco which is located in the village of Fodele here you will find replicas of El Greco’s major works as well as related documents.

View attachment 420
 
  • Like
Reactions: kosta_karapinotis
He was born in Crete and he actually got his start as an icon painter in Greece. He moved to Italy to pursue his painting career, and then he eventually moved on to Spain. Most of us associated him with Spain but his background is more involved than that. There are some excellent photos in this thread of his birthplace!
 
  • Like
Reactions: kosta_karapinotis
Of all the times I have gone to Crete, I only managed to visit this gem once. It was a truly memorable experience, though. There's so much to see!
 
Of all the times I have gone to Crete, I only managed to visit this gem once. It was a truly memorable experience, though. There's so much to see!
How did you find out about it? Is it very popular to visit?
 
How did you find out about it? Is it very popular to visit?
We hired a taxi driver for the day to show us around and this is one of the sites he brought us to. Taxi drivers will often let you negotiate a rate for the day, and they take you around to some of their favorite places.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nm1999
We hired a taxi driver for the day to show us around and this is one of the sites he brought us to. Taxi drivers will often let you negotiate a rate for the day, and they take you around to some of their favorite places.
I would recommend that you call a few taxi companies and negotiate some rates in advance, much easier that way than figuring stuff out on the fly
 
I would recommend that you call a few taxi companies and negotiate some rates in advance, much easier that way than figuring stuff out on the fly
That's great advice! I have never done it that way, but only because it's never been necessary.
 
  • Like
Reactions: greek_ggirl
That's great advice! I have never done it that way, but only because it's never been necessary.
That's good to hear!! I tend to be a last minute person, especially on vacation
 

How much can you realistically see in Heraklion during a six-hour cruise stop?

I'm looking at a cruise that I might take next year, and one of the stops is Heraklion, Crete. I've never been there before, so I'm starting to research what there is to see and do. It looks like there are quite a few interesting options, but I'm wondering how much is realistic with only about six hours in port.

I'd love to visit the Palace of Knossos, but I'm also interested in exploring Heraklion itself, especially the Venetian Harbor, local shops, and maybe stopping somewhere for a traditional Cretan meal.

For anyone who has visited Heraklion on a cruise, how much were you able to fit into your day? Is it possible to see Knossos and still have time to explore the city, or would that feel too rushed?

I'm also wondering how much time to allow for transportation and getting back to the ship. Any advice would be appreciated!

Visiting East Crete vs. West Crete?

I'm thinking about visiting Crete soon, but I'm having trouble deciding whether to focus on East Crete or West Crete. Most of the travel guides seem to highlight places like Chania, Balos, and Elafonissi in the west, which all look beautiful. At the same time, I've heard that the eastern side has a different feel, with fewer crowds, beautiful beaches, and a more relaxed pace.

For those who have explored both parts of the island, what did you find were the biggest differences? Is one side better for traditional villages, local food, and authentic experiences? How do the beaches compare? I'm also curious about scenery, hiking opportunities, and whether one side is easier to use as a base for day trips.

If you only had about a week in Crete, would you choose the east or the west? I'd love to hear what influenced your decision and whether you'd make the same choice again.

Information Balos Lagoon?

I’m thinking about visiting Crete this year, and Balos Lagoon keeps coming up as one of the top spots to see. The photos look incredible, but I’m trying to get a more realistic sense of what the experience is actually like.

For those of you who’ve been, is it as stunning in person as it looks online? I’ve also heard getting there can be a bit of a trek—either by boat or a rough drive plus a hike. How difficult is it really? Of all the times I have visited Crete, I've never been. It's truly amazing how much there is to see there.

Best "Home Base" on Crete?

I’m in the early planning stages for a trip to Crete and could really use some perspective from people who know the island well. I’m thinking of spending about two weeks there and trying to decide whether it makes sense to choose one central “home base” or to divide my time between a few different locations.

Crete seems so large and varied that part of me wonders if staying in one place would mean a lot of long drives, while another part likes the idea of settling in, getting to know one area well, and not constantly packing up. I’m especially curious about places that work well as a base for day trips—somewhere with good food, easy access to beaches or hikes, and a town atmosphere rather than just resorts.

If you’ve done a longer stay on Crete, how did you structure it? Did you stay put or move around, and would you do the same again?

How Many Days Do You Really Need in Crete?

I'm considering spending a few weeks in Greece this October, and I'm trying to decide how much of that time I should devote to Crete. I've never really explored the island properly, and the more I look into it, the more I realize how much there is to see.

Would you spend two or even three weeks just exploring Crete, or would that feel like too much time? I'm also considering dividing the trip between Crete, Athens, and perhaps another island.

Since it will be October, I'm wondering if staying longer in Crete might make sense rather than moving around too much, especially as the season winds down on some islands.

For those who know Crete well, how many days would you recommend to experience it without rushing? And if you had a few weeks in Greece in October, how would you divide your time?
Share and discuss your Crete photos, questions and experiences!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top