EAS Naxou
The Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Naxos (EAS Naxou), founded in 1926 and rapidly growing ever since, is the driving force of the agricultural sector of the island and a powerful engine for its economic growth. Currently, the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Naxos counts 26 member cooperatives and a total of 3,274 participating members (farmers, stock farmers).
Cheese making constitutes the main field of activity of EAS Naxou. The Union created its first dairy farm in 1961 and a modern dairy and cheese making facility in the area of Glynado in 1985 that rightfully ensured a place for EAS in the competitive cheese market.
Nowadays, EAS produces principally Graviera Naxou (protected under PDO status) and kefalotyri (a very hard, sheep’s- or goat’s milk cheese with a tangy flavour and a sharp aroma) while it absorbs a total of approximately 12,000 tonnes of milk annually, i.e. over 70% of the local milk production, for its dairy products. EAS is an exemplary confederation with a sound budget and no pending fiscal obligations. Currently, it exports more than 60 tonnes of products and has a well-founded ambitious plan to triple them.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Customs and Festivals of Naxos
Music, dancing with traditional costumes, songs, arts, feasts and festivals are part of the Naxian daily life. The island is famous all over Greece for its rich musical tradition and there are important composers/musicians from Naxos, including Konitopouleoi, Fyrogenides, Stamatonanolides, Vrontogiorgides, Koukoularides, Hatzopouloi. “Kotsakia” (folk poems of two or eight verses that were created... Read more
The mount and cave of Zas
This is the highest peak of Naxos, usually covered with clouds and named Myti of Za (Nose of Zeus). It has namely the name of Zeus and maybe this was also its name in the antiquity, as they used to worship the father of gods on this very mountain. The archaic inscription carved on a rock in the path that leads to the top of the mountain says “Oros Dios Milosiou” (Mountain of Zeus of Milon), which... Read more
Naxos wetlands
The small wetlands, salt marshes and dunes of Naxos are a haven for birds, fish and reptiles. The most important wetland is that of Alyki which comprises a large lake southwest of the airport runway. It is the largest salt lake in the Cyclades and retains enough water. The vegetation includes reeds, aquatic plants and clumps of cedar trees. 166 bird species have been observed and it is enlisted in the protected... Read more
Apaliros castle
This is a very important castle, built on a steep hill in the fields of Sangri and Agiassos. According to researchers, it took its name after the abundant “apaliries”, a kind of bush that sprouts there. It was erected in the first years of the Byzantine era, though probably there was already a fortification in the antiquity, because part of the wall is prehistoric. It was abandoned in the 13th... Read more
Naxos towers
Today about 30 towers are preserved in the countryside of the island. They have been built by feudal Venetians in particular (and other Latin nobles) who used them as a base to exploit the real estate of the field they held. Their defensive line included battlements, murder holes, turrets, huge doors and small windows to protect the defenders. They were made of stone and had many floors and thick walls. Bazeos... Read more
Gardoumia
Gardoumia is a special meze from lamb intestines that is made on the island of Naxos, just like in Crete; besides, the strong connections between the two islands are well-known. Meze holds a special place in the Greek culinary tradition and could be described as an appetizer, a treat to share with friends in a relaxed environment. Gardoumia is a popular dish among mountain and pastoral farming/shepherds’... Read more
Organic Islands, founded in Naxos in 2010, is a firm that cultivates, processes, packages and sells organic aromatic plants and herbs. Nikos Hatziandreou, founder of the firm, did not decide to leave Athens and seek a better future in the Greek countryside just because of the economic crisis in Greece.
Nikos, holder of a BA in International Policy and Administration and a MA in Diplomatic Studies with a successful carrier in two multinational consulting firms as a high-ranking executive, came to realize at some point that by working 70 hours a week, he was hardly seeing his family and that his life was passing him by. Without giving it a second thought, he decided to take his wife and two kids away from Athens and move to Naxos, the island where his parents come from. In Naxos, he spent two years occupying posts associated with his profession. However, the family fields gave Nikos the right incentive.
After having conducted all necessary theoretical research and on-site visits to cultivations and several packaging plants throughout Greece and abroad, Nikos founded Organic Islands, the first firm in the Cyclades that cultivates certified organic aromatic and medical plants and herbs.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Customs and Festivals of Naxos
Music, dancing with traditional costumes, songs, arts, feasts and festivals are part of the Naxian daily life. The island is famous all over Greece for its rich musical tradition and there are important composers/musicians from Naxos, including Konitopouleoi, Fyrogenides, Stamatonanolides, Vrontogiorgides, Koukoularides, Hatzopouloi. “Kotsakia” (folk poems of two or eight verses that were created... Read more
The mount and cave of Zas
This is the highest peak of Naxos, usually covered with clouds and named Myti of Za (Nose of Zeus). It has namely the name of Zeus and maybe this was also its name in the antiquity, as they used to worship the father of gods on this very mountain. The archaic inscription carved on a rock in the path that leads to the top of the mountain says “Oros Dios Milosiou” (Mountain of Zeus of Milon), which... Read more
Naxos wetlands
The small wetlands, salt marshes and dunes of Naxos are a haven for birds, fish and reptiles. The most important wetland is that of Alyki which comprises a large lake southwest of the airport runway. It is the largest salt lake in the Cyclades and retains enough water. The vegetation includes reeds, aquatic plants and clumps of cedar trees. 166 bird species have been observed and it is enlisted in the protected... Read more
Apaliros castle
This is a very important castle, built on a steep hill in the fields of Sangri and Agiassos. According to researchers, it took its name after the abundant “apaliries”, a kind of bush that sprouts there. It was erected in the first years of the Byzantine era, though probably there was already a fortification in the antiquity, because part of the wall is prehistoric. It was abandoned in the 13th... Read more
Naxos towers
Today about 30 towers are preserved in the countryside of the island. They have been built by feudal Venetians in particular (and other Latin nobles) who used them as a base to exploit the real estate of the field they held. Their defensive line included battlements, murder holes, turrets, huge doors and small windows to protect the defenders. They were made of stone and had many floors and thick walls. Bazeos... Read more
Gardoumia
Gardoumia is a special meze from lamb intestines that is made on the island of Naxos, just like in Crete; besides, the strong connections between the two islands are well-known. Meze holds a special place in the Greek culinary tradition and could be described as an appetizer, a treat to share with friends in a relaxed environment. Gardoumia is a popular dish among mountain and pastoral farming/shepherds’... Read more
Naxian cheeses
In Greek myth, god Apollo, worshipped with special affection by Naxiots, left on the island of Naxos his son Aristaios, who was an excellent cheese maker, to teach the islanders the art of cheese making.
Although tens of centuries have passed since then, Naxos, being an island blessed with fertile plains, abundant water resources, mountains with rich vegetation and endless grazing lands, is still characterized by a particularly developed livestock sector and produces some of the best-known Greek cheeses.
Together with other islands of the Cyclades, Naxos has a long tradition in cow milk cheeses dating back to the rule of the Venetians and their catholic governors who were the first to introduce such foods and their production method to the islands. In the 16th century, the Cyclades were the only region in Greece where dairy cows roamed on its fields, and thus, the inhabitants of these islands were put early on the right track to master the art of cow milk cheese making.
Nowadays, more than 10,000 cows graze on the land of Naxos while there are more than 100,000 free-ranging sheep and goats mostly on the island’s mountainous part, accounting for an annual production of 1,500 tonnes of cheese.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Customs and Festivals of Naxos
Music, dancing with traditional costumes, songs, arts, feasts and festivals are part of the Naxian daily life. The island is famous all over Greece for its rich musical tradition and there are important composers/musicians from Naxos, including Konitopouleoi, Fyrogenides, Stamatonanolides, Vrontogiorgides, Koukoularides, Hatzopouloi. “Kotsakia” (folk poems of two or eight verses that were created... Read more
The mount and cave of Zas
This is the highest peak of Naxos, usually covered with clouds and named Myti of Za (Nose of Zeus). It has namely the name of Zeus and maybe this was also its name in the antiquity, as they used to worship the father of gods on this very mountain. The archaic inscription carved on a rock in the path that leads to the top of the mountain says “Oros Dios Milosiou” (Mountain of Zeus of Milon), which... Read more
Naxos wetlands
The small wetlands, salt marshes and dunes of Naxos are a haven for birds, fish and reptiles. The most important wetland is that of Alyki which comprises a large lake southwest of the airport runway. It is the largest salt lake in the Cyclades and retains enough water. The vegetation includes reeds, aquatic plants and clumps of cedar trees. 166 bird species have been observed and it is enlisted in the protected... Read more
Apaliros castle
This is a very important castle, built on a steep hill in the fields of Sangri and Agiassos. According to researchers, it took its name after the abundant “apaliries”, a kind of bush that sprouts there. It was erected in the first years of the Byzantine era, though probably there was already a fortification in the antiquity, because part of the wall is prehistoric. It was abandoned in the 13th... Read more
Naxos towers
Today about 30 towers are preserved in the countryside of the island. They have been built by feudal Venetians in particular (and other Latin nobles) who used them as a base to exploit the real estate of the field they held. Their defensive line included battlements, murder holes, turrets, huge doors and small windows to protect the defenders. They were made of stone and had many floors and thick walls. Bazeos... Read more
Gardoumia
Gardoumia is a special meze from lamb intestines that is made on the island of Naxos, just like in Crete; besides, the strong connections between the two islands are well-known. Meze holds a special place in the Greek culinary tradition and could be described as an appetizer, a treat to share with friends in a relaxed environment. Gardoumia is a popular dish among mountain and pastoral farming/shepherds’... Read more
Spanish Conquistadors conquered Peru in the “New” World, discovered the flavours of the potato, and carried them to Europe in the 15th century. From Spain, the cultivation of potatoes gradually spread to the rest of the countries of Europe and potato soon become the last resort of the have-nots in Europe who were unable to make their own bread, the nobles and the ruling class possessing at the time all the fertile and long stretches of land and the strong animals to draw the plough for wheat cultivation. Potato, on the other hand, thriving in any kind of soil (sloping, poor or rocky), could be also grown at home and, thus, became a tasty and nutritious solution for the poverty-stricken rural population.
It is said that potato started being cultivated on the island of Naxos at the end of the 18th century. However, it was only in 1830 that its cultivation expanded throughout the lowland of Naxos and became one of the most significant produce of the island affording financial growth and prosperity to the rural population.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Customs and Festivals of Naxos
Music, dancing with traditional costumes, songs, arts, feasts and festivals are part of the Naxian daily life. The island is famous all over Greece for its rich musical tradition and there are important composers/musicians from Naxos, including Konitopouleoi, Fyrogenides, Stamatonanolides, Vrontogiorgides, Koukoularides, Hatzopouloi. “Kotsakia” (folk poems of two or eight verses that were created... Read more
The mount and cave of Zas
This is the highest peak of Naxos, usually covered with clouds and named Myti of Za (Nose of Zeus). It has namely the name of Zeus and maybe this was also its name in the antiquity, as they used to worship the father of gods on this very mountain. The archaic inscription carved on a rock in the path that leads to the top of the mountain says “Oros Dios Milosiou” (Mountain of Zeus of Milon), which... Read more
Naxos wetlands
The small wetlands, salt marshes and dunes of Naxos are a haven for birds, fish and reptiles. The most important wetland is that of Alyki which comprises a large lake southwest of the airport runway. It is the largest salt lake in the Cyclades and retains enough water. The vegetation includes reeds, aquatic plants and clumps of cedar trees. 166 bird species have been observed and it is enlisted in the protected... Read more
Apaliros castle
This is a very important castle, built on a steep hill in the fields of Sangri and Agiassos. According to researchers, it took its name after the abundant “apaliries”, a kind of bush that sprouts there. It was erected in the first years of the Byzantine era, though probably there was already a fortification in the antiquity, because part of the wall is prehistoric. It was abandoned in the 13th... Read more
Naxos towers
Today about 30 towers are preserved in the countryside of the island. They have been built by feudal Venetians in particular (and other Latin nobles) who used them as a base to exploit the real estate of the field they held. Their defensive line included battlements, murder holes, turrets, huge doors and small windows to protect the defenders. They were made of stone and had many floors and thick walls. Bazeos... Read more
Gardoumia
Gardoumia is a special meze from lamb intestines that is made on the island of Naxos, just like in Crete; besides, the strong connections between the two islands are well-known. Meze holds a special place in the Greek culinary tradition and could be described as an appetizer, a treat to share with friends in a relaxed environment. Gardoumia is a popular dish among mountain and pastoral farming/shepherds’... Read more
Graviera Naxou, a cheese with a sweet buttery flavour, is one of the best Greek graviera cheeses and is considered to be one of Greece’s most beloved table cheeses. Graviera Naxou means graviera of Naxos. In Greek, the word graviera is a transliteration of the Swiss gruyere. Recently added in the rich tapestry of Greek cheeses, graviera was made for the first time in the 20th century in the region of the Peloponnese and soon became known in the hinterland and in Grete where cheese makers succeeded in producing excellent graviera cheese from sheep’s milk.
However, the Cyclades (mostly Naxos, followed by the islands of Tinos and Paros) hold the distinction of being the only place in Greece where graviera cheese is produced exclusively with cow’s milk.
The graviera of Naxos is a pale yellow hard cheese with a compact and soft texture marked by round irregular holes. The cheese is usually made into small heads normally weighing 10 kilos. It has a thin rind formed by the growth of bacteria, which help the cheese to mature.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Customs and Festivals of Naxos
Music, dancing with traditional costumes, songs, arts, feasts and festivals are part of the Naxian daily life. The island is famous all over Greece for its rich musical tradition and there are important composers/musicians from Naxos, including Konitopouleoi, Fyrogenides, Stamatonanolides, Vrontogiorgides, Koukoularides, Hatzopouloi. “Kotsakia” (folk poems of two or eight verses that were created... Read more
The mount and cave of Zas
This is the highest peak of Naxos, usually covered with clouds and named Myti of Za (Nose of Zeus). It has namely the name of Zeus and maybe this was also its name in the antiquity, as they used to worship the father of gods on this very mountain. The archaic inscription carved on a rock in the path that leads to the top of the mountain says “Oros Dios Milosiou” (Mountain of Zeus of Milon), which... Read more
Naxos wetlands
The small wetlands, salt marshes and dunes of Naxos are a haven for birds, fish and reptiles. The most important wetland is that of Alyki which comprises a large lake southwest of the airport runway. It is the largest salt lake in the Cyclades and retains enough water. The vegetation includes reeds, aquatic plants and clumps of cedar trees. 166 bird species have been observed and it is enlisted in the protected... Read more
Apaliros castle
This is a very important castle, built on a steep hill in the fields of Sangri and Agiassos. According to researchers, it took its name after the abundant “apaliries”, a kind of bush that sprouts there. It was erected in the first years of the Byzantine era, though probably there was already a fortification in the antiquity, because part of the wall is prehistoric. It was abandoned in the 13th... Read more
Naxos towers
Today about 30 towers are preserved in the countryside of the island. They have been built by feudal Venetians in particular (and other Latin nobles) who used them as a base to exploit the real estate of the field they held. Their defensive line included battlements, murder holes, turrets, huge doors and small windows to protect the defenders. They were made of stone and had many floors and thick walls. Bazeos... Read more
Gardoumia
Gardoumia is a special meze from lamb intestines that is made on the island of Naxos, just like in Crete; besides, the strong connections between the two islands are well-known. Meze holds a special place in the Greek culinary tradition and could be described as an appetizer, a treat to share with friends in a relaxed environment. Gardoumia is a popular dish among mountain and pastoral farming/shepherds’... Read more
Citrus groves, vegetable farms, pasturelands, the olive groves of Tragea, the vineyards at the northern part of the island; the goods provided by the fertile nature of Naxos on the one hand and the produce of the farmers inhabiting the mountain villages of Filoti and Apeiranthos (calf, goats and sheep, dairy products, oil, olives, grapes, honey, citrus fruits, potatoes and other vegetables) on the other hand have formed through their longstanding presence the traditional cuisine of Naxos.
Even though Naxos is not such a large island like Crete for instance, what is most interesting is that the cuisine of Naxos did not used to be uniform. Well before there was a road network on the island to link together the villages of Naxos, the Naxian cuisine was divided into three categories. The cuisine of the coastal regions, where fish and sea food dishes prevailed; the cuisine of the plains where vegetable and cattle dishes had a leading role and were people used butter for cooking since the byres were located in the plains and, finally, the cuisine of the semi-mountainous and mountainous regions where goat and sheep dishes prevailed and where olive oil was used for cooking.
Among the products of the island, the dairy products of Naxos, the potatoes of Naxos and the kitron liqueur (a liqueur made from the leaves of citron tree) are famous and consumed throughout Greece. On the island of Naxos you can taste a long list of savoury dishes.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Customs and Festivals of Naxos
Music, dancing with traditional costumes, songs, arts, feasts and festivals are part of the Naxian daily life. The island is famous all over Greece for its rich musical tradition and there are important composers/musicians from Naxos, including Konitopouleoi, Fyrogenides, Stamatonanolides, Vrontogiorgides, Koukoularides, Hatzopouloi. “Kotsakia” (folk poems of two or eight verses that were created... Read more
The mount and cave of Zas
This is the highest peak of Naxos, usually covered with clouds and named Myti of Za (Nose of Zeus). It has namely the name of Zeus and maybe this was also its name in the antiquity, as they used to worship the father of gods on this very mountain. The archaic inscription carved on a rock in the path that leads to the top of the mountain says “Oros Dios Milosiou” (Mountain of Zeus of Milon), which... Read more
Naxos wetlands
The small wetlands, salt marshes and dunes of Naxos are a haven for birds, fish and reptiles. The most important wetland is that of Alyki which comprises a large lake southwest of the airport runway. It is the largest salt lake in the Cyclades and retains enough water. The vegetation includes reeds, aquatic plants and clumps of cedar trees. 166 bird species have been observed and it is enlisted in the protected... Read more
Apaliros castle
This is a very important castle, built on a steep hill in the fields of Sangri and Agiassos. According to researchers, it took its name after the abundant “apaliries”, a kind of bush that sprouts there. It was erected in the first years of the Byzantine era, though probably there was already a fortification in the antiquity, because part of the wall is prehistoric. It was abandoned in the 13th... Read more
Naxos towers
Today about 30 towers are preserved in the countryside of the island. They have been built by feudal Venetians in particular (and other Latin nobles) who used them as a base to exploit the real estate of the field they held. Their defensive line included battlements, murder holes, turrets, huge doors and small windows to protect the defenders. They were made of stone and had many floors and thick walls. Bazeos... Read more
Gardoumia
Gardoumia is a special meze from lamb intestines that is made on the island of Naxos, just like in Crete; besides, the strong connections between the two islands are well-known. Meze holds a special place in the Greek culinary tradition and could be described as an appetizer, a treat to share with friends in a relaxed environment. Gardoumia is a popular dish among mountain and pastoral farming/shepherds’... Read more
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Crete is one of the biggest and most noteworthy museums in Greece and among the most significant museums in Europe. The museum houses representative artifacts from all the periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic to the Roman Period. Its Minoan antiquities collection on exhibit is the most significant collection worldwide. The museum is justly considered as the museum of Minoan civilization par excellence.
The museum is located in the center of Heraklion. Built between 1937 and 1940 and designed by Greek architect Patroklos Karantinos, the museum is a significant example of Greece’s modernist architectural and has received a Bauhaus award.
The colours and the materials used in its construction, such as the veined polychrome marbles, recall certain Minoan wall-paintings which imitate marble revetment.
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Crete is one of the biggest and most noteworthy museums in Greece and among the most significant museums in Europe. The museum houses representative artifacts from all the periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic to the Roman Period. Its Minoan antiquities collection on exhibit is the most... Read more
Dinapoja liqueur
Kaiti Dinapoja Dinapoja cottage industry in Heraklion, Crete, produces liqueur and syrups.The story behind Dinapoja is the personal story of Kaiti Dinapoja whose life changed without a warning in her early fifties. It was two personal unfortunate events that urged Kaiti to make a drastic change in her life. “If you are 50 years old facing serious health problems and you get a divorce, if you lose... Read more
Boutari Winery in Skalani
The Boutari Winery in Crete is built outside Skalani village, on the Fantaxometocho Estate, at 8 km kilometers from the centre of Heraklion city. This winery is really the gem of the viticultural zone of Archanes. Fantaxometocho Estate or otherwise called “the settlement of the ghosts” (this second name explains the meaning of the word fantaxometocho) owes its name to the efforts made by the former... Read more
The Dikti Range
THIS RANGE LIES BETWEEN HERAKLION AND LASSITHI. Its highest summit is Spathi (2.148 m) and there are two more peaks at an altitude of more than 2000m. Lassithi Plateau, the largest in Crete, lies at the heart of the range at an altitude of 850 m. It is surrounded by a series of smaller plateaus such as Katharo, Limnakaro, Mari, Lapathos, Omalos, Erganos and Nisimos. There is a mountain shelter at Limnakaro... Read more
The Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC)
The Natural History Museum of Crete is housed in the renovated former premises of the Heraklion Public Power Corporation, on Dermatas’ Bay. With an area of 3,500 m2, it is the largest exhibition of its kind in the Mediterranean, showcasing the natural environment of Crete and the wider Mediterranean area in an innovative, original way. Visitors have the opportunity to explore Cretan ecosystems alongside... Read more
Archaeological Museum of Archanes
In the Museum of Archanes are exhibited mainly stone and clay objects as well as exact copies of some of the most important archaeological finds of the area Archanes-Yuhtas, which is undoubtedly one of the most important archaeological sites of Crete. Most of the finds are in the archaeological museum of Heraklion but the successful way in which the finds and the copies are displayed, gives the visitor... Read more
In Chania, at the bougatsa shop of Iordanis, tables are populated since dawn with Chaniots and people who have just arrived from near-by villages to feast on their favourite bougatsa served on small zinc dishes.
Inspired rhyming verse inscriptions on the walls (sometimes even Cretan couplets) testify that this joint is one of people’s favourites.
“Whenever I come to Chania, I get those sugar cravings.
Eating one whole baking pan of bougatsa Iordanis is the only way to tame them (one baking pan though won’t do the trick)”.
Have a look at this one:
“Expensive labels mean nothing to me, even if it’s an Armani;
but the bougatsa I eat, must always come from Iordanis”.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
Stalos Rema beach
Stalos is an excellent sandy beach located in the coastal settlement of Kato Stalos, seven kilometers west of Chania, between Kalamaki and Agia Marina. Stalos is a developed area and attracts a large number of visitors every summer, because it is so close to Chania and you can get there by regular bus service. The beach is very well organized and it offers all possible tourist services. Pano Stalos,... Read more
Nea Chora beach
The sandy beach of Nea Chora is close to Chania – just one kilometer away from the city center – and you can get there on foot in 15 minutes. The beach of Nea Chora is long, with golden sand, a few rocks and blue shallow waters and it is very well organized. Due to its proximity to Chania, the suburb of Nea Chora beach has facilities for accommodation and food. There you will find restaurants,... Read more
Marathi beach
The coast in Marathi consists of two wonderful beaches, side by side, with white sand and shallow turquoise waters. There are two fully organized beaches, which are almost always windless, unlike other beaches of northern Crete. The beaches of Marathi are separated by a small port and its pier. Marathi is located at the southeastern part of the peninsula of Akrotiri and is 5 kilometers away from the military... Read more
Loutraki beach
The beach of Loutraki is located in the homonymous seaside resort 16 km east of Chania town, near the military base at Souda. Loutraki is a closed bay between hills, surrounded by rocky coasts. The sandy beach of Loutraki has clear water and is very well organized, as it has all the necessary tourist facilities. You can rent umbrellas, eat and drink in the taverns and bars of the area and do water... Read more
Kalamaki beach
Kalamaki Beach lies in the homonymous seaside resort that is part of the village of Galatas located six kilometers west of the city of Chania. Kalamaki has fine sand and shallow waters. It is a very well organized beach and there you will find umbrellas, showers, lifeguard services, accommodation, food and everything else you need for a relaxing day at the sea. Locals call Kalamaki the area located... Read more
Kalathas Akrotiriou beach
Kalathas is a small natural bay on the Akrotiri peninsula, northwest of Chania. The settlement of Kalathas is located 14 kilometers away from the city and 10 km away from Chania International Airport. Kalathas is actually a new settlement created mainly by those who wanted to live a little outside of Chania. Beach of Kalathas is sandy with palm trees, and within 200 meters of the coast there is a small... Read more
Maggiri
The Cretan maggiri is a fresh pasta that resembles a very wide noddle. The pasta dough is rolled out and cut into small squares. Half the pasta is boiled in lamb broth and half pan-fried. Pasta pieces are mixed together and served with anthotyros cheese. This is an exquisite combination of a crunchy and juicy pasta.
I tasted maggiri at the Kritamon Restaurant of Dimitris Mavrakis in the village of Archanes in Crete.
Cretan mezedes, the accompaniment to raki
Mezedes (pl. for mezes) are savoury appetizers offered in small helpings in the traditional cafés (kafeneia) of Greece as an accompaniment to an alcoholic drink. Mezedes, an integral part of Greek cuisine, hold a prominent place in Greek culture, incorporating a deeply rooted tradition, that of sharing food and drink with friends in a no-frills environment.
The word meze comes from the East; it is a Turkish word. In Greece, mezedes are served to accompany ouzo (an aniseed-flavored distilled spirit, the famous drink that turns white when water or ice is added to it), tsipouro (a strong distilled spirit with an alcohol content of 45% made from the residue of crushed grapes) and sometimes, wine, retsina (wine with a delicate aroma of pine on the nose and a pale to golden-yellow colour) and beer. The best place to savour a meze is at the kafeneia. There, mezedes are always served in small plates, since they are not meant to satisfy one’s hunger but rather to prevent the side-effects of drinking on an empty stomach.
In Crete, mezedes accompany raki.
Sfakiani pita (pie)
What about pies? Should you expect to savour delicious pies in Crete? The answer is positive. Certainly! Just like in the rest of Greece, pies occupy a significant part in Cretan cuisine.
Here pies are made with dough, dairy produce – mostly soft white cheeses (myzithra – a whey cheese made from either sheep’s or cow’s whey to which whole milk is sometimes added, xynomizithra – a soft, sour cheese, anthotyro – a soft, young cheese made with the residual whey left over after the production of graviera and the addition of whole milk, pichtogalo Chanion – a soft spreadable cheese made from sheep’s milk or from a combination of sheep’s and goat’s milk. Pichtogalo has a sour taste and a smooth texture and has been granted PDO status), wild herbs (fennel, etc.) and other aromatic herbs growing on the Cretan earth, such as mastic, cumin, bay leaves, cinnamon.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
The new aspect of tourism, Sitia Geopark
When the Sitia region became a member of the UNESCO Geopark family, we had no idea just how much positive change this would bring! This new aspect of tourism “Sitia Geopark”, is proving to be a considerable point of interest, especially in the alternative tourism market. The natural environment is no longer an obstacle for tourism development, on the contrary it is a great attraction for visitors. We... Read more
The heart of wine beats in the heart of Crete
Rethymno is celebrating the award of European Wine City 2018! Great news for wine-lovers! Rethymno is celebrating the award of European Wine City 2018 by RECEVIN European Network, opening thus a new page for wine experience and wine-tourism. Wine has always been a very important part of the daily life and the culture of Cretan people. It is the signature and seal of friendship in social gatherings... Read more
The Rethymno Carnival 2018 BEGINS!!
Rethymno’s Carnival 2018 has just begun, calling everyone to "Be your Best Self"!! On Saturday, January 27th, 2018, the Carnival events of 2018 have officially started with a magnificent ceremony, followed by an unforgettable party at the Unknown Soldier Square, with thousands of people from all over Crete and other places around the world. All Carnival participants, as well as the Rethymnians... Read more
9th International Games Psiloritis Race
The race trail covers the distance that pilgrims of the sacred city of Minoan Knossos used to walk in order to climb Psiloritis mountain and honor their god, Zeus Cretagenes, who according to Ancient Greek Mythology was brought up in the cave of Ideon Andron, worship center and sanctum during the Minoan and Roman times. Today, Psiloritis Race links the myth with contemporary history as the runners... Read more
Cheeses of Crete
Cretan Dairy Products Crete leads the word in cheese consumption. Cretans love cheese rather than milk. Many dishes of the traditional Cretan cuisine are based on local dairy products; however, in Crete cheese is eaten alone throughout the day either as accompaniment or as appetizer, main meze or desert, while the Cretan graviera topped with honey is everyone’s favourite breakfast or supper. Traditional... Read more
Elouda beach
The nice sandy beach northern to the small port of Elounda is situated at a distance of 11 kilometers far from Aghios Nicolaos at the North, and 70 -77 kilometers eastern to the International Airport of Heraklion, via the New or the Old National road respectively. Protected by the Spinalonga peninsula, the beach is not affected by the winds. Fully organised, the beach offers a wide range of accommodation,... Read more
On the island of Crete, apaki (cured pork), a unique Cretan delicacy, is produced by butchers and many well-known processed meat factories, such as Lambrakis, Markakis and Antonakis. Out of those significant local producers, I chose to meet Michalis Vavourakis, a mechanical engineer from Rethymno. Driven by his love for nature and this faith on organic farming and livestock, Michalis Vavourakis, a man that has adopted a philosophical approach to life, decided to dedicate himself to organic pig raising in his own Vavourakis Farm.
Located on a hilltop in the village of Koksare, in the municipality of Rethymno, Vavourakis Farm stretches over an expanse of 170 square meters. In an unspoiled natural landscape, 20 sows and a population of 200 pigs are raised and bred naturally without the use of hormones or medicaments, fed exclusively with the farm’s crops, grains and roots, wild herbs, thyme and certified cereals.
Μore at Greek Gastronomy Guide…
Source: www.greekgastronomyguide.gr
The heart of wine beats in the heart of Crete
Rethymno is celebrating the award of European Wine City 2018! Great news for wine-lovers! Rethymno is celebrating the award of European Wine City 2018 by RECEVIN European Network, opening thus a new page for wine experience and wine-tourism. Wine has always been a very important part of the daily life and the culture of Cretan people. It is the signature and seal of friendship in social gatherings... Read more
The Rethymno Carnival 2018 BEGINS!!
Rethymno’s Carnival 2018 has just begun, calling everyone to "Be your Best Self"!! On Saturday, January 27th, 2018, the Carnival events of 2018 have officially started with a magnificent ceremony, followed by an unforgettable party at the Unknown Soldier Square, with thousands of people from all over Crete and other places around the world. All Carnival participants, as well as the Rethymnians... Read more
9th International Games Psiloritis Race
The race trail covers the distance that pilgrims of the sacred city of Minoan Knossos used to walk in order to climb Psiloritis mountain and honor their god, Zeus Cretagenes, who according to Ancient Greek Mythology was brought up in the cave of Ideon Andron, worship center and sanctum during the Minoan and Roman times. Today, Psiloritis Race links the myth with contemporary history as the runners... Read more
Missiria beach
Situated 3 kilometers far from Rethymnon at the East, the beach of Missiria is a beautiful long sandy beach, affected by the "meltemia"(northern summer winds). It is rather well organised with accommodation facilities, taverns and cafes. Some facilities for swimming and sunbathing (sunbeds, umbrellas) are also available. It is easily accessible on foot or by public bus and taxi from Rethymnon, as well... Read more
Episkopi beach
Episkopi beach is located approximately 12 km to the west from Rethymno city and 2 km the south from the of Episkopi settlement in Rethymno prefecture. The Mousela River is the west border of Episkopi beach and the east border is a river that flows through the Petre gorge, next to the bridge of martens. Episkopi is a big sandy beach with shallow waters, affected by “meltemia” (northwestern daily... Read more
Adele beach
The Adele beach is located in a homonym valley in Rethymno prefecture, approximately 8 km from Rethymno city. In front of the Adele valley there is a huge sanded beach of Adele extending to the Skaleta region. The Adele beach is shallow, but usually wavy enough, like all the northern beaches of Crete. Sea turtles lay their eggs on this beach; there are some points where you can see ropes and signs... Read more