Lying at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Crete was the home of Europe's earliest civilization and today exudes a magical sense of timelessness. Cadogan's guide explores every inch of the island from fabled Minoan sites to Byzantine frescoes, old Venetian cities, intimate coves and beaches reachable only by track and boat, and spectacular sheer-sided gorges filled with wildflowers and herbs. Going far beyond the usual tourist trail, it gives unique insight into a fiercely independent land of myth and mystery.