Captivating Crete: A Mediterranean Jewel with Dimitra Pilarinou
Regular price $36.50 Save $-36.50
Join local expert Dimitra Pilarinou to discover Crete: a stunning island with incomparable history. This virtual voyage to the jewel of the Greek Mediterranean Sea will delight and inspire.
Homer described Crete as an island ''in the midst of the wine-dark sea." The largest of the Greek islands, Crete is the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Crete is unique among the Aegean islands: it is a condensed continent, where one can experience dramatic changes in its majestic landscape: soaring snow-capped mountains with deep ravines and dark caves alternate with fertile valleys, olive groves, and sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, in a never-ending dance of natural beauty. Enjoying one of Europe's finest mild climates, Crete is the blessed island when it comes to its agriculture: olives, grapes, horticultural products paired with wild greens, meat, and fish are the critical components of Cretan gastronomy: One of the healthiest and most delicious in the world.
Crete's amazing scenery was the backdrop of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoans. They graced the island with their extraordinary palaces destined to become in the course of millennia the stuff of myths and legends. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, Ottomans followed and left their imprint on the culture of the only island that has been a part of every single empire. Charming, picturesque villages harmoniously coexist with ancient Greek and Roman ruins, Venetian castles, and Ottoman minarets. Amidst this extraordinary blend of natural beauty and Crete’s history, the Cretan people, proud of their island’s heritage, are extraordinarily open-hearted and hospitable: real children of ''Xenios" Zeus, the God of hospitality, who was born on Crete and never left...
Led by an expert on Crete’s history, archaeology, and culture, Dimitra Pilarinou, this interactive seminar will offer a thorough introduction to the island of Crete: its landscape, history, culture, gastronomy, towns, and villages. Designed to inform curiosity and future travels, participants will come away with an increased knowledge of the wonders that Crete has to offer.
Dimitra Pilarinou is a Greek archaeologist and Licensed Tour Guide with a Masters degree in Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean. She has worked in excavations all around Greece, has given speeches on various topics in Seminars and Congresses, and has appeared on documentaries about the Minoans on History Channel and Travel Channel.
This conversation is suitable for all ages
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
The variety of information, images, sounds and stories made us feel as if we were there, escaping and traveling to Crete! The most uplifting seminar!
This was an excellent overview of Cretan history, geography, and tourist attractions. I knew nothing about the variety of climate there or the gorges and mountains and found that very interesting. I'm set to go! I especially appreciated Dimitra's travel hints especially the difficulties of Mountain driving on poor roads and livestock encounters.
I really enjoyed the presentation. It was well organized and beautifully presented.