Venetian emblem

Venetian emblem

Greece
Island of Creta

Creta is the biggest Greek island at the southest end of Aegean Sea.It's one of the most historic Greek sites with the famous Minoan civilization flourishing there as early as the 3rd millenium BC and the legendary king Minos imposing to the rest of the Greek cities the debt of sending seven young men and seven unweds maidens as a yearly feast to Minautar in his den the Labirynth with Theseus, eventually, killing Minautar and...and...and...Greek mythology never ending in happenings, killings, loves, treasons etc,etc..
Due to its charismatic geographical position, Creta was for ages apple of discord and unsatiable desire for occupated and exploited land for pirates or conquerors passing, consequently, in hands of ancient Greeks,Romans,Arabs Byzantines,Venetians, Ottomans and, finally, incorporating in Greece in 1912. One of the most flourishing periods was under the Venetian occupation(1204-1669) during which Creta enjoyed its highest point of wealth and culture becoming a strong mid-point of merchandise exchange between east and west. The island is loaded with relics, beautiful castles and residents from that period.

In the photo, the imposing Venetian castle at the entrance of Heraklion port, the biggest city and capital of the island.