Greece by MasterChef Travel
Although Crete is the largest of all the Greek islands, it could be classified as a country in its own right, with its clearly distinct culinary traditions.
With an emphasis on using fresh, flavoursome and readily available ingredients, Cretan cuisine is rightly famed as a healthy Mediterranean diet.
Wild herbs combine with olive oil to bring out the flavour of freshly caught seafood, and sweet tomatoes are topped with tangy, salted white cheese - all to emphasise the pure flavours of the main component, rather than cover them up.
Overdo it on olives
With the world's oldest olive tree located in Crete, it is hardly surprising they place such an emphasis on the fruit. Visit an olive estate for a tour and olive oil tastings to learn why Cretan olive oil is so renowned.
Forage for wild herbs
Wild herbs like thyme, oregano and sage, plus more than 1,000 indigenous varieties, grow abundantly on the island. Enjoy a cup of local herbal tea, before foraging for more ingredients to use during your own cooking class.
Live the sweet life
Visit a local beekeeper to experience one of the best kept secrets of the island - Cretan honey. This drink of the Greek gods is raw, unprocessed and often flavoured with a hint of pungent thyme.
Plate up on the plateau
Indulge in a cooking workshop and a barbecue meal to learn the secrets of Cretan cuisine, all while standing atop the Lassithi plateau and enjoying stunning panoramic views of landscapes below.
Get boozy in the ouzeri
Visit a traditional Greek tavern where the main draw is heady, anise-flavoured ouzo. Taste a selection of mezethes served alongside - small plates of food ranging from octopus to dolmades.
Discover Europe's oldest city
Explore the Palace of Knossos, the heart of ancient Minoan civilisation. Learn the legend of King Minos and his Minotaur, while admiring the history held within this 4,000-year-old site.
Wander the capital
Find out the secrets of the largest city in Crete, Heraklion. Search for local stores giving tastings of delicious Cretan produce - from olives to salty, white cheeses - all while learning about the ancient city.
Uncover El Greco
Make a visit to Fodele - a pretty, shaded village dotted with Byzantine churches, famous as the birthplace of celebrated Greek artist Domenikos Theotokopoulos - better known as El Greco.
Learn about Cretan traditions
Stop by the Lychnostatis Open Air Museum, which houses numerous artefacts about the Cretan way of life. Visit the herbarium and cactus garden, gallery of folk art, and ceramic workshops.
Wine press to impress
Built in 1600BC, Vathypetro is a historic estate including the remains of a main villa, workshop spaces, a ceramic and Minoan kiln, and - of course - an ancient wine press.
Location: Bordered by Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey, Greece's mainland is located in southern Europe on the tip of the Balkan Peninsula. It's surrounded by the Ionian, Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea, which is where Crete lies to the south of the mainland.
Capital: Athens (Crete's capital is Heraklion)
Religion: Greek Orthodox (86.5%), atheist/other (9.5%), Islam (2.2%), Catholicism (1.8%)
Etiquette:
When visiting a church or monastery, ensure your shoulders and knees are covered as a sign of respect.
Greeks are very hospitable, so expect a healthy debate at the end of a meal about who has the privileges of paying. In the same vein, eateries will be confused about 'splitting the bill' as it's just not done; so it's better not to ask.
The 'ok' sign of holding thumb and forefinger together has different meaning in Greece; it is instead considered as a very rude gesture.
Languages: Greek (and Cretan Greek)
Population: 10,816,286 (623,065 living in Crete)
Size: 131,957 sq km (8,336 sq km)
Time zone: GMT +2
Currency: Euro (€)
Visa requirements: Holders of British citizen passports do not require visas for travel to Greece, providing your stay does not exceed 3 months.
History: The history of Greece has been traced back to the Palaeolithic period. The Minoan civilisation established on Crete was one of the earliest civilisations in the world, and the first in Europe to build a palace. At its peak, the Greek culture spread all the way from Egypt to Afghanistan, and the influence can still be seen today; all well as remnants from ancient and classical Greece. Greece was a part of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, each with their own impact on modern day Greece, which joined the EU in 1981.
What to read
Zorba the Greek
Nikos Kazantzakis
Published in 1946, this novel tells the tale of a young intellectual who escapes to Crete, only to meet Alexis Zorba, a one-of-a-kind character who influences his life.
The King Must Die
Mary Renault
This novel follows the life and trials of hero Theseus, from Greek mythology. Set in ancient Greece, it follows him as a young man, up to his rule as king of Athens.