Cradle of Gods,
cradle of Europe

Across the times, agriculture has determined the visual appeal of Crete. To this day, herds of sheep and goats climb across the slopes of the mountains. The sound of their cowbells mixes with the barking of the shepherd dogs and gentle winds that carry the scent of wild herbs, citrus fruits and the ocean.

Herbalists consider Crete a treasure trove of natural medicine. The climate provides for the perfect amount of rain in winter and sun in summer to help plants produce their valuable essential oils. Gourmets praise the island’s meat products as the animals feed upon the plentiful flavours stored in the island’s soil. Fresh goat cheese, yoghurt, olives and olive oil, bread and wine are a staple of the Cretan cuisine, as is the seafood that the ocean provides in abundance.

No wonder that Zeus spent his infancy in the Psychro Cave in the heart of the island, hidden away from his bloodthirsty father Cronus. Eagles and doves brought him ambrosia and nectar, nymphs fed him local honeycombs and goat milk. From the Cretan mountainside he would eventually conquer his enemies and take his place as ruler of the Olymp.

In a similar fashion, Crete nurtured Europe’s first advanced civilization to rise above its neighbours: the Minoans (3000 BC to 1450 BC). These seafaring traders laid the foundations for what would turn into the dominance of Greece over Southern Europe. As testament to their prowess, ruins of vast palaces still cover Crete today.

The famous Palace of Knossos is so huge that it inspired the myth of the labyrinth that housed the man-eating Minotaur – half human, half bull. To cement their supremacy, the Minoans ordered Athens to send 14 tributes of young men and women to be sacrificed to the hungry Minotaur. The beast was eventually killed by the heroic Theseus, who would later become the mythical founder of democracy. Meanwhile, the architect Daedalos, who had designed the Minoan labyrinth, escaped from Crete using wings glued together by wax. Tragically, his son Icarus flew too close to the sun – a tale of human hubris, of mankind’s blind faith in technology and its fatal disrespect for the power of nature.

Minoan Crete, which some believe to have inspired the legend of Atlantis, is the seed from which Europe sprang. Historian Will Durant therefore called the Minoans “the first link in the European chain”. The continent itself got its name from the namesake Princess who Zeus abducted in the form of a bull, bringing her to the shores of Southern Crete and making “Europa” the Minoan’s first queen. The morals contained in the Cretan myths became part of the Greek DNA, orally transmitted across the centuries. They spread throughout the Greek world, the center of which was the sanctuary of Delphi. Legend has it that Delphi’s Temple of Apollo, where the Pythia revealed her prohecies, was built by a group of Cretan sailors who had been guided to the spot by Apollo himself in the guise of a dolphin. In Cretan mythology, Apollo and his sister Artemis were born on Paximadia Island, right opposite from THE GROVE.

The island’s shores remain popular destinations to this day. Its location at the most Southern edge of the continent makes Crete the sunniest destination in Europe. The island boasts beautiful coasts, with historic cities blending Minoan, Greek, Venetian and Turkish influences, as well as sandy beaches and pebble coves so typical for this part of the Mediterranean. The turquoise waters are warm and inviting. Even in December swimming is possible, even if not for the faint of heart.

The North coast – traditionally more developed than the South – boasts hundreds of resort hotels catering to package tourists. For this reason, the still-virign South coast was picked as the location for THE GROVE. The general feel of Southern Crete is traditional, untouched, and relaxed, the cultural and historical importance as pronounced – the ancient Minoan Palace of Phaistos, for instance, is located only a short drive from THE GROVE.

The idea behind THE GROVE is to enhance the positive effects of tourism on Crete, and to avoid its negative repercussions. The hotel is designed to set an example, to positively influence the future development of the South coast and provide impulses for a new type of tourism in Crete and beyond. We support local plans to strengthen human capital, the economy and the environment through tourism.

Crete is where Europe started, and it has retained its wealth of culture and natural treasures to this day. The island deserves to be seen and explored by conscious travellers, but it also deserves our respect. All travellers to Crete will at some point find themselves in conversation with local islanders who sing praise of their home, never even able to imagine living anywhere else. Others have seen the world only to settle in Crete, following the siren calls of its exceptional splendors.

Will you follow these ancient calls?