For the creation of all the RAGiF (Routaki’s Audio Guide info Files) an enormous amount of research was done. This resulted in up to 300.000 words of information divided into several subjects. One of these subjects are the culinary matters. So on this page you find in the diversity of categories the links to the pages were you can read the whole (or basic) story for the information that is given to you in audio form when you drive one of the routes of Routaki.
Around 1900, Heraklion had only about 12,000 inhabitants. The city began to expand in 1923 when large groups of Greeks were expelled from Turkey and settled on Crete. Today, the city has around 150,000 inhabitants.
Read more about the island’s capital.
The Capital of Crete has a lot to offer. Put together in a top 10, so you know what to expect when you walk the self exploring, but guided audio tour through town.
Read the top 10
The name can be traced back to ancient times, when the city was called Rithymna, derived from the ancient Greek word for dolphin: Rithy. In the logo of Rethymnon, you can still see two dolphins, which have become the symbol of this lively city.
The tourist attraction of Agios Nikolaos is the former Voulismeni Lake in the heart of the city. The lake is 64 meters deep and is also known as ‘the bottomless lake’.
Read more about Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the Lassithi province.
Ierapetra is the southernmost city in Greece. The cultivation of cucumbers and tomatoes influences the lifestyle of the approximately 8,500 inhabitants of this city.
Read more about Ierapetra and farmer Paul Kuipers.
Archanes is a Venetian Style town and has about 4000 inhabitants. It is surrounded by vineyards and situated at the foot of the mountain of Jouchtas.
The Cretan government decided to banishing all leper patient of the island of Crete to Spinalonga. These leper patients were called the Mesquinis, which meant; the damned. So Spinalonga became a leper colony.
Read more about Anogeia (also written as Anogia).
Read more about Georgioupolis.
Agia Varvara owes its name to the church located in the center of the village. The church is also considered the geographical center of Crete. The square in front of the church is therefore often referred to as ‘the navel of Crete’.
Read more about Agia Varvara.
Available route where in you will drive through Cretan villages south of Heraklion:
Route 53 nicknamed; Knossos
In the VoiceMap app you’ll find this route under the name:
The treasures of Knossos unveiled: from Hersonissos through Archanes’ vineyards
