Most of the tourist development is on the northern coast, but there are distinct culinary and cultural differences between eastern and western Crete.

They carry inscriptions in Linear B indicating their place of origin, western Crete.

A West German military transport crashed into the mountains of western Crete, killing all 42 persons on board.

Hyrtakina was an ancient city in western Crete, Greece.

Stalos is a village in western Crete.

Moreover, it is a gateway to western Crete for an increasing amount of tourists.

Inntravel (01653 617000; www.inntravel.co.uk) Some restored, traditional village houses in western Crete, which make a good base for gentle walking and relaxation.

After the heritage, you'll no doubt crave the simple pleasures of a beach - and western Crete has some of the best.

Freelance Holidays (0845 094 8871, www.freelance-holidays.co.uk) Portfolio of villas, village houses and apartments in western Crete.

The long road from Máleme to Paleochóra on the south coast perhaps provides a microcosm of what western Crete is all about.