The four UNESCO sites in Crete
Boasting mountains that reach 2500m, plateaus and plains that mark the boundaries between regions, gorges that provide ways out to two seas, the Cretan and the Libyan, as well as an age-long history and cultural richness, the four UNESCO Sites in Crete create a rightful place among the UNESCO protected areas.
First it was the Samaria Gorge that was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, back in 1981. In 2015 Psiloritis and Sitia were declared as UNESCO Global Geoparks, while in 2020 the Asterousia Mountain Range became the fourth UNESCO site in Crete, with its designation as Biosphere Reserves.
Each of these areas has unique features, both in terms of natural environment and distinctive cultural reserve. All year round visitors have the chance to discover the Cretan way of living and tour around Crete’s authentic landscapes.