Greece
FAIRY TALE MEETS DREAM-Every year, in the beginning of June, just before sunrise in the morning mist, around Frangokastello appear black-clad human-like shadows with swords and helmets, which head, on horse or on foot, close to the castle.
A fort built in 1371-1374 by the venetians to fight off pirates and local revolutions. It is connected to the most common “legend” in Greece, the “Drosoulites”, the beginning of which can be traced back to the 1828 battle between Turkish warriors and the army of Captain Chatzimichalis Dallianis.
So, every year, in the beginning of June, just before sunrise in the morning mist, around Frangocastello appear black-clad human-like shadows with sowrds and helmets, which head, on horse or on foot, to the deserted church of Agios Charalambos, close to the castle. The legend sais that when someone tries to approach them, they vanish into the sea.
Scientists say that the phenomenon can be explained by analysing the position of the Sun, the lack of wind and the humidity. This creates the “wet illusion of Drosoulites”. Others say that it is the phenomenon of upper mirage, and that the shadows belong to soldiers training on the shores of Libya.
Whatever the reason, this small franciscan castle almost on top of the sea, allows you to enjoy the amazing beach, Orthi Ammos (standing sand), whose name is… derived from reality. The dunes are so tall, that the beach resembles a sandy slide to the sea – just remarkable – !!!
The Venetian Heraklion deserves to be walked and you have to enjoy the beauty that keeps it well hidden in the arms, which are open to all visitors. You have got off the ship already or plane and you found the Venetian harbor, the promenade of the city in order to gain a first impression of the city
Heraklion is not just a city in the next visitor’s destination. Expresses something more, something deeper, a history of thousands of years. With this thought must learn the traveler to "read" the area beyond the mundane habits that require a visit to museums or at Knossos.
The National Gallery has in its collections more than 17.000 works of painting, sculpture, engravings and other forms of art, and is the treasury of the recent Greek artistic creativity, covering a timespan from the metabyzantine days up to our days.
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