Crete
On the island of CRETE, goat raising has been reported since the Neolithic period. Homer, in his famous ancient Greek book, the Odyssey, describes the use of dairy sheep and goats during the Mycenaean times (about 1.200 B.C.), when the Cyclop Polyphemus in his cave sat down to milk his sheep and goats, then put aside half of the milk to be curdled in wicker baskets with a previous day’s whey. This description of cheese making fits still today the practice by Greek mountain farmers making Feta cheese. Minoans and Mycenaeans loved cheese made from goat and sheep milk.
The surface area of Crete is 832.000 hectares. Nearly 43 % of this is devoted to agriculture (annual crops, olive trees, fruit trees, vineyards, vegetables etc.), 28 % to permanent meadows and pastures and 27 % forests and scrub woodland. Fifty percent of the green houses of Greece is located to Crete due to its mild climate. The livestock sector of Crete is of great importance with farms of high productivity, and consists of 2.200 bovines, 1.500.000 sheep, 627.000 goats, 61.000 sows, 406.000 rabbits and 1.430.000 poultry. Sheep and goat farming is the most important on its extensive or semi-intensive production system. Among the current sheep breeds the “Sfakia” has the largest population of autochthonous sheep, being subjected to a genetic improvement programme. Twenty five percent of the hard cheeses of Greece is produced in Crete from sheep and goat milk (Kefalograviera). A great proportion of the feedstuffs used by the livestock sector of Crete is imported mainly from the midland due to limited agriculture area for feedstuffs production.

Crete Island
Crete is located in the most southern part of Greece and is the biggest Greek island with 570.000 inhabitants. It separates the Aegean from the Libyan Sea and marks the boundary between Europe and Africa.
The town of Heraklion is the largest urban centre of Crete, the capital of the region of Crete and the economic centre of the island. During the Minoan period the town of Heraklion served as a port to Knossos. Currently the population of Heraklion is approximately 150.000. Since the Minoan period the town of Heraklion became the host of varied cultures and civilisations whose indelible marks are visible in the form of fountains, castles, walls, palaces, and other monuments.
Heraklion has a lot to offer to those who are in search of culture and entertainment. In particular, each summer the municipality of Heraklion organises cultural events ranging from theatrical performances, to music nights, art exhibitions, and other events.
Host City “Hersonissos” is located 26 km east of Heraklion on the road to Agios Nikolaos. It keeps the name
of the ancient city that was located in the place that the harbour of Hersonissos is today. The village of Old Hersonissos, located within a small distance to the south was built due to the fear of the pirates, that forced the inhabitants of the village to move in the inland. Near Old Hersonissos there are two picturesque small villages, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari, overlooking the busy resort of Limin Hersonissos.