Europe's first advanced civilisation was local in origin and not imported from elsewhere, a study says. Analysis of DNA from ancient remains on the Greek island of Crete suggests the Minoans were indigenous Europeans, shedding new light on a debate over the provenance of this ancient culture.

From Minoan monuments to relics of the Second World War, a family holiday in Crete is the ultimate history lesson

Disguised as dockers, two men darted across the no-go zone around the harbour and cut through the wire. They slipped on to the quayside, where enemy vessels bobbed in the dark. Their rucksacks were heavy with limpet mines. Searchlights swept the area. They wondered which ship to blow.

The recent (12 April 2013) shooting of  foreign workers, in Peloponisos, after they demanded outstanding wages might have shocked the nation, but it has put in the spotlight the plight of migrants that enter Greece every year; migrants seeking a better life within the European Union.

The island off the coast of Greece can be crowded, frustrating and even ugly. But its best face is found in old towns, hotels that have stood for centuries and ancient artifacts. A mighty wind buffeted our Olympic Airways jet, bouncing it around as we descended at Heraklion, Crete's capital.

A young Greek woman tastes red Greek wineThe Greek Wine Awards 2013 Contest was held on Feb. 9 – 10 in Bad Dürkheim, Germany. Wines from Crete were especially distinguished with 21 medals for quality and presence.

Mochlos is one of the few villages on Crete where you can eat on the seafront without being disturbed by motor traffic. The heart of the village where all life is concentrating is its quiet bay. This beautiful coastal village is located between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia, East Crete, Lassithi prefecture.

A Cretan variety of wild chicory known as Stamnagathi which grows on difficult to reach mountain areas has received international certification. The Greek Inspection and Certification Body Tuv Hellas, a member of the Tun Nord Group, carried out the first world certification for the herb, based on the protocol Global A.P. V4 for the cultivation company Cretan Gaia, which is already in the process of accreditation for the organic production of Stamnagathi

Crete  is still pushing for Knossos (8km south from Iraklion) to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is now preparing a new folder titled Minoan civilization, which will include the most important monuments on the island, such as Phaistos, Zakros and the archaeological site of Malia, with Knossos dominating the list.

Crete is far too mountainous for cycling, was the refrain from well-travelled cognoscenti. Guide books warned of congested roads and inconsiderate drivers. However, we had completed several cycle tours in Europe and needed a new destination.

The civilization made famous by the myth of the Minotaur was as warlike as their bull-headed mascot, new research suggests.

The ancient people of Crete, also known as Minoan, were once thought to be a bunch of peaceniks. That view has become more complex in recent years, but now University of Sheffield archaeologist Barry Molloy says that war wasn't just a part of Minoan society — it was a defining part.