The sleepy coastal town of Myrtos on the island of Crete in Greece may not have a great cultural heritage as some other areas do, but it does have a great past that catches your attention as does its setting. The earliest records of the Myrtos history dates back to the Minoan period when this area served as a little settlement before it was used as a trading port.

It was a marketplace where settlers could go and trade their goods they produced locally, usually shipping it off to Ierapetra. The area was not considered safe to settle in part due to the pirates who were very active along the coast of Crete.

People began living in the village after the pirates’ menace lessened over time. The present village is a much more recent development that came about in the first half of the 20th century.

During WWII, during the Nazis reign, Myrtos faced their savagery and saw 18 of its residents die in fights with Hitler’s army. Nearly the entire village was set on fire. Myrtos rebuilt and today, there is a monument at the Central Square to remember that horrible event 67 years ago.

40 years ago, Myrtos began to start encouraging tourists to come. Early patrons were Hippies and they became regular summer visitors. Soon, a more culturally diverse set of tourists began to camp at Myrtos.

Today, Myrtos ends up with a nice group of tourists who visit for the rustic areas as well as for the beaches and for its “floating idea of time” that it represents so beautifully. You can visit here and feel like you have gone back in time to a more peaceful place. You can walk the beaches and admire the stars at night, and you will find a peace in your life that comes with vacationing at Myrtos.

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