“The pirate kingdom of Gramvousa” encourages you to visit one of Crete’s most beautiful and untamed corners, an island that rises from the azure sea and comes equipped with a castle and stunning views. Once upon a time, this arid and rocky outcrop was home to a thriving community of pirates, a band of rascals that terrorized the high seas and had the nerve to attempt to fool the admirals of the greatest fleets of Europe. The tour begins at Gramvousa beach where you land from the ferry that brings you here from mainland Crete. Then you ascend towards the imposing castle gate, erected by the Venetians and used by the pirates to hide the extensive settlement they created inside the castle. The church of the Virgin Mary of Thieves stands out as the best preserved monument here. During the height of the pirates’ glory, the church was full of precious offerings aimed at securing divine assistance in the islanders’ bloody endeavours. The cistern, one of the three that provided the people with water, was the key to the castle. Whoever controlled the cistern, controlled everything. The visit concludes at the gunpowder magazine where a group of pirates attempted to fulfil Guy Fawkes dream by blowing up the British garrison.

• Look at the castle rising above Gramvousa beach. It was built by the Venetians and it fell to the Ottomans after they brided the commander.
• Enter through the castle gate, used back in the day by the heinous pirates as they embarked on their murderous cruises in the Mediterranean.
• Explore the church of the Virgin Mary of Thieves, called upon by the pirates to intervene with God to forgive their sins.
• Scrutinize the cistern, whose control by the commander of the British marines secured the castle against a superior force of 2800 armed pirates.
• See the gunpowder magazine, where the pirates got the gunpowder they needed to blow up the British garrison.