Crete |
The famed Minoan archaeological sites, particularly the palace of Knossos and Phaistos, are vast and can take a great deal of time and effort to fully explore and appreciate. There are numerous other sites of interest as well, and not all related to the Minoan era. Crete has experienced thousands of years of habitation and has a complicated and diverse heritage, including years of Roman, Venetian and Turkish rule, that have all left their mark.
As one experienced traveller reportedly said: 'there is lots to see on Crete, and a lot not to see.' The best of Crete for those who do not want an in-and-out package style visit can be found on the east and west tips of the island, areas that have retained most of the island's traditions and natural beauty, as opposed to the northern coast that has been harshly overdeveloped. Gateway to the island is the large, modern city of Heraklion, which is anything but an island idyll, but a vital commercial centre.
Resorts
See our separate guides to the following Crete holiday resorts: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Malia, Rethymnon and Hania
Attractions
Archaeological Museum
A visit to the Minoan palace at Knossos should be complemented with a visit to the wonderful Archaeological Museum in Heraklion. Thousands of artefacts depicting the intriguing Minoan culture are on display, from magnificent bull-headed drinking vessels to the mysterious Phaistos disk inscribed with undeciphered symbols.
Address: Xanthoudidou Street, just off Plateia Eleftherias; Opening time: 8am to 7pm (July to October); 8am to 5pm (November to March); closed Monday mornings
Historical Museum of Crete
This museum deals with Crete's more modern history and highlights the islanders' long battle for independence from the early Christian times to the present day. Exhibits include some Cretan folk art, and the Medieval and Renaissance collection contains the only painting on Crete by the island's famous painter El Greco, The Landscape of God-trodden Mount Sinai. Another world-renowned Cretan, Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba the Greek, is also remembered in the museum, which houses a recreation of his study.
Address: Lysimahou Kalokerinou 7; Telephone: (2810) 283 219; E-mail: info@historical-museum.gr; Website: www.historical-museum.gr; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Closed Sundays and public holidays. Opening hours are shorter in winter; Admission: €5 (adults), €3 (concessions)
The Palace of Knossos
The Minoan palace at Knossos, covering an area of 215,278 square feet (20,000 sq metres), is one of the world's greatest sightseeing experiences. It consists of four wings, arranged around a rectangular central court. The palace originally had many storeys, was built of ashlar blocks and had walls decorated with splendid frescoes. British archaeologist, Arthur Evans, who excavated most of the labyrinthine Knossos site, has painstakingly restored some sections of the palace. The remains now visible are actually not those of the original palace, which was built around 2,000 BC and destroyed by an earthquake about 1,700 BC. A subsequent more complex palace was then constructed. The palace was first unearthed in 1878 by a Cretan merchant and antiquarian, but was not systematically excavated until 1900. The Knossos site is about three miles (5km) south of Heraklion.
Opening time: Daily 8am to 8pm (April to mid-October); weekdays 8am to 5pm, and weekends 8.30am to 3pm (October to March)
Excursions