The jewel of Crete and wonder of ancient world…
The Minoan civilisation takes it’s name from King Minos, famous for his wisdom. He hired the inventor Daedelus to design and construct his palace so cleverly that no one who entered could find their way back out without guidance, like a labyrinth.
When Knossos was discovered by sir Arthur Evans, he made a radical decision: He was going to support the palace as he excavated, and due to this act we are able to see today what it must have looked like…
The Palace of Knossos dates back to 1700 B.C. and was undoubtedly the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization and culture.
The palace included main entrances on each of its four cardinal faces,a theater, King Minos Throne room , Royal Apartments, the temple of snake goddess and the central court yard where the bull dancing took place leading off to many stairways which disappear under the palace to who knows where…
The myths we all know Theseus and his bull dance, the labyrinth, the mighty Minotaur to name a few… Now it’s time to let your imagination take a stroll with you through the palace.
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the greatest museums in Greece and the best in the world for Minoan art, as it contains the most notable and complete collection of artifacts of the Minoan civilization.
After the museum there is time to explore the city of Heraklion.