Knossos-Heraklion-Crete-Greece

Knossos is the site of the most important and better known palace of Minoan civilization. According to tradition, it was the seat of the legendary king Minos. The Palace is also connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Icaros.

Knossos is accessible by the local bus, about 15 minutes from Heraklion center.

Malia-Heraklion-Crete-Greece

Human presence at Malia during the Neolithic period (6000-3000 B.C.) is attested only by potsherds, but habitation was continuous from the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. until the end of Prehistory. Houses of a Prepalatial settlement (2500-2000 B.C.) have been found under the palace, while graves of the same period are located near the sea.

Archaeological site of Malia is accessible by the local bus.

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion-Crete-Greece

It houses the most important and representative finds of the Minoan civilization.
The foundation of the first museum (1904-1912) is owed to the efforts of two Cretan archaeologists, Joseph Chatzidakis and Stephanos Xanthoudides, Ephors of the Archaeological Service. It housed the valuable finds from Crete until 1937, when the construction of the modern, antiseismic building was begun. Thanks to the efforts of Prof. Nicolaos Platon, the treasures of the museum survived during World War II, although the building was seriously damaged.

Diktaean Cave-Crete-Greece

Diktaean Cave, the cave where, according to mythology, Zeus was born. According to Hesiodus, Zeus was hidden in this cave by his mother Rea to prevent father Kronos from eating the young successor to the Olympian Throne. A niche in the cave walls is known as Zeus cradle while a curtain of large stalactites is Zeus' mantle. The Cave of Psychro is situated on the side of a mountain above the picturesque plateau of Lassithi at a height of 1025 m. west of the village of Psychro. From excavations it was clear that the cave was one of the most important cult places in Minoan Crete. Its duration as a cult place was a very long one. The cult had already begun by the Middle Minoan I period (around 1800 BC), if not before, and it continued unbroken until the Geometric, orientalizing and Archaic periods. It was also visited later on in Roman times. This Minoan cult cave has been identified by many archaeologists as the famed Diktaian Cave of Greek tradition, the place where Zeus was born - rather like the Cave ofBethlehem of Classical antiquity.