Matala, Crete’s oldest ancient hamlet, is located around 70 kilometers south of Heraklion. Matala was a former fishing village and the ancient harbor of Phaestos and Gortyn. The ancient city’s ruins are still submerged under the waves. It is situated on the coast of Messara Bay, within a small and lovely inlet. A good, long sandy beach draws a lot Read more…

The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete: The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is among the most important museums in Greece. Its exhibits include representative samples of all the historical and prehistorical periods of Crete, covering a period of 5,500 years from the Neolithic till the Roman times. However, above all, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion hosts the masterpieces of the Minoan Read more…

Koules, which meaning stronghold in Turkish, is the name given to Heraklion’s Venetian Castle. It is a gigantic fortification that encircles the harbor of Heraklion in Crete. The Koules Castle is a two-story fortress that used to guard the entrance to the port. The fortress was erected by the Venetians when they conquered the town in the early 13th century. Read more…

In South Central Crete, the Palace of Phaistos is located on the east end of Kastri Hill, near the end of the Messara plain. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful Minoan palaces. The remains of the ancient and new palaces may still be seen today. Excavations in the region began in 1884, with F. Halbherr and A. Read more…

The Minoan Palace at Knossos is the biggest of all Minoan palace constructions, measuring over 20,000 square meters. It was made of ashlar bricks, had many storeys, and was adorned with stunning paintings. The original palace was constructed circa 2,000 BC but was destroyed in 1700 BC by an earthquake. After the original palace was destroyed, the newer, more sophisticated Read more…