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Crete
Holidays in Crete offer the best amenities as Crete is the largest Greek island and accommodates thousands of international tourists every year. Resorts in Crete offer holiday deals from bargain self catering to all inclusive holidays to suit all needs. However it is does not offer as much of a traditional Greek island experience, as for investigating the remains of the archaic Minoan culture that flourished here thousands of years before Christ. Some parts of the island have been overpowered by tourist resorts and massive hotels, but fortunately Crete does still allow for exploring endless beaches, numerous villages, remote mountains and some natural curiosities like caves and gorges for those who take pains to avoid the 'maddening crowds'.
Exploration of the famous Minoan archaeological sites on Crete are a must for visitors on a Crete holiday, particularly the palace of Knossos and Phaistos, which 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.
Holidays in Crete offer a limited amount of attractions of a cultural or historical nature, however the east and west of the island do retain some cultural and natural attractions. 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.
One of the best sightseeing opportunities in the world is the chance to explore the Palace of Knossos in Crete, which is a Minoan palace situated in Knossos. 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)
Archaeological Museum
Crete is also home to the Archaeological Museum, which is an excellent museum situated 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 un-deciphered 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 Crete's historical museum explores the island's modern history, including some interesting displays about the battle of independence in the early Christian era. 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: (081) 283 219; Website: www.historical-museum.gr; Opening time: Monday to Friday
9am to 5pm, and Saturday 9am to 2pm. Opening hours are shorter in winter; Admission: €3
Gortyna
Heraklion is also home to relics of Gortyna with archaeological finds that date back to the 5th century BC, particularly the important inscribed stones, known as the Gortyn Law Code, dating back to the 5th century BC: a complete code of law based on Minoan tradition. The Code stones are still preserved and exhibited in the north round wall of the Roman Odeon at the Gortyna site (although of course the theatre was built much later in the 1st century AD). Other highlights at Gortyna (which was capital of Roman Crete and Cyrene) include the Church of St Titus, where Christianity was first introduced to the island and the Temple of Apollo Pythios, dating from 700 BC.
Address: Aghioi Deka; Telephone: 28920 31144; Opening time: Daily 8.30am to 3pm; Admission: €4, under 18's free. Reduced
admission of €2 for students from outside the EU. Free on Sundays between November and March
Phaistos
The Phaistos Palace complex is situated thirty-eight miles south of Heraklion and is one of the most important archaeological sites, considered by many to be a finer example of Minoan architecture than Knossos. The west propylon, the monumental entranceway to the palace, is particularly impressive, and the ceremonial staircase and great court are breathtaking. Like Knossos the site has actually been built on twice, with the original palace, built about 2,000 BC, having been destroyed by fire and replaced with a new palace around 300 years later.
Opening time: 8am to 5pm; closed on Mondays
