| The Greek island of Crete was the home of the | | | | this was replaced by a much grander palace |
| Minoans, an ancient civilisation who preceded even | | | | around two hundred years later. The leaflet |
| the ancient Greeks. The Minoan civilisation is in | | | | provided with the entrance ticket does not make |
| fact the oldest of all European civilisations and was | | | | easy reading and fails to do justice to this |
| the first to use a written language. Considering | | | | magnificent archaeological site. The leaflet does |
| that Minoan palaces on Crete were built 4000 | | | | however succeed in drawing the visitors attention |
| years ago and devastated when the Greek Island | | | | to what is probably the most striking example of |
| of Santorini erupted 3600 years ago, it is | | | | just how advanced Minoan civilisation was. It |
| surprising that so much of them still remains. | | | | points out the remains of a plumbing system that |
| A travel tip for finding a holiday destination in | | | | included flush toilets. The irony of distant |
| Crete that combines the best in beach vacations | | | | ancestors of modern day Greeks having invented |
| with the exploration of three Minoan palaces, is to | | | | flush toilets is rarely lost on tourists staying on |
| stay in the resort of Matala. Matala was just a | | | | Greek Islands! |
| sleepy fishing village, that very few Non-Cretans | | | | The major Minoan site in Crete is the palace of |
| had visited until it was discovered by groups of | | | | Knosos which is situated five kilometres from |
| hippies in the 60's. Stories, claiming that Bob Dylan | | | | Heraklion, making it the furthest of the sites from |
| and Mick Jagger were amongst those who set up | | | | Matala. The best travel tip for anyone staying in |
| home in the caves that surround Matala are | | | | Matala is to make the visit to Knosos part of a |
| probably untrue. Much more likely candidates for | | | | full day excursion to Heraklion and allow time to |
| Matala's famous "hippie" visitors are Donovan | | | | include the Heraklion Archaeological museum |
| Leitch, Cat Stevens, and possibly Joni Mitchell. If | | | | where you will be able to see the many artifacts |
| so they would have arrived having undertaken a | | | | that were dug up from the three Minoan sites |
| long journey over mule track, mountain passes to | | | | you have visited. |
| get there, as this was then the only way to | | | | Knosos is where Minoan civilisation grew and |
| reach Matala. These days the road from Heraklion | | | | flourished. It was the largest and most important |
| airport is an easy drive by car, taxi or bus. | | | | of the palaces in Crete. As such, you can expect |
| Just a short walk, along the coast from Matala | | | | Knosos to be crowded with tourists throughout |
| you will come across an area of excavation | | | | the holiday season. An estimated average of four |
| where remains of a Minoan port have been | | | | thousand per day arrive by the coach-load from |
| discovered. This is at the beginning of Komos | | | | every holiday resort, all over Crete. Because of |
| Beach, a beautiful place to find secluded spots for | | | | this large number of visitors, raised walkways |
| sunbathing and swimming. A few kilometres inland | | | | have been erected around the palace to protect |
| from here is Agia Triada, the site of the Minoan's | | | | it. Much of what you see is a reconstruction but it |
| summer palace. | | | | is done in a way that raises your awareness of |
| Agia Triada is situated on a hillside, looking out | | | | just how magnificent the palace must have been |
| towards the Bay of Mesaras. It is the least visited | | | | when the Minoan kings reigned. The supposedly, |
| of the Minoan palaces, making its exploration even | | | | mythological King Minos may have been one such |
| more enjoyable. Four thousand years ago, the | | | | king, although it is more likely that "Minos" was the |
| sea would have been closer, so the palace must | | | | generic Minoan word for king. Either way, thinking |
| have been dramatically sited, probably perched on | | | | about the myth of the Theseus defeating the |
| a cliff top, overlooking the sea. Some of the | | | | Minotaur at the centre of a labyrinth, hidden deep |
| finest remains of Minoan art ever found were | | | | below the palace, just adds to the enjoyment of |
| unearthed from this site. They are on display in | | | | the tour. |
| the Heraklion archaeological museum (see below) | | | | Getting back to Matala, after the crowds of |
| and include a sarcophagus depicting a Minoan burial | | | | Knosos is a relaxing experience. You will probably |
| procession. | | | | want to chill out at a bar overlooking the sea and |
| Just a few more kilometres inland is the palace of | | | | with the help of a beer, chased down by a |
| Faistos. This is a much more popular tourist | | | | complimentary glass of Raki - "Cretan Firewater" - |
| attraction and you will need to purchase a ticket | | | | you may even be able to visualise a treasure |
| to enter. The original palace of Faistos was built | | | | laden Minoan ship on its way back form Egypt |
| nearly four thousand years ago in 1900 B.C. but | | | | sailing into the bay below. |