The well-known archaeological
site of Knossos is situated only 3 miles away from Heraklion and is believed to
be the largest and most suggestive Minoan site ever discovered in Crete. The
Palace of Knossos was not only the residence of the ruling house but also an
administrative & religious center for the whole region.
Few travelers need to be sold on the glories of the Minoan culture of Crete.
But how many know that Crete also offers visitors cities with layers of at least
4,000 years of continuous inhabitation, including the vibrant heritage of
centuries of Orthodox Christianity and the distinctive imprint left by almost
700 years of Venetian and Turkish rule?
Not to mention endless beaches and magnificent mountains, intriguing caves
and resonant gorges, and countless villages and sites that provide unexpected
and unforgettable experiences. Per square mile, Crete must be one of the most
"loaded" places in the world -- loaded, that is, in the diversity of history,
archaeological sites, natural attractions, tourist amenities, and more. In a
world where increasing numbers of travelers have "been there, done that," Crete
remains an endlessly fascinating and satisfying destination.
For those looking for a distinct destination, Crete will be rewarding.
A Look at the Past -- Crete's diversity and distinction begin with its
history, a past that has left far more remains than the Minoan sites many people
first associate with the island. After being settled by humans around 6500 B.C.,
Crete passed through the late Neolithic and early Bronze ages, sharing the
broader eastern Mediterranean culture.
Sometime around 3000 B.C., new immigrants arrived; by about 2500 B.C., there
began to emerge a fairly distinctive culture that has been named Early Minoan.
By about 2000 B.C., the Minoans were moving into a far more ambitious phase, the
Middle Minoan -- the civilization that gave rise to the palaces and superb works
of art that now attract thousands of visitors to Crete every year.
Mycenaean Greeks appear to have taken over the palaces about 1500 B.C., and by
about 1200 B.C., this Minoan-Mycenaean civilization had pretty much gone under.
For several centuries, Crete was a relatively marginal player in the great era
of Greek classical civilization.
When the Romans conquered the island in 67 B.C., they revived certain centers
(including Knossos) as imperial colonies. Early converts to Christianity, the
Cretans slipped into the shadows of the Byzantine world, but the island was
pulled back into the light in 1204, when Venetians broke up the Byzantine Empire
and took over Crete. The Venetians made the island a major colonial outpost,
revived trade and agriculture, and eventually built quite elaborate structures.
By the late 1500s, the Turks were conquering the Venetians' eastern
Mediterranean possessions, and in 1669 captured the last major holdout on Crete,
the city of Candia -- now Iraklion. Cretans suffered considerably under the
Turks, and although some of Greece finally threw off the Turkish yoke in the
late 1820s, Crete was left behind. A series of rebellions marked the rest of the
19th century, resulting in the Great Powers' sponsoring a sort of independent
Crete in 1898.
Finally in 1913, Crete was for the first time formally joined to Greece. Crete
had yet another cameo role in history when the Germans invaded it in 1941 with
gliders and parachute troops; the ensuing occupation was another low point for
the people of Crete. Since 1945, Crete has advanced amazingly in the economic
sphere, powered by its agricultural products as well as by its tourist industry.
Not all Cretans are pleased by the development, but all would agree that, for
better or worse, Crete owes much to its history.
Heraklion is the main city on the
island of Crete and usually the starting point for visitors wishing to explore
the island. The city, built on a fairly steep hillside, has a huge harbour to
accommodate ferries and cruise liners, and an international airport. Heraklion
is busy, bustling and full of hotels, fast food outlets, shops and traffic. The
main square of Plateia Venizelou is a pedestrian mall sporting cafes and
restaurants, with some fascinating shops in the surrounding streets. Like many
Greek cities Heraklion’s architecture was influenced by Venetian occupation, and
a Venetian fortress dominates the harbour. The city’s pride and joy, though, is
its archaeological museum, which contains the world’s most comprehensive
collection of artefacts from the Minoan civilisation, which flourished on Crete
around 1,600 BC. Heraklion is close to the major archaeological site associated
with the Minoans at Knossos.
the coastline in and near the city provides numerous beaches and warm clear
water,.The most beautiful beaches are to be found east of the city
Attractions
Archaeological Museum : A visit to the Minoan
palace at Knossos should be complemented with a visit to the wonderful
Archaeological Museum 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 undeciphered symbols
Gortyna: The remains of Gortyna to the south of
Heraklion tell a later tale than that of the other archaeological sites in
Crete, 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.
Historical Museum of Crete : This museum deals with
Crete’s more modern history and highlights the islanders’ long battle for
independence from the early Christian times to the present day. 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.
Phaistos: About 38 miles (61km) south of Heraklion
lies Crete’s second most important Minoan archaeological site, the Palace
complex of Phaistos, 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
The Palace of Knossos : The Minoan palace at
Knossos, covering an area of 215,278 square feet (20,000 sq metres), is one of
the world’s greatest sightseeing experiences. 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.
The Samaria Gorge : It is an arduous trip but
well worth it to see one of the great natural wonders of Europe, the Samaria
Gorge in the White Mountains in western Crete. From the top of the gorge it is a
10-mile (16km) hike through the dramatic geological formations and
wildflower-strewn cliffsides of the National Park. From the village of Agia
Roumeli at the end of the gorge hikers board boats to sail to Khora Sfakion or
Paleochora where there are buses back to Haniá, Rethymnon or Heraklion.
Transport: There are public buses to Omalos near the top of the gorge. Organised
tours are also available;
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Sources: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Columbia
University Press.; Lonely Planet; Frommers Guide
