Top Archaeological Sites in Crete
Knossos
Located south of Iraklio, the Minoan Palace at Knossos is the biggest attraction on Crete, and rightly so. The massive site once had 1,200 rooms here, and some of them have been recreated to give an idea of just how grand living there was.
Phaistos
The ruins of the Minoan Palace at Phaistos are set on a hill overlooking a plain. Explore the palace’s central courtyard, royal apartments and the grand staircase.
Malia Palace
Malia Palace is the island’s third largest Minoan palace. It was built in about 1900 BC, destroyed in an earthquake then rebuilt in about 1650BC.
Zakros
Zakros is the smallest of the four Minoan palaces. Located at the east shore of Crete, it was where ancient vessels coming from the east unloaded their cargo.
Palekastro
Palekastro is a Minoan town unearthed at the Rousolakos location near the modern town of Palekastro.
Gortys
Gortys, just ouside of Heraklion, was once a very important city during the Minoan Age. It was the Roman capital of Crete, was first inhabited around 3000 B.C., and was a flourishing town between 1600-1100 B.C. The Gortyn Code is both the oldest and most complete known example of a code of ancient Greek law.