Villas in Crete, Villa Chania, Villa Kreta, Rent Crete Villas, Vacances Crete Hotel Villas in Crete, Villa Chania, Villa Kreta, Rent Crete Villas, Vacances Crete Hotel
tel:+30 28210 90760 +30 28210 90760
Suomi
info@thehotel.gr +30 28210 90760

Travel Guide > Kreeta > Heraklion crete > Knossos palace

Knossos palace

Knossos is the most famous of the palaces of the Minoan civilization. It was destroyed possibly by a volcanic eruption about 1450 BC. The ancient Knossos was the hub of the Minoan Civilization which imposed the Aegean 4000 years ago. According to mythology, the palace was the seat of the king Minos. It is also connected with intriguing legends, such as the myth of the Minotaur in the Labyrinth under the Palace, and the story of Daidalos and Ikaros. Minos Kalokerinos did the first excavations of the site in 1878. However, Sir Arthur Evans was the archaeologist who did the complete excavations of the site (1900-1913 and 1922-1930).

The old (first) palace was built around 2000 B.C. but it was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1700 B.C. The new (second) palace was built immediately on the ruins of the old one and it was more complex in plan, like a labyrinth. In the middle of the 15th century B.C. when the Achaeans from the Greek Mainland conquered Crete it was partially destroyed. The palace was finally destroyed again by fire (Santorini Volcano) in the mid-14th century B.C. Sir Arthur Evans managed to extensively reconstruct the Palace of Knossos.

Knossos Palace 2The Palace of Knossos is the largest and the most spectacular of all the Minoan palatial centres. The Palace spread over 20,000 square meters (2 hectares) of land with heights reaching four stories. It was constructed in a labyrinth-like pattern and it provided housing for about 100,000 people. Colourful friezes and frescoes, figures and paintings on plaster fill the walls of the palace and exhibit life from this era. There are varying pictures from animals and people to gods and various ceremonies, which depict an advanced and sophisticated society. Further examination of the Palace''s interior decoration reveals that war was not a common theme and women were depicted almost as frequently as men.

The variety of building materials used and the marble revetment show an advanced level of technology. This is also demonstrated by some architectural and structural features, such as the light-wells and the complex drainage and water-supply systems.

Knossos Palace 3The palace is set around a large Central Court, which was used for public meetings. A second courtyard, the West Court, was used both as the official approach to the palace and a ceremonial area. In the west wing there are the official rooms for administrative and religious activities; the Tripartite Shrine, the Sacred Repositories and the Pillar Crypts; the Throne Room is outstanding among them. The most important areas in the south wing are the South Propylon, the Corridor of the Procession and the South Entrance, with the fresco of the Prince of the Lilies. The east wing contained the residential quarters and large reception rooms, the most important being the Hall of the Double Axes and the Queen''s Hall. These rooms are approached by the imposing Grand Staircase. From the North Entrance, a road led to the harbour of Knossos. The North Entrance is flanked by elevated stoas, the west one being decorated with the Bull Hunt fresco. The stone-paved Royal Road led from the Small Palace and the city to the North-west corner of the palace, where there was an open-air theatrical area.

Around the palace the Minoan settlement extended with the cemeteries on the hills. Some more important buildings are the followings; the South House, the House of the Chancel Screen, the Small Palace, the Caravanserai, the Royal Villa and the Temple-Tomb. The Villa Dionysos with its floor mosaics (2nd AD) is an important building of the Roman period. All the impressive finds of the palace (pottery, vessels, figurines, the archive of Linear B tablets, and the original wall-paintings) are housed in the Herakleion Museum.

Useful Tips:

  • It is better to visit Knossos in spring or autumn, since the cooler weather will make it easier to explore the site. However, if you visit Crete in the peak of summer try to be in the site in the first morning hours.
  • There are a few tavernas and snack bars near the entrance on the road to Heraklion.

Holiday Rentals We Recommend

  1. Villa Lygaria in Kreeta, Heraklion, Agia Pelagia

    Villa Lygaria

    in Heraklion, Agia Pelagia, from 400 / night

    Villa Lygaria is a sea view 2-bedroom villa with a private pool (4*8 meters), lovely panoramic sea views, 500 meters from the sandy beach of Lygaria, 4 km from the town of Agia Pelagia and 20 km west of the city of Heraklion.  More...

  2. Gouves Sea View Villa in Kreeta, Heraklion, Gouves

    Gouves Sea View Villa

    in Heraklion, Gouves, from 250 / night

    Gouves Sea View Villa is a beachfront 5-bedroom detached Villa of 215 sq m. Within a few minutes walking distance you can enjoy the long sandy beach, many taverns and cafes.  More...

  3. Classy Villa in Kreeta, Heraklion, Archanes

    Classy Villa

    in Heraklion, Archanes, from 180 / night

    Classy Villa on hämmästyttävä, perinteisesti suunniteltu 3-makuuhuoneen, joka sijaitsee viehättävässä maaseudun kaupungin Archanes, 10 km Heraklionin kaupungista ja 13 km kansainväliseltä lentokentältä. Hieno hiekkaranta Amnissos sijaitsee noin 14 km pitkälle.  More...

  4. Aposperitis Houses in Kreeta, Rethymno, Bali

    Aposperitis Houses

    in Rethymno, Bali, from 0 / night

    Aposperitis Talot on ryhmä viiden 1 makuuhuoneen perinteinen huoneistot kanssa yhteinen uima-allas, jotka sijaitsevat rauhallisessa kylässä Drosia alueella ylimmän luonnon kauneutta ja rauhaa.  More...

  5. Waterfront Villa in Kreeta, Heraklion, Gouves

    Waterfront Villa

    in Heraklion, Gouves, from 280 / night

    Waterfront Villa is a beachfront 4-bedroom detached Villa of 210 sq m, set right in front of the long sandy beach in Kato Gouves. Waterfront Villa is located 18 km away from the city of Heraklion and near many sights of interest.  More...

  6. Villa Gorgeous in Kreeta, Heraklion, Gouves

    Villa Gorgeous

    in Heraklion, Gouves, from 220 / night

    Villa Gorgeous is a lovely 3-bedroom Villa of 165 sq m, which belongs to a complex of three luxury Villas only a few meters away from the sandy beach in Kato Gouves. Within a very short walking distance you can find a traditional cafe and shop, many restaurants, taverns, a few bars and a bakery. A supermarket is also found at 1100 meters.  More...

  7. Villa Style in Kreeta, Heraklion, Hersonissos

    Villa Style

    in Heraklion, Hersonissos, from 245 / night

    Sijaitsee Old Hersonissos kylä, Villa Tyyli on uusi huvila 3 makuuhuonetta, uima-allas ja upeat panoraamanäkymät Kreetan meren ja ympäröivälle alueelle. Moderni huvila sijaitsee vain 2,5 kilometrin päässä kuuluisasta satamasta Hersonissos ja hyvin järjestetty pitkä hiekkaranta.  More...

  8. White Villas in Kreeta, Heraklion, Agia Pelagia

    White Villas

    in Heraklion, Agia Pelagia, from 220 / night

    White Villas are two unique sea view villas in Agia Pelagia, 1000 meters from the sandy beach. Each Villa has three bedrooms with three en-suite bathrooms, a private infinity pool and amazing views of the bay of Agia Pelagia.  More...

  9. Elysium Boutique Hotel in Kreeta, Heraklion, Analipsi

    Elysium Boutique Hotel

    in Heraklion, Analipsi, from 0 / night

    Elysium Hotel on ***** luxurius hotelli sijaitsee kylässä Analipsin vuonna Hersonisos vain muutaman metrin päässä hiekkaranta turkoosi ranta ja vain 2 km päässä keskustasta Hersonissos, joka on tunnettu vilkkaasta yöelämästä. Tyylikkäät huoneet upeat merinäköalat, VIP-huonetta ja sviittiä tarjotaan.  More...

  10. Best Cars Rental in , Kreeta

    Best Cars Rental

    in , Kreeta, from 33 / night

    TheHotel.gr has started co-operation with Best Cars rental, a local car rental company with a great variety of elegant and nice cars with good prices and personalised customer service. Car rentals in Heraklion airport and in Chania are airport are provided.  More...