Visiting the Palace of Knossos
During the Bronze Age, Minoan palaces served as the hubs of city life, with everything revolving around them. The Palace of Knossos was among the most significant, occupying two of the five hectares that made up the settlement. Today, it stands as a major archaeological site, dating from 2000 to 1350 BCE, and was first uncovered in 1878. The intensive excavations led by Arthur Evans revealed not only the palace but also a villa and a cemetery, followed by a restoration process that remains a subject of debate today. Located just 5 km from Heraklion, the Palace of Knossos remains a site you cannot miss.
An open-air maze
It overlooks the Kairatos valley and is said to have been the seat of King Minos himself. The legend of the Minotaur and his famous labyrinth haunts the site, where a thousand rooms were once interconnected and accessible through various entrances. Lacking fortifications, the Palace of Knossos was a true labyrinth that strikes visitors first by its sheer scale. Arranged around a vast central courtyard, four wings housing workshops, sanctuaries, and various storerooms offer a glimpse into the wealth of life that once unfolded here. The Throne Room, whether belonging to Minos or a high priestess, remains a mystery, though it is adorned with frescoes featuring griffins. To the west of the main palace, a smaller structure emerges, dating from the 17th to 15th centuries BCE. With monumental facades, multiple stories, a basin, light wells, staircases, royal apartments, and an advanced water management system, the Minoan culture was as complex as it was sophisticated. In the Corridor of the Procession, frescoes burst with color beneath the columns, while giant storage jars, known as pithoi, line one wing of the palace. A tomb, a mansion with a pillared hall, and a high priest's house complete this grand site. While the restorations can be jarring for some, they offer a unique encounter with a remarkable lost civilization.
Opening hours
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I found the visit to this palace very interesting. I recommend you opt for a guided tour, which will help you get a better sense of what it was like back then. I don't think the building is in such bad shape after all. I learned a lot and was still impressed by it.