So here we have reached the chapter of Cretan

Museums and Historical Monuments. Crete

has a long history among the years but

together we are going to see the most

important and famous ones of Heraklion.

museums

.

Mu

seu

m o

f C

reta

n E

thn

olog

y The museum is located 2km

away from Phaestos, in

Vori village. Exhibits

include traditional Cretan

utensils connected to

cooking, weaving,

transport, architecture,

production, customs and

social life.

In the Museum there is also

the Cretan Ecosystem

Research Center, where

traditional human activities

from the Middle Ages until

today are studied, along

with historical, social,

economic, political and

geophysical changes in

Crete and the surrounding

area.

GO

RT

YN

IS O

NE

OF

TH

E M

OS

T IM

PO

RT

AN

T M

INO

AN

AR

CH

AE

OL

OG

ICA

L S

ITE

S

It is located in the Messara plateau, south from Heraklion

city. Gortyn flourished when the Minoan civilization had

started to decline. In the Roman period, Gortyn was the

capital of Crete and became the most prosper city. It was the

first Christian city in Crete as Apostle Titus preached the

Christian religion here. The Saracens destroyed Gortyn and

the temple dedicated to Titus in 824. Today you can visit the

ancient odeon, the Apollo temple, the acropol and the ruins of

the temple of Titus.

.

Gortyn

The Historical Museum of Crete was established

in 1953 and is housed in a neoclassical

building which was owned by archaeologist

Kalokairinos. It was built in 1870 by the

renowned Greek architect Lisandros

Kaftantzoglou on the ruins of an older mansion.

His

tori

cal M

useum

of C

rete

Kazantzakis museum

It exhibits pieces

connected to the

famous writer’s life and

work. The collections

include personal

effects, manuscripts,

samples of his

correspondence, first

editions of his works in

Greek and other

languages, works

translated in more than

50 languages, rare

photographs, busts and

other pieces of art and

material from theater

productions of its

works, such as posters,

programs, scene

models, costumes,

photographs etc.

T HE M O S T FA M O U S A R C HE OL O GI CA L S I G H T

Its complicated architecture is characteristic of the Minoan civilization. Knossos was first inhabited

in the Neolithic era. The first palace was built around 1900BC and was almost leveled by a destructive earthquake in 1700BC. The second, even more

impressive palace was built right after and it was destroyed again, by the volcano eruption in Santorini. The Minoan civilization flourished in 1700-1450BC. Most ruins still remaining today belong to this period.

Knossos is the most famous archaeological site in Crete. It is located southeast from Heraklion city. The

palace of Knossos used to be the most powerful palace of the Minoan civilization and the residence of King Minos as well. It covers 22,000m2 and consists of many different rooms and buildings. Even its size

proves that this palace was a very important center of the Minoan civilization.

Kn

os

so

s

Koules Venetian fortress

Koules is a Venetian fortress located in the Venetian port of Heraklion city. In 1204 Heraklion—

which was named Chandax by that time – was bought by the Republic of Venice, after the Fourth

Crusade seized Constantinople. Among many fortifications, the Venetians also built Koules. The

fortress was initially called “Roca al mare” which means rock in the sea. It was built before the city

walls in order to protect the city, and mainly the port, from enemies coming from the sea. Koules was

destroyed by an earthquake in 1303 and rebuilt in 1535-1540.

The archaeological site is located 2km away from Malia town.Excavations discovered pottery,residences of the

Prepalatial period and many tombs near the beach.You can visit the complex of the New Palace period,small part

of the old palace in northwest and a small building in the northern court dated to the Final Palace period.

Malia

Important parts of the archaeological sight of Phaestos are: The old and new palace, the

domestic apartments of the royal family, magazines, workshops etc. The most renowned

finding of Phaestos is the Phaestos disc which is exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of

Heraklion. It is located 60km southwest from Heraklion city. Findings reveal that Phaestos had been

inhibited since the Neolithic era. In the Minoan period, an organized city was built, flourished and

declined.

. Phaestos

\

Thirathen

The

Thirathen

Museum is

located at the

historical

village of

Krousonas. It

has a variety

of musical

instruments,

especially the

traditional

ones. Its

purpose is to

motivate

people to

search how

they can be

connected

with music

and the

musical

traditions.