Enter the historic Palace of Knossos and explore the labyrinth that enclosed the famous Minotaur of Crete and discover the secrets of the ancient civilization of the Minoans! The Minoan palace of Knossos (or Knossos) is one of Crete’s tourist attractions and a must-see destination on your visit to the island.
GENERAL INFO
- Entrance: 6€
- Opening hours: from 8:00 to 20:00 every day.
- Parking: free, close to the entrance
- Bar or restaurants: yes, open only during the opening hours
- Guided tour: yes, an additional fee
- How to get there: only 5km from the centre of Heraklion, and is easily accessible by private car, taxi, KTEL bus line 2 or by tourist bus.
KNOSSOS
Whether you are a history buff, a lover of classical Greek culture or just an art lover, the remains of the great Cretan city, villa and palace of the king were part of the most important city of the Minoan culture. The murals and sculptures that we can visit mainly in the archaeological museum of Heraklion, are unique in their kind, and especially visual.
The relationship that has been attributed to Knossos with mythology, and in particular with the labyrinth of the Minotaur, is one of the best tourist slogans it can have.
Mythology fixes Knossos as the residence of King Minos, who ordered Daedalus to build the labyrinth in which the Minotaur was imprisoned. The “monster” fed on humans who were taken as sacrifices to satiate the minotaur. His final fate was to die at the hands of Theseus, who managed to get out of the labyrinth thanks to Ariadne’s thread, which allowed him to find his way out.
TOUR
The highlights and the ones to which we should devote more attention (with a guide if possible) are the central courtyards, the piano nobile, the fresco of the dolphins, the storerooms containing the giant vessels (pithoi), the throne room, the room of the double axes, the grand staircase, the south gate of the complex, and the corridor of the north propylon with the fresco of the famous charging bull, symbol of Knossos and of the Minoan culture.
The visit is organized in such a way that we can see the whole complex from elevated platforms without degrading the remains. It is not at all accessible for people with mobility problems.
