upgrade your Flash Player.
sightseeing crete museums
Colossal Knossos It is impossible to visit Heraklion without touring the Palace of Knossos, the pre-eminent Minoan settlement and one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Discovered in the late 1870s by Minos Kalokerinos, it was excavated by Sir Arthur Evans over a period spanning three decades and is linked through Cretan myths with King Minos, son of Zeus and Europa. Minos may have ruled in legend, but it now seems more likely ‘Minos’ was not a single king but the title given to the rulers of Knossos. The palace covers an area of 20,000 sq m and is so large and labyrinthine that scholars believe it was the inspiration for the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Archaeological Museum The Heraklion Archaeological Museum houses valuable finds from all over Crete including pottery, stone carvings, sealstones and statuettes. Pride of place goes to the treasures of the Minoan era, which can be admired in all their historical continuity. Natural History Museum The Natural History Museum of Crete, located within the University of Crete, was established in 1980 and offers visitors the opportunity to discover the ecologically and culturally diverse environment of the Eastern Mediterranean. Cretan Historical & Folklore Museum The Historical Museum houses exhibits from the Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish periods along with historical documents of more recent Cretan history. Other noteworthy exhibits include a rich collection of folk art – comprising local costumes, textiles, woodcarvings and embroidery – and a representation of a typical Cretan house. Nikos Kazantzakis Museum The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum is located in the picturesque and historic village of Varvari, actually the birthplace of Kazantzakis’s father, Captain Michalis. The museum houses relics and objects that bring to life the memory of the great Cretan, the most celebrated Greek writer, translator and philosopher of the 20th century.
upgrade your Flash Player.