Heraklion Shore Excursion
This half day Heraklion shore trip includes a private tour at the site of the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Then you visit Heraklion city where you have time for lunch and / or shopping.
After meeting your guide at the pier in Heraklion you will drive to the
renowned archaeological site known as Knossos. Your guide will lead you through the ruins of this ancient palace
complex, which was the administrative and religious center for
the region. Sir Arthur Evans restored the site, though it has been criticized by some for its modernity, the restorations help the visitors to both visualize the palace as it was and understand its complexity. The living quarters of the king, queen and
members of the royal court, rooms for state occasions, a theater area,
store rooms and workshops are all within the palace complex.
For many centuries the history of the Minoan culture was considered legend and remained a memory in Greek tradition and
mythology. It was not until the early 1900s that the
history of Minoan Crete was pieced together to reveal that the
civilization was not one of myth, but rather one of the most
advanced and important in prehistoric times. The amazing site of Knossos, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Minos, provides
the basis of our knowledge about this civilization named after the king
of Crete.
The frescoes unearthed show the refinement of their art and use
of color and embody the soul of the peace loving, lighthearted, but also
powerful Minoans. The original palace of Knossos was built around
1900 BC but about two-hundred years later it was destroyed by an
earthquake and then rebuilt on an even grander scale. The final destruction of the palace occurred around 1450 BC when a volcano on Santorini erupted and destroyed nearby civilizations.
Despite this blow to the culture people continued to live here until a fire swept
through the city around 1400 BC.
After visiting this important archaeological site you visit Heraklion city where you have time for lunch and / or shopping.before returning to the pier.
Customized Heraklion Tours
If you cannot find what you are looking for, our
Heraklion tours and Heraklion shore excursions can also be customized to fit your needs. If you have a larger group, we can offer you a private Heraklion shore trip using a mid-size bus or full size coach. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a customized quote.
