Meet with your guide at the terminal of Cretan Spiti Travel at Eleftherias Square in front of Astoria Capsis Hotel at 08.30 to start the visit of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the second biggest in Greece, after the Museum of Athens. The tour begin with introduction of the oldest findings of Crete from 6000bc, then of the highlight Minoan palaces of Knossos, Festos, Mallia and Zakros. The tour continues with objects from cemeteries, shrines, houses and ends with the Minoan frescoes of Knossos.
When we finish with the visit of the Archaeological Museum, at approximately 10.30, we will drive 5km to southeast off the city to visit the Knossos Palace which was built from 1700 to 1400 BC. Advanced architectural techniques were used in its construction, and sections of the palace stood up to 5 stories high. Settlements in Knossos date as far back as the Neolithic period. Neolithic remains from around 7000 BC are found throughout Crete. Explore the ruins of the ancient Minoan civilisation. Knossos Palace featured 1,300 rooms connected by corridors, and a theatre and extensive storerooms, which held large clay containers of oil, grains, dried fish, beans and olives – often with gold hidden beneath. The site was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. The excavations in Knossos began in 1900 A.D. by the English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans and his team and they continued for 35 years. After the visit of the site we return to our terminal in front of Astoria Capsis Hotel at 13:30.