The Minoan Palace of Knossos is the most popular archaeological sight in Crete, attracting thousands of visitors throughout the year. Located 23km southwest of Koutouloufari and 8km southeast of the modern city of Heraklion, Knossos was the most important administrative, ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization, which flourished in Crete in the Bronze Age. The palace is spread on an area of 24,000m2 and is believed to have had 1,300 rooms, while its walls were decorated with multicolored frescoes, some of which have been reconstructed and are visible until today. Knossos is also famous for the legend of Minotaur, a creature that was half-man and half-bull, that was held captive by King Minos in the labyrinth (maze) constructed by the legendary craftsman Daedalus.
The Minoan Palace of Phaistos is situated 87km southwest of Koutouloufari. One of the three cities founded by King Minos, Phaistos was a major center of the Minoan civilization and the most robust city in the southern part of the island. The Phaistos Disc, impressed with a hieroglyphic script that has not been deciphered up to nowadays, was discovered in the past century and is one of the most important archaeological findings in Greece.
The Minoan Palace of Zakros is located 146km east of Koutouloufari in Lasithi Prefecture. Zakros was an important commercial center in the Minoan times due to its strategic position. Excavations in the palace have revealed clay tablets bearing Linear A inscriptions, as well as a labyrinth similar to those found in Knossos and Phaistos.
Gortys archaelogical sight is situated 72km southwest of Koutouloufari. Gortys was a city that flourished in the Minoan times and was also the Roman capital of Crete. Excavations on the sight revealed remains of the Roman Theater, temples of ancient Greek and Egyptian gods, coins and so on. Still visible today are inscriptions of the Gortyn Code, which is the oldest and most complete form of ancient Greek law. According to Greek mythology, God Zeus abducted princess Europa and had an affair with under a plane tree that may be seen in Gortys today.
The archaeological sight of Malia can be found 7km east of Koutouloufari, next to the crowded tourist resort. Today, remains of a Minoan palace and of a Roman settlement can be seen on the sight. Many important findings were discovered on the sight, such as a big carved stone resembling a millstone, a marble sarcophagus and ornate gold jewels.
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