One of the main reasons we decided to go to Crete was for the ruins. The Minoan palaces are particularly fascinating. These Bronze Age “labyrinths” are interesting, although be aware that nearly all artifacts found at the sites have been put in the Archaeological Museum at Heraklion. Knossos is one of the most famous of these palaces and therefore is the most crowded with tourists. It also has been partially recreated, which does give you an idea of what the site must have looked like, but it takes a little away when you don’t realize what is original and what is not. The murals and artifacts that make the site so well known are also in the museum, not on site.
Quieter, less-crowded ruins are not far away. The palace of Malia is not as often seen, but is a surprisingly well preserved site. We went to Gournia, a Minoan City, and strolled through the ruins of alleyways utterly alone. It was probably one of the best ruins we saw on Crete and being away from the crowds made it all the more enjoyable. There are also great Doric Greek ruins, which aren’t quite as old as the Minoan but are equally impressive. Chris and I particularly enjoyed the Doric city of Lato.
If ruins aren’t your thing, there are also great monasteries on the island. The monastery of Faneromeni had a particularly fantastic view and impressive chapel frescos, although it is tricky to get up to.
