What was that mythical story about Theseus and the Minotaur again? The king of Crete, Minos, was plagued by the Minotaur, a monster locked in a labyrinth under the castle, who demanded a sacrifice of seven young men and women each year. King Minos in turn demanded that Athens send these young men and women to satisfy the Minotaur, which they did until Theseus, the son of the king of Athens decided to put a stop to things and sailed to Crete to defeat the Minotaur. With the help of Ariadne, the Cretan princess, he successfully entered the labyrinth and killed the Minotaur, and used a thread (Ariadne's idea!) to find his way back out of the maze again.

This story takes place in Knossos, which is also Europe's oldest city and just one of the ancient treasures to be explored in Crete. Knossos was the capital of the Minoan civilisation from around 2000 BC, and the palace (home of the famous labyrinth) is a short trip from Crete's biggest city of Heraklion. The site was controversially restored by a British archaeologist in the early 1900s, so you can actually go inside parts of the palace that have been reconstructed, complete with replica wall-paintings and frescoes.

An equally impressive ancient site, though with much less tourist traffic, Phaistos was the second largest city of the Minoans. The location is not quite as convenient for Heraklion, but it is just a few kilometers from the southern coast of the island and the sea. The site was inhabited beginning in 4000 BC, and is still a great destination for ancient exploration.

Tip: If it's too hot for serious archaeological exploration, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is truly unmissable. The museum recently reopened after a seven year renovation, and the wait was totally worth it, as it is now one of Greece's top historical attractions. Its new exhibition spaces gather together treasures from the island's rich history, including the Phaistos Disc, covered with mysterious symbolic inscriptions that have eluded archaeologists. Check it out for yourself and see what you can make of the code!

Unique tours and activities in Heraklio to make your day!