Heraklion
Welcome to Heraklion
What is Heraklion best known for
Heraklion City
Heraklion is the largest city and the capital of Crete, home to more than a quarter of the island’s population. The heart of the city has the most shops and boutiques, as well as many incredible restaurants and bars, making Heraklion the most vibrant city in Crete. During the summer, it also has many museums, historical sites, and art festivals.
Knossos Palace, Heraklion
The Knossos Palace is one of the most historically significant sites in the Heraklion region.
Knossos Palace, located just 5 kilometers south of Heraklion, was the capital of Minoan Crete and the ceremonial center of the Minoan civilization. It is over 20,000 square meters in size and was built with ashlar blocks around 2,000 BC. A major earthquake destroyed the palace in 1700 BC, but it was rebuilt around the middle of the 15th century BC. The area around Knossos has a long history of human habitation, dating back to the first Neolithic settlement in 7000 BC, with a population of around 100,000 people.
Matala Beach of Heraklion
Matala is about 65 kilometers south of Heraklion. Matala was the most popular destination for hippies from all over the world during the 1960s and 1970s. The sense of liberation, the beautiful and inviting bay, and the crystal-clear waters combined to create the ideal hippie environment. Matala was a place for them to express themselves, be creative, and enjoy love. The man-made caves carved out of the rock date back to prehistoric times and were later used primarily as tombs by the Romans.