The Palace of Knossos

Knossos was the centre of the Minoan civilisation, the oldest in Europe, and its sprawling Bronze Age palace on Crete, over three and a half thousand years old, was the largest of its kind, a labyrinth of courtyards, storerooms and frescoed halls. Linked in legend to King Minos and the Minotaur, it was famously and controversially part-reconstructed by its excavator to bring the ruins to life.

What to look for

• The palace complex - the sprawling labyrinth of courts, halls and storerooms.
• The reconstructed sections - the colourful rebuilt columns and rooms.
• The frescoes - the copies on site, the originals in Heraklion's museum.
• The throne room - the oldest throne room in Europe.

When to go

Spring and autumn for mild weather; summer is very hot and the site exposed. Combine it with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which holds the original frescoes and treasures. Go early to avoid crowds and heat.

Before you go

The early-twentieth-century reconstructions are vivid but controversial, more one archaeologist's imagination than proven fact, which colours the whole visit. It is busy and exposed, so go early. Pair it with the Heraklion museum, where the real frescoes and treasures are.

Nearby

Heraklion and its great museum are close; the beaches and mountains of Crete spread beyond.

Key facts