Anyone with even a remote interest in history is going to be in paradise when they visit Crete. This ancient island, which boasts thousands of years of incredible history, is a treasure trove of historical sites that will keep you busy exploring for days. Once you've booked your Villa or apartment, here are some of the most significant places to check out when you arrive.

Knossos

Knossos is the most famous historic site of all on Crete and, in fact, one of the most famous historical landmarks in the world. Heraklion town is just 5 km from Knossos, which would provide you with the ideal location for visiting the palace. Knossos was the Minoan capital of Crete, and the remains of the huge palace are truly incredible in their scale. The site dates back to the Bronze Age, and it is here that, according to legend, King Minos kept the Minotaur. It was inhabited until the 9th century when the population shifted to nearby Heraklion. You can easily spend a day strolling around the grounds and enjoying the fascinating remains.

Knossos Knossos

Spinalonga

Spinalonga, an island located just off the eastern corner of Crete near the town of Elounda, a popular spot for Crete holidays, has a long history. However, it is best known for being the base for a leper colony from 1903 until 1957. In fact, this colony was one of the last active leper colonies in the whole of Europe. The island is a massive tourist attraction, and you will be able to take a boat trip over to walk around the fortress and see how the lepers used to live their lives in exile. It is very easy to arrange a boat trip over to the island, and tourists normally stay for a few hours as you cannot stay overnight. It's a fascinating place and one that you should definitely take the time to visit whilst in Crete.

Spinaloga Spinaloga Spinaloga

Gournia

This Gournia ancient Minoan site dates back over 3,500 years and is another important historical landmark in Crete. Villas and apartments rentals are available in Istron (6km far from Gournia) and Agios Nikolaos area, which is the nearest town about 11 miles from Gournia. This Minoan palace complex was excavated in the early 20th century, and is one of the only Minoan towns to be fully excavated. It is incredibly well preserved and lots of ancient remains were found here, including pottery and even carpentry tools, making it very important archaeologically.

Aptera

Aptera is located only two miles from Kalyves, which is an ideal place to find Villas and apartments for your holidays. Aptera dates back nearly 3,000 years and used to be one of the most important cities in Crete. It is still being excavated to this day, and there are lots of interesting structures to explore, including a Greek temple, fortified walls and Roman cisterns. It is one of the most important Minoan sites in Crete, and is situated above Souda Bay in the west of the island.

Visit Historic Crete

There are many opportunities for booking Villas - Apartments - Hotels - Studios - Rooms on the island, and wherever you stay you will never be too far from a historic site of great importance. If you can manage to check out at least a few of the above sites during your holiday, you will get a sense of the historical importance of the island, and they will provide you with some fascinating day trips during your stay.

Knossos Knossos

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