Highlights of this memorable tour of CRETE include a fascinating walking tour of RETHYMNON, a charming town with narrow cobbled streets full of restaurants, cafés and shops, a glorious harbour and beautifully preserved Turkish and Venetian architecture. Travelling through wonderful scenery, visits will be made to the Minoan Palace at Knossos and Archaeological Museum at Heraklion; Crete’s second largest town Chania; the 5th Century Monastery of Arkadi; the Minoan tombs of Armeni, Argiroupolis, Ancient Lappa and Lake Kournas.
RETHYMNON is an attractive town, with a colourful and historical past and owes its character to periods of rule under the Venetians and Turks from the 16th Century onwards. This has left a legacy of marvellous old buildings that line its narrow, pedestrianised alleys. The imposing battlements of the 16th Century Venetian fortress, a picturesque harbour lined with waterside restaurants and cafés and 13th Century lighthouse, the delightful old town full of cafés, restaurants and shops selling local crafts and foods, and the quaint atmosphere, make Rethymnon a perfect base for this tour.
Little was known about the ancient Minoan civilisation until 1894 with the discovery, by British archaeologist Arthur Evans, of the Palace at KNOSSOS. Excavations began in 1900 AD which revealed the remains of an extensive palace and surrounding town. Dating from 1900 BC, the Palace was destroyed by an earthquake in 1700 BC, rebuilt and then finally destroyed in 1375 BC by fire and never rebuilt. Controversially restored by Evans, a visit here gives a fascinating insight into this ancient and highly developed civilization. Highlights include the Royal Apartments, Throne Room, giant ‘pithoi’ storage jars and the Priest-King fresco. The Archaeological Museum in HERAKLION houses the greatest selection of Minoan artefacts anywhere in the world, including the Hall of Frescoes, Bull's Head Rhyton, Snake Goddesses Phaestos Disc and, more latterly, the ring of King Minos.
A tour will be taken to the atmospheric 5th century ARKADI MONASTERY which stands at the end of a winding gorge on the edge of a fertile region of fruit trees and cypresses. Its history tells a story of the fierce resistance and pride of the Cretans. In 1866 several hundred Cretans gathered in the Monastery to defend themselves against the Turks. As the battle raged, rather than risk capture and slaughter they chose to blow up the gunpowder store and themselves with it. This tragic event finally awakened the rest of the world to the struggles of the Cretans for independence.
A day full of variety will include visits to the Minoan Cemetery at ARMENI, excavated in 1969, and with over 200 tombs unearthed to date. We then visit the Minoan Palace of Sestos, second only in importance to Knossos.
Set against a spectacular backdrop of majestic mountains and aquamarine seas, CHANIA is one of Crete’s most alluring towns. Its troubled history of occupation by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese, Turks and Egyptians, has left a rich architectural heritage. The old Venetian quarter around the magnificent harbour is a quaint district that includes the Naval Museum, Mosque of the Janissaries and the covered market that sells an excellent variety of local produce.
Enroute to Chania there is time to visit one of the most extensive archaeological sites discovered in western Crete, APTERA. Founded in the Geometric period this city reached a commercial peak in the Hellenistic period and later developed as a rural town in the Roman period.
