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Description
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Points of Interest
- Heraklion
- Knossos Palace
Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.
Crete was home to the Minoan civilization - an ancient culture that reached its zenith as Egypt's Middle Kingdom flourished in the Nile Valley. Board your motorcoach for a drive along the island's rugged north coast to Knossos, once the political, social and spiritual center of Minoan civilization. Located in the hills south of Heraklion, Knossos flourished from 1900 - 1600 B.C. A local merchant discovered the ruins in 1878. The British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans actually purchased the site and conducted excavations. More notoriously, Evans partially restored buildings and frescoes based on his findings. Your tour of the site includes the restored "Throne Room" and the celebrated frescoes, including the "Bull-leaping Frescoes" in the Court of the Stone Spout and the "Toreador Fresco," painted circa 1500 - 1400 B.C. After your tour, board your motorcoach for some free time at Heraklion city.
Special Notes:
The tour of Knossos involves approximately 1.5 hour walking over some relatively flat and uneven ground with steps at various points in the site, so low-heeled, comfortable shoes are recommended. Passengers with physical limitations should take this into consideration. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.Tour order may vary and tour timing's are subject to traffic conditions.
Details
Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.