Day 9, September 30, 2024, Knossos

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This morning we spend time in one of Greece’s greatest museums: the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, housing artifacts covering 5,500 years of Cretan history, from the Neolithic period to Roman times. Built in 1940, the museum is especially renowned for its Minoan collection of art and artifacts, including the mysteriously coded Phaistos Disc. 

Many pieces here were excavated from the ruins of the legendary palace of Knossos, which we tour after our museum visit.

The political center of Minoan civilization and legendary home of King Minos, the Labyrinth, and the Minotaur, ancient Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city and the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete.

After exploring the site, we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, we visit a Cretan olive farm. Greece consumes more olive oil per capita than any other country. We take a tour of the farm and have time to sample this staple of the Greek diet.

Then we return to Heraklion, where we have the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure before dinner at a local restaurant.


































































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