soothing, relaxing landscapes
This extended coach tour takes us first to the heart of the ancient Minoan civilisation, the grand city of Knossos. Here we will take in many centuries of history, architecture, art and culture and discover the legends of Daedalus, Theseus and the formidable half man, half beast, the Minotaur.
Exploring from room to room we will relive time in the Hall of the Royal Guard and the King’s Chamber, hearing the stories of King Minos.
The Minoans can be counted as Europe’s oldest civilisation from 2700 BC and Knossos its oldest city.
The Minoans were swept away by the Mycenaeans from mainland Greece and Crete passed through numerous hands over the centuries from the Byzantines, Arabs and Venetians to the Ottomans. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913.
After our discoveries in Knossos we drive through the countryside to Thrapsano, Crete’s pottery village.
We can watch traditional craftsmen and women at work producing pottery and ceramics and take a wander around a community suspended in time. We will journey along the ancient wine routes and through soothing, relaxing landscapes to Myrtia. Here is the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum dedicated to the life and work of this famous Greek writer.