Car Hire Crete: Knossos
Car Hire
Quote
The Knossos Ruins – perhaps the most
valuable example of Minoan architecture that we know of today – are
undoubtedly one of the most popular reasons that thousands of
holiday-makers journey to Crete every year and hire a
car.
A Bronze Age civilisation that flourished on the island of Crete between the years 2600 – 1454 BC, the Minoans are responsible for a high proportion of the preserved artefacts that Crete exhibits today. Many of the Cretan cities possess Minoan archaeological sites, such as the Minoan palatial building discovered in Phaistos and Malia, the modern-day party-capital that was subject to many excavations in order unearth the Minoan artefacts beneath its ground.
The Ruins themselves were subject to one of the largest renovation projects that Crete had ever seen, at the hands of an English archaeologist named Arthur Evans – who originally won the appeal for excavation in 1900. Critics who visited the Knossos Ruins following its public opening claimed that it was ‘the most perfect renovation ever seen. You needn’t even use your imagination.’
The palace has indeed been restored to an almost unbelievable degree and when this is combined with a charismatic tour guide the experience is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Children and adults of all ages and persuasions will be absolutely riveted from start to finish – not being so is simply impossible. See giant frescoes lining the halls of the palace and intricate walkways connecting rooms with inexplicable complexity – a truly wonderful experience that you will not forget for the rest of your life.
Cretan life during the Classical periods can be seen depicted on the walls of the palace – images of bullfighting, soldiering and sporting heroes. The palace itself consists of a maze of storage and work rooms, mile upon mile of walkways and finally a majestic central room that we now know to be the Minoan throne room.
Haunting images of regal phoenixes face toward the throne and send shivers down your spine, which isn’t helped by the drab echoes that reverberate through the ruins. It is easy, caught up in the moment, to envisage the palace bustling loudly with congregations of Minoan officials and soldiers and their majestic leader lounged on his throne.
Eye-opening, frightening and inspiring – touring the Knossos Ruins is indisputably the most envigorating and atmospheric experience any holiday-makers can hope to have whilst staying on the island of Crete.
A Bronze Age civilisation that flourished on the island of Crete between the years 2600 – 1454 BC, the Minoans are responsible for a high proportion of the preserved artefacts that Crete exhibits today. Many of the Cretan cities possess Minoan archaeological sites, such as the Minoan palatial building discovered in Phaistos and Malia, the modern-day party-capital that was subject to many excavations in order unearth the Minoan artefacts beneath its ground.
The Ruins themselves were subject to one of the largest renovation projects that Crete had ever seen, at the hands of an English archaeologist named Arthur Evans – who originally won the appeal for excavation in 1900. Critics who visited the Knossos Ruins following its public opening claimed that it was ‘the most perfect renovation ever seen. You needn’t even use your imagination.’
The palace has indeed been restored to an almost unbelievable degree and when this is combined with a charismatic tour guide the experience is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Children and adults of all ages and persuasions will be absolutely riveted from start to finish – not being so is simply impossible. See giant frescoes lining the halls of the palace and intricate walkways connecting rooms with inexplicable complexity – a truly wonderful experience that you will not forget for the rest of your life.
Cretan life during the Classical periods can be seen depicted on the walls of the palace – images of bullfighting, soldiering and sporting heroes. The palace itself consists of a maze of storage and work rooms, mile upon mile of walkways and finally a majestic central room that we now know to be the Minoan throne room.
Haunting images of regal phoenixes face toward the throne and send shivers down your spine, which isn’t helped by the drab echoes that reverberate through the ruins. It is easy, caught up in the moment, to envisage the palace bustling loudly with congregations of Minoan officials and soldiers and their majestic leader lounged on his throne.
Eye-opening, frightening and inspiring – touring the Knossos Ruins is indisputably the most envigorating and atmospheric experience any holiday-makers can hope to have whilst staying on the island of Crete.
