Archaeological museum of Heraklion

Archaeological museum of Heraklion Crete hosts the most important and representative finds of the Minoan civilization.

The foundation of the first museum (1904-1912) is owed to the efforts of two Cretan archaeologists, Joseph Chatzidakis and Stephanos Xanthoudides, Ephors of the Archaeological Service. It housed the valuable finds from Crete until 1937, when the construction of the modern, antiseismic building was begun. Thanks to the efforts of Prof. Nicolaos Platon, the treasures of the museum survived during World War II, although the building was seriously damaged.

The task of rearranging the exhibition was undertaken by Prof. N. Platon in 1951, and in 1952 the finds were again on display. In 1964 a new wing was added and the arrangement of the exhibits was completed by the Director, St. Alexiou. Thus the museum today has twenty rooms in all, containing artefacts from the palaces, houses, tombs and caves in Crete.

The exhibiton of the museum is organized in chronological order, ranging from the Neolithic period to the Roman era (4th century A.D.) and geographically, according to the provenance of the finds.

There are, though, several groups of finds exhibited in separate rooms:

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Tylissos 

The houses of Tylissos were built during the LM I period (16th-15th century B.C.) on Crete Greece.

Additions were made on House A in the LM II (15th-14th century B.C.) and on House C during the LM III period (14th century B.C.). The site was destroyed by fire in the 14th century B.C. and reinhabited in historic times as is attested by ruins of later houses over the Minoan ones. Tylissos was excavated by Joseph Chatzidakis in 1902-1913. In 1954, in the course of restorations, parts of a paved court were revealed to the west, and a small stoa with five columns to the north of the Square of the Altar.

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Ideon Andron Cave 

Ideon Andron Cave on Lassithi Crete according to one of the legends,  was the birthplace of Zeus.

In the myth, Rhea brought the infant Zeus to the Ideon cave to protect him from his father, Kronos, who would have swallowed him alive, as he had previously done with his brothers and sisters. Here he was nursed by the goat nymph, Amalthia.

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Lassithi traditional windmills 

On Lassithi It is the most significant group of traditional windmills preserved on Crete.

It occupies the northern entrance to the Lasithi plateau and is the landmark of the whole area. Today 24 windmills are preserved (out of the original 26), 7 of which extend to the south of the road that enters the plateau while the rest are built to the north of it. All the mills belong to the one-sided type of windmill, that grinds in a standard position, always on the same direction of the wind. Windmills of this type are preserved on Crete and on Karpathos (or Carpathos) but the Cretan ones are generally more carefully built and more elegant.

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Samaria Gorge 

The longest gorge in Europe is Samaria Gorge

Samaria Gorge is 43 km away  from the city of Chania, this is the longest gorge in Europe, measuring some 18 kilometers and renowed for its awesome beauty. At some points the passage is just 3 meters wide and at times the steep sides rise to a height of 600 meters. The gorge is cut by a stream which flows between the highest peak of the White Mountains and Mt. Volikas. Hiking down the gorge is permitted from May to the end of October, depending on the wheather.

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Ammoudara beach

Ammoudara beach is 5 km west of Heraklion and it's Long, sandy beach in an area with many hotels, both large and small.

You will find areas with sunbeds, umbrellas and a lifeguard but there are also parts of the beach with no establishments. Cafes, restaurants and beach bars can be found along the beach. Easy transportation by public buses or taxi from Heraklion.

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