Plateau of Lassithi and Knossos Palace from Chania Region

We will go to Lassithi Plateau the largest plateau of Crete. This is a truly unique and Paradise Island, known for its rich history. It is called the valley of thousands of mills, the birthplace of Zeus.

type: private up to 6 people;
duration: 10-11;
with children: yes;
what places you will see: The Palace of Knossos, Zeus Cave, Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, Lassithi Plateau;

The Palace of Knossos

The Palace of Knossos is one of the most prominent ancient Greek architectural monuments. It is located near Heraklion. Despite the fact that only some fragments of the structure have reached our days, it is of great interest to archaeologists, scientists and connoisseurs of history. We will not miss the opportunity to see it personally.

This ancient building is often mentioned in the myths and legends of Greece.

Legend of the Minotaur

The Palace of Knossos is one of the important buildings appearing in the legend of the Minotaur. According to mythology, it was here that the Minotaur, the son of the wife of Minos and the sacred bull, was imprisoned. Their creation was not quite normal – it had a bull’s head and a human body. The monster devoured people and made the Greeks feel the chilling fear. Then it was decided to imprison him in the palace. The latter was built in such a way that it was considered impossible to get out of it.

From time to time, young men and women who came from Athens were brought to be devoured by the Minotaur. Theseus, the son of King Aegeus (king of Athens), decided to end this horror. He was able not only to destroy the monster, but also to get out of the      labyrinth. He did it with the help of Ariadne, who fell hard in love with the hero. She gave him a magic ball of yarn, which showed him the way back.

Today, the palace is represented by a complex of buildings that were designed by architects at various levels. Everyone can wander around them and see fascinating historical sights.

Zeus Cave

We will also visit the cave of Zeus, which is located at an altitude of 1025 meters above sea level. According to one of the legends, it was here that the greatest god was born. The prerequisite for this was the fear of his father Kronos, who was predicted to be overthrown by one of his sons. In fear, he began to eat his own children. His wife, Rhea, gave him a stone wrapped into the baby-liners, while she had run away to the cave with her son, Zeus.

Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa

Going to the plateau, we will come over to the monastery of Kera Kardiotissa – a convent founded in the medieval period. It gained great popularity due to the miraculous icon of the God’s Mother. There is a legend according to which the icon has always returned here. The invaders repeatedly tried to steal it, but it appeared in the temple again and again.

Once, the Turks decided to fix it with chain. They were surprised when it appeared in its original place. The column on which the broken chain hangs can be seen today on the territory of the monastery. It is believed that it has miraculous power. Women who could not conceive a child wrapped themselves into this chain and said a prayer. After that, they had children. The icon itself is in Italy today, and in Greece there is only a copy of it.

Lassithi Plateau

At the end of the tour we will visit the picturesque plateau, which impresses with its scale and picturesque beauty. Then, we will go to the pottery workshop, where we can watch the process of making dishes.

How to sign up for a sightseeing tour Lassithi Plateau Palace of Knossos?

In order to sign up for the sightseeing tour, please contact Moysidis Travel at: +30 699 280 0329, +49 1577 559 3278 or write to e-mail: moysidistravel@gmail.com.

The Palace of Knossos, Lassithi Plateau, Zeus Cave, Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, Pottery.