New day and new adventures to come! Ready, steady, go! 1,5 hour to go to the Grand Palace of Phaistos!
We are going to explore the ancient ruins, that once was a grand Minoan palace! According to mythology, the son of Zeus and brother of Minos reigned in Phaistos. The palace of Phaistos is one of the most important Minoan palaces and the second in size on Crete (after Knossos palace 🙂 )
It was one of the noblest centers in the grand age of Minoan civilization. The first palace of Phaistos was built in the beginning of the 2nd millennium B.C. In around 1700 B.C. it was destroyed by a large fire. On the ruins the another palace was built, but like other Minoan centers was destroyed in the middle of the 15th century B.C.
The entrance fee is 8 euro per person, but we are lucky and today it’s for free due to European heritage days last weekend of September 🙂 but if you wanna a guided tour here you need to arrange it in advance 🙂
It’s not so crowded as Knossos palace and you can take a break off from looking at the ruins and enjoy spectacular scenery around you 🙂
The Palace of Phaistos is considered to be a typical sample of a Minoan palace, due to it’s excellent architectural composition and perfect construction.
We spent here about an hour, I really like that everything can be easily reached, no fancies 🙂 and lot of informative placards in English, so you can explore by yourself!
One more picture in this magical place and we are ready to go to Matala!
We are in Matala! I like this place very much, it’s really beautiful. We have only half a day, but it’s enough to feel it’s vibe and connect with the hippie side of Crete:)
The parking area is just on the right from the beach 🙂 just manage to find a parking place:) a charge is 2 euro for a hole day. We are ready to explore small streets and eat our lunch before resting on the beach.
Here you can find well developed tourist area. A lot of tiny shops that has a bazaar atmosphere and great supermarkets.
Matala was the paradise on earth for the “flowers’ children” in Sixties, when hippies came here from all over the world. Although is not likely to meet hippies any more, but this place still carries an aura of liberty and “flower flavor”.
You can find a lot of cool places to rest here…
Ohhh, these great beach taverns, the best places to enjoy life and to get a taste of past glamour.
“Life is today, tomorrow never comes”, that’s one of the many slogans you can read when you are in Matala! Eat your lunch, have a drink and listen to music of the sea.
Fall in love with this unusual and stunning beachscapes on the island. Very impressive formations of sandstone rock cliffs with their famous caves.
The beach has lovely white sand, it’s clean and have Tamarix trees’ shades. It has first aid facilities, toilets and showers, as well as activities for children 🙂
Today, Matala caves have been fenced, protected by the Archaeological Service, however, are accessible for tourists. The entrance fee is 4 euros, but we are lucky 🙂 today all places are free of charge 🙂
Let’s go up, explore the caves closer! Ohhh, this marvelous view!
During the Roman occupation, these rocks were used as graves, then they were very popular, cause hippies lived here in late Sixties, it was the Land of Hippies promise!
Nowadays, you can get into the caves and try to imagine how was it to live here under the blue sky, near so beautiful beach!
Tomorrow will be new day and new emotions:)
See you tomorrow 🙂
Don’t sit at home. Travel! Travel with me! 🙂 Meaww!
Next day …Day 6. Chania.
Previous day …Day 4. Super – Duper lazy day.
go and travel with me 