The ancient Minoan palace of Faistos/Phaestos (Φαιστός) lies approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Gavalochori. The ruins of the palace are as impressive as the palace of Knossos, and the site has not been questionably reconstructed the way Knossos has. Another advantage is that the crowds here are not as large as those at Knossos.
At one time, Faistos was the largest and most powerful city in southern Crete. Dating from approximately 2,000 BC, the palace was destroyed and rebuilt several times. You can see a series of terraces with massive staircases between them and the remains of storerooms, granaries, royal quarters, workshops, a theater, courtyards, and the temple of Rhea. Here is where the famous Faistos disc dating back to the Minoan period was discovered. Now in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the various stamped symbols on the disc have never been deciphered. To fully appreciate the site, you might want to hire a guide, which can be arranged at the entrance. Faistos has a variety of amenities onsite, including a cafe, a bookstore, and a souvenir shop. You can find more information about Faistos here.
The ancient Minoan palace of Faistos/Phaestos (Φαιστός) lies approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Gavalochori. The ruins of the palace are as impressive as the palace of Knossos, and the site has not been questionably reconstructed the way Knossos has. Another advantage is that the crowds here are not as large as those at Knossos.
At one time, Faistos was the largest and most powerful city in southern Crete. Dating from approximately 2,000 BC, the palace was destroyed and rebuilt several times. You can see a series of terraces with massive staircases between them and the remains of storerooms, granaries, royal quarters, workshops, a theater, courtyards, and the temple of Rhea. Here is where the famous Faistos disc dating back to the Minoan period was discovered. Now in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the various stamped symbols on the disc have never been deciphered. To fully appreciate the site, you might want to hire a guide, which can be arranged at the entrance. Faistos has a variety of amenities onsite, including a cafe, a bookstore, and a souvenir shop. You can find more information about Faistos here.
