| Phaistos (Festos) tips and photos posted by real travelers and Crete Island locals.
Prefecture of Heraklion
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 by Lilasel
According to mythology, Phaistos was the seat of king Radamanthis, brother of king Minos. It was also the city that gave birth to the great wise man and soothsayer Epimenidis, one of the seven wise men of the ancient world.
Excavations by archaeologists have unearthed ruins of the Neolithic times (3.000 B.C.).
During the Minoan times, Phaistos was a very important city-state. The city participated to the Trojan war and later became one of the most important cities-states of the Dorian period.
Phaistos continued to flourish during Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic times. It was destroyed by the Gortynians during the 3rd century B.C. In spite of that, Phaistos continued to exist during the Roman period.
Regular public transportation is available from Iraklion and Rethimnon. Leave a Comment
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Set high on a hill Festόs certainly is impressive both for its ancient architecture and the views. Unlike Knossόs Festόs has not been reconstructed but on taking a few minutes and with the help of a guide book and map you can soon work out which bit is what and you will realise just how impressive this site really is. It is no wonder it is on most lists as the number one place to visit on Crete
Admission €4 open 09:00 to 19:00
You should visit Agίa Triáda first as you can buy a ticket there covering both sites for €6 something that was not offered at Festόs.
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Agίa Triáda lies on a hill about 3km from Festόs (as you pass the car park of Festόs take the next right turn (sign posted) you will reach the end of the road and see the large brown sign. The site is below you to the left.
Said to be the Summer Palace of Festόs royalty due to the elaborate decoration’s found on the walls and it’s position overlooking the bay of Mésaras. In Minoan times the sea would have been much nearer. Some of the more exquisite Minoan works of art in Iráklio’s Archaeological Museum were found here. I found the water works here particularly interesting. You can see were the water was drained from the top of the site and channelled via aqueducts around the Palace.
Also on the site is the small church of Agios Georgios Galatas from the 14c ad
The name Agίa Triáda comes from a nearby Byzantine chapel as there is no record of the Minoan name.
Entry is €3 You can purchase a ticket here that covers Festόs as well for €6
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 Festos by steventilly
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 festos card by Skipka
Well, Festos is just some kms far away from Matala so when cruising around you should go to visit it too. You will spend there 1-3 hours, it depends how long you should admire the rocks of ancient empire. However, in all places connected with ancient Minoic period you will find just the ruins or fragments of its greatness. All important and valuable pieces are in museums.
Festos was ruled by the brother of King of Knossos and in that period was -according the historicians - very important city. Komos and surrounding of Matala used to be its harbors and connection with trade routes. It stands on a big hill so the view on this part of Crete is unique. Leave a Comment Directions: By bus it is the best or by hired car on the way from Hania or Heraklion to Matala or Komos.
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 Festos by steventilly
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 Countryside by steventilly
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 square at Phaistos by call_me_rhiaLeave a Comment Directions: about 20 kilometres from Matala, in the south
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 the disc from phaestos by kat-m
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Next to the archeological site of Festos you can find what we think is one of the best places on Crete: the terrace! With a great view over the area, shade from trees and a cool wind, this is a magnificent place after a hot day in Matala and/or Gortys. It's selfservice so you can stay all day if you want, without having to order every half an hour or so. We sat and read our books (Nikos Kazantzakis: Christ Recrucified and Louis de Bernieres: Captain Corelli's Mandoline) for a few hours in the afternoon.
This terrace was actually more impressive to us than the archeological site itself (after already visiting Knossos). There is an Italian archeological school right next to it, on the top of the hill, and I even considered studying archeology, just to be able to live in this place for a year or so...
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