Phaistos (Festos), Crete Island

In the middle of the Mesara Plains is located the archeological site of Phaistos. It is the second by importance after the famous Knossos, and it is located on the edge of a cliff, so the view is amazing !!! :)

The ruins of the Minoan Palace at Phaistos. It's much smaller in size than Knossos and unlike Knossos it hasn't been restored and revamped for tourists. While I relished about its authenticity, I must also admit that many essential details were lost to me. The most obvious and easily recognisable place there is the square and the sewage channels - here and there you can also admire richly decorated vases - while some loose stones are primitively decorated and carved. The famous disk, however, has been moved to the museum in Iraklio. Entrance is 4 euros

The Central Court lies to the east of the magazines. It measured 55 metres by 25 metres. A large number of corridors lead to the Central Court what means that it must have been central to the life of the Palace.

It's the second major Minoan Palace in Crete after Knossos. It was the center of religious and economic activities. The palace has been excavated by Italian Archaeologists at the beginning of the 20th century. There were two palace periods. The old palaces were destroyed by earthquakes, and that made the Cretans rebuild them on an even grander scale.

I refuse to go along with the convention of naming these sites 'palaces', as has become the norm. I believe they represented much more than merely the court and living quarters of Minoan aristocracy. While everyone is aware of Knossos on the north coast, fewer know of or make the journey inland to Phaestos. Which is a pity, to anyone with even a half interest in archaeology, the unreconstructed remains of this vast development speak more clearly than the re-invented edifices of Arthur Evan's Knossos. The site itself is huge and is comprised of several mini complexes, representing the many functions of the place as well as its long history. There is every reasonable prospect that Phaestos exceeded all other known Minoan centres in importance, and the Wheel of Phaestos seems to support this claim. This beautifully carved stone circular slab is sculpted with motifs that suggest a representation of the different departments that Minoan Crete was divided into, suggesting also that the rest of Crete saw Phaestos as a 'meeting place', probably to pay annual tribute at harvest times. There is ample evidence that the site rose in stature after the explosion of Thera island obliterated Knossos and other main centres, as well as the Minoan ascendancy itself. To stand on the central square amidst the foundations of the impressive buildings that once would have surrounded you, knowing that others stood right there, going back thousands of years, and shared your awe, is a truly moving experience.
The wheel - or 'disk' - of Phaestos with its enigmatic symbols and reliefs displayed. Its exact meaning and function are lost in the mists of time.

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Next to the car park on the road to Mátala and Agίa Triáda you will see The Old Church of Ayios Georgios

This is a view across the main courtyard at Festos, with a great view to the hills beyond. You can see the stumps of some huge columns that used to support the roof of this area.

Phaestos runes are interesting but what most surprised me was the view we had from there of the valley. It's meravellous.