The palace of Knossos was built about 4,000 years ago on the site of the Neolithic settlement. Like almost all the palaces of Crete, Knossos was destroyed by a severe earthquake around 1,700 BC. According to the myth handed down by Homer, the legendary King Minos, first-born son of Zeus and Europa, ruled over Knossos. He had the bull-man Minotaur, a man-eating monster with a human body and a bull’s head, locked up in the legendary labyrinth of Knossos.

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands in the Mediterranean. The island is home to the cradle of Europe’s first high civilisation. The discovery of the Mycenaean and Minoan cultures changed the understanding of Greek antiquity. The Minoan culture in particular made an important contribution to the development of the Greek world and Greek mythology.

But Crete is a very popular holiday destination for a reason. Besides the historical sites, it also has a vibrant Cretan-Greek culture, hospitable and cheerful people and beautiful landscapes. I visited Crete in 2018 on a holiday trip. I guess my photos can’t quite deny that.