VIP Knossos Palace & Cretaquarium, Heraklion Crete, Greece

VIP Knossos Palace & Cretaquarium, Heraklion Crete

The famous Minoan Palace of Knossos is located about 5-6 km south of the city of Iraklion. Knossos was the most impressive and luxurious building that someone could see all over Europe during Bronze Age (2800-1100 BC). The excavations were conducted at first by Minos Kalokairinos and then by the Englishman Sir Arthur Evans. The Palace was built twice, every time even more beautiful. It covered an area of 22,000 sq.m. About 1400 rooms could be seen in the original palace and 300 people lived in them (the Royal family of Knossos and their servants). The king was called Minos, son of Zeus.
On the island of Crete there are 4 Minoan Palaces but the Palace of Knossos is the greatest of all. All palaces have common characteristics in their courtyards, temples and storerooms. In Knossos one can see 2 big paved courtyards, many storerooms, temples, private rooms and a theater. Some parts of the Palace were 4-5 floors high. Staircases with shallow alabaster steps led on the upper or underground floors.

The visitors can see openings (windows, doors, light-wells) all over the Palace. Minoans loved nature and lovely frescoes decorate the walls of the Palace. Their themes were taken from the everyday life or from nature itself. It is said that no visitor could enter the Palace without someone to guide him around. The reason is that no one could find his way around the famous "labyrinth".This name comes from the word "Lavrys" which means "double axe". Axes were used a lot in everyday life and many of them were found in the palace or even inscribed on the walls of Knossos. So, Labyrinth means the "House of the double axes", or the Palace itself.
It is really exciting a visit to the Minoan Palace of Knossos and admire the King's and the Queen's apartments with the lovely decoration of blue dolphins. You may also see the oldest throne in Europe: the alabaster-made throne of King Minos in the throne room.

Our next stop is in the biggest aquarium in Mediterranean Sea. Along the 600 m seascape of the Mediterranean, the Greek seas and tropical waters awaiting them, visitors come face to face with approximately 2.500 organisms belonging to 200 species. These are kept in 32 tanks, with a total capacity of 1.600.000 litres. The tanks alternate depending on the species, their habitats or habits. Habitats which host numerous species and large species that have need of room are kept in large tanks, while in the smaller ones, visitors will come across particular species and micro-ecosystems which, though impressive and significant, would be lost to sight in the larger tanks. At particular points along the route, visitors can rest and enjoy the spectacle of marine species moving behind the glass of the tanks, some of which cover up to 10 square metres. Visitors can learn about species behaviour and habitats interactively, using info-points with touch screens, and can tour the interior of the aquariums using the remote-control underwater cameras found in the larger tanks. A series of wall posters presents interesting and imaginative subjects relating to marine life and ecosystems.

TRIP DETAILS

Price Includes : Luxury Taxi Private transfer, all taxes and VAT.

Not Included : Personal travel-health insurance, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, personal expenses, Knossos Palace and aquarium entrance fees.

Insurance : Participants should be covered by their own personal travel-health insurance prior to the trip. The personal insurance must at least cover medical expenses as well as air rescue and the cost of repatriation.

Alpine Travel is not responsible for any accidents or mishaps directly or indirectly related to the tour.
(See Terms & Conditions)

Period : All through the year 2010.

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35,00 Euro per hour, for a group size of 1-4 persons

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