The journey through Cretan history continues today with the Archaeological Site of Malia. It is the 3rd largest Minoan site on the island, after Knossos (d’oh!) and Phaistos. According to the legend, Sarpedon, the 3rd son of Zeus and Europe and brother of King Minos of Knossos, ruled here. 

As its big brothers, the palace had a central court, loggia, theater, royal quarters, magazines, workshops and sanctuaries. Recently, a crypt was excavated and it is now protected by a modern roof. The most important findings (including the bee shaped pendant) are on display at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

The site is located 3km east of Malia but is somehow overlooked. Few tourists wonder here, as the site is not as famous as Knossos, and this saddened and made me happy at the same time. Sad because the site is only mentioned by tour guides when passing by Malia and this is a pity. The site is beautiful, is more than 5000 years old and the Minoans had a great role in the European culture. But also happy, because there are no crowds, few tourist buses and you can enjoy the site at your own pace.

How to get there:

1. By car: after exiting or before entering the village of Malia, look for the road sign pointing to the site. As you travel on the national road, it will be on the left side if you drive to Agios Nikolaos and on the right side if you drive to Heraklion. The road is in good condition and free parking in available near the site.

2. By bus/public transportation: from Heraklion Central Bus Station or from any village east of Heraklion (Kokkini Chani, Gouves, Gournes, Anissaras, Hersonissos, Stalida) you can take any bus that goes to Malia, Agios Nikolaos or Ierapetra. During summer, they arrive approx. every 30 minutes. I strongly recommend to take the bus that goes to Malia, as its end of line is exactly the Archaeological Site. Otherwise, you will have to walk for 10 minutes or so from the bus station on the national road (see picture below). There is little to no shade and in the summer it’s quite difficult. Don’t forget to mention that your destination is the Archaeological Site!!! It is very important to appear on your ticket Αρχ. Μαλιων or ΑΡΧ. ΜΑΛΙΩΝ, as the palace is outside the city. If you buy a ticket for Malia, the bus assistant will have you leave the bus either in City center or at bus stop nr 34 and it’s a long walk from there, on the side of the national road.

3. By taxi or private transfer: you can take a taxi or book a private transfer, but that would be doable (from a financial perspective) only from Malia. Taxis are pretty expensive when it comes to out-of-city destinations and they usually have a fixed price. 

4. By organized day trip: unfortunately, few tour operators provide this option. As mentioned above, this site tends to be overlooked by the beach parties and night life from Malia.

Good to know before you go:

· The ticket fee is 4E/adult and the tour takes approximately 60-90 minutes, depending on your pace and the time you take to read the descriptions of each section.

· Wear comfortable shoes, as you walk through an archaeological site, with un-paved roads. High heels are not allowed

· Bring a hat, sunscreen and water. The site is in the open field and during the summer the sun and the heat can become unbearable, especially at midday.

· In the areas protected by a modern roof, it can be extremely hot and the humidity makes it feel like you are in a sauna. 

· Be considerate. Do not smoke outside the designated areas, as it is surrounded by vegetation and it can easily catch fire, especially in late summer, when the sun scorches the landscape. Do not throw any waste on the site.

· You will see a lot of stray cats. They are taken care of and fed by the museum personnel, a small donation in the box next to the ticket office is more than welcome. Try not to feed the cats with your own food and try not to pet them if they are reluctant. 

· Do not climb the walls, even though they are not separated by a cord from the main visitor’s path.

It is near Potamos Beach (10mins walk), so you can enjoy a nice time there after your visit.

Next on my to-visit list will be Phaistos (it was planned for the recent holiday, but the weather was not my friend in the day I wanted to go there), Eleftherna (it was closed when it was on our way to Rethymno), Zakros and Xerocampos (as they are in the far-east side of Crete, I will need to book a night stay in the nearby region 😊 )