Quarter M

Iraklio Province

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Impressive Quarter M is a residential area a bit further west of the palace. Though fenced off, it's still possible to appreciate its size and complexity. These outer buildings date back to the First Palace period.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • June 10, 2017: Visitors at the ancient ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos. 1033165021 ancient, antique, archaeological, archeology, architecture, art, building, civilization, columns, crete, culture, destination, europe, famous, fresco, greece, greek, heraklion, historic, historical, knossos, labyrinth, landmark, mediterranean, minoan, minos, minotaur, monument, mythology, old, painting, palace, people, pillars, place, reconstruction, relief, ruins, sightseeign, site, sky, stone, structure, summer, tourism, travel, visit, wall

    Palace of Knossos

    18.56 MILES

    Crete’s most famous historical attraction is the Palace of Knossos, the grand capital of Minoan Crete, located 5km south of the city of Iraklio. The…

  • Tourists looking at the Phaistos Disc inside the archaeological museum of Heraklion in Crete that hold the most important and complete collection of the Minoan civilisation of Crete on the 28th of August 2022 in Crete, Greece. Many of the artefacts in the museum come from Knossos, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on the Greek island of Crete. (photo by Andrew Aitchison / In pictures via Getty Images) 1245671474 aitchison, greek, heraklion, neolithic, phaistos disc, archaeological, artefacts, ceremonial, civilization, culture, explore, holiday, remains, statues, tourists, viewing

    Heraklion Archaeological Museum

    20.22 MILES

    This state-of-the-art museum is one of the largest and most important in Greece. The two-storey revamped 1930s Bauhaus building makes a gleaming showcase…

  • Aerial drone view of an old Venetian fortress island and former Leper colony (Spinalonga, Crete, Greece); Shutterstock ID 1809885124; your: Barbara Di Castro; gl: 65050; netsuite: digital; full: poi 1809885124

    Spinalonga Island

    14.07 MILES

    Tiny Spinalonga Island became a leper colony in 1903 and catapulted into pop-cultural consciousness thanks to Victoria Hislop's 2005 bestselling novel The…

  • Koules fortress in the old Venetian harbor. Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Shutterstock ID 2256844939; your: Barbara Di Castro; gl: 65050; netsuite: Digital ; full: poi 2256844939

    Koules Fortress

    20.32 MILES

    After six years of restoration, Iraklio’s symbol, the 16th-century fortress called Rocca al Mare by the Venetians, reopened in August 2016 with a brand…

  • Aerial view of the ruins of the Minoan palace in Malia, Crete, Greece 1253264969 aerial, historical, malia crete, excavation, stone, building, tour, wall, landscape, archeology, greek, mediterranean, antiquity, sight, touristic, destination, famous, cretan, archaeological, site, hellenic, ruin, historic, heritage

    Palace of Malia

    0.09 MILES

    The Palace of Malia, 3km east of Malia, was built at about the same time as the great Minoan palaces of Phaestos and Knossos. The First Palace dates back…

  • Ruins of the ancient Greek city of Lato,2500 years old near Kritsa, Crete. Lato was one of Crete's most important Dorian city-states, considered the most well-preserved city of the classical Hellenistic period. Built between two hills, in a strategic location, offers defensive coverage to the entire city. 1676789477 civilisation, archeology, archeological, dorian, cretan, classic greece, lato, ancient town of lato

    Ancient Lato

    12.18 MILES

    The fortified hilltop city state of Lato is one of Crete’s best-preserved non-Minoan ancient sites and worth the trip for the rural serenity and stunning…

  • Historical Museum of Crete

    Historical Museum of Crete

    20.61 MILES

    If you’re wondering what Crete’s been up to for the past, say, 1700 years, a spin around this engagingly curated museum is in order. Exhibits hopscotch…

  • Church of Panagia Kera

    Church of Panagia Kera

    13.25 MILES

    This tiny triple-aisled church on the main road shelters Crete's best-preserved Byzantine frescoes. The oldest in the central nave (13th century) depict…

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Nearby Iraklio Province attractions

1. Crypt

0.08 MILES

The palace was surrounded by an entire city whose excavation is still ongoing. The canopied structure just west of the compound is described as the crypt.

2. Exhibition Hall

0.08 MILES

This small exhibition hall near the entrance to the ruins features photographs of the excavation work begun in 1915 by Iosef Chatzidakis and continued by…

3. Palace of Malia

0.09 MILES

The Palace of Malia, 3km east of Malia, was built at about the same time as the great Minoan palaces of Phaestos and Knossos. The First Palace dates back…

4. Lustral Basin

0.11 MILES

Called the lustral basin partly because of historical translations into English, this was where 'symbolic cleansing' took place as part of religious…

5. Royal Apartments

0.11 MILES

These apartments are referred to as the king's and queen's megarons, or royal halls.

6. West Magazines

0.11 MILES

The west magazines were the palace's storerooms for agricultural products. It was believed that if there was a bad harvest, these reserves were…

7. Grain Silos

0.12 MILES

These eight well-preserved circular pits are believed to have been grain silos.

8. Pillar Crypt

0.12 MILES

Located behind a stone-paved vestibule within the west wing of the palace, the pillar crypt is believed to have harboured the most important rooms.