Phaestos was the most important Minoan palace city after Knossos and its ruins are almost as impressive. Plus, they are much less crowded.
1 The site of the ruins of the Minoan palace of Phaestos, on a hillside overlooking a broad valley, is quite impressive in its own right.
2 Gorgeous bougainvillea at the entrance
3 General view over the ruins. The "current" palace was built around 1700 BCE after the earlier one was destroyed by an earthquake.
4 Original paving stones
5 The Grand Stairway is indeed monumental.
6 At 5 pm, the stones of the Grand Staircase almost glow.
7 The Propylaeum was a kind of porch.
8 Roofless remains of a room with basins.
9 Basement rooms held storage jars like these.
10 The vast central court.
11 Stumps of former pillars and, behind. light from the setting sun illuminates the theater area.
12 This was a great time of day for visiting Phaestos (Merci, Guide Michelin!) with the light slanting in and making contrasting bright and dark spots.
13 Remains of square pillars around the central court.
14 Golden pillars frame a corrider to the North Court.
15 A column of the Formal Doorway
16 A 3500-year old sewer.
17 Another basement storage jar (pithoi).
18 Nothing like evening light on stones, trees and mountains.
19 Shadow of the photographer on the 3500-year old stones.
20 Flagstones of the Central Court
21 A hallway leading into the light.
22 Path leading downhill beside one of the ring-shaped Kouloures, probably storage areas, belonging to the old palace.
23 Downhill are more ruins.
24 Swedish tourist in Phaestos
25 The Theater Area.
26 Paving stones of the theater area.
27 American tourist surveying the theater area.
28 Evening falls on the theater area, so we must leave.
