HERAKLION

   Archanes lies just a few kilometres south of Knossos, on the slopes of a low hill. It stands on a site, which faces the sacred mountain of Jouchtas. According to the myths, Zeus was buried in one of the caves.

   The surrounding countryside contains numerous vineyards and there are streams everywhere. This area produces the best Cretan table grapes and the famous Archanes wine is made here.

   The town itself is worth a visit and has been lovingly restored. It is a pleasant place in which to spend some time looking around the town before relaxing in one of its cafes or taverns around the main square.

   But the area around Archanes is not only well known for its wine production. In the surrounding hillsides there are excavation sites, which also bear witness to the Minoan civilisation:

- In Archanes itself excavations of a Minoan palace (Tourkogitonia) have been continuing for the last few years.

- At Fourni, north of Archanes, archaeologists discovered in the 1960's the largest necropolis on Crete.

- At Anemospilia on the northern slopes of Mount Jouchtas, the only known Minoan temple was found. From the discoveries made here it would appear that a huge earthquake interrupted the procedure of a human sacrifice, the only one during the Minoan civilisation that has so far been documented.

- Another important excavation site in this area is Vathipetro, a Minoan mansion dating from 1580 BC. A wine press and storage vessels, which were found here, underline the long history of the vineyards.

- Also worth a visit is the small archaeological museum in the centre of Archanes, where one gets a good impression of life in the Archanes of Minoan times.