Malia Ruins

If you're interested in history, make sure you go and see the town's old palace with a visit to the 4,000-year-old Malia Ruins. Just a few kilometres east of modern day Malia, the site's well worth a visit to discover more about the area in times gone by.

To get there, take a short bus ride from Malia. Arriving at the ruins, you'll be given a free map before walking through the excavated rooms, where you'll see the Central, North and Tower Courts.

After being built in 1900 BC, the palace was destroyed by an earthquake 200 years later. Today you'll see the ruins of the rebuilt palace, where archaeologists found all kinds of treasures and Minoan artefacts. As you explore the ruins, you'll get plenty of information about the site from the helpful storyboards. Look out for the circular grain silos, the mysterious Kernos Stone, and the sunken altar.

You'll also see the remains of pillars, the grand staircase and the palace courtyards. To make the most of your visit, take a guided tour at the entrance.

After walking through the site, spend some time in the exhibition hall where you can see scale models of the palace as it would have appeared centuries ago.

Then head back to Malia on the bus, where you can explore the Old Town, discovering old churches and quaint squares while finding out more about the history of the area. There are also a number of traditional tavernas where you can round off your trip with a refreshing drink.

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Find more Things To Do in Malia: Happy Train | Land Rover Safaris | Malia Old Town | Minoan Palace Knossos | Nightlife In Malia | Shop And Swim In Malia