Minoan Palace of Knossos, Greece

On the Greek island of Crete, 5 kilometers from Heraklion, stands Knossos, one of the earliest towns in Europe. The earliest residents there resided there as early as the Neolithic era, and it served as the hub of Minoan civilization. It could hold about 100,000 guests at its most crowded. Abandoned somewhere between 1,380 to 1,100 BC. The Minotaur is a key element in one of the most well-known local tales. He was portrayed as a creature that lived in a labyrinth and was half bull and half man. A young Greek prince had to battle the Minotaur when he arrived in Crete. Before the prince entered the labyrinth, the daughter of the local monarch Minos fell in love with him and gave him a ball of yarn.

So that after killing the Minotaur, the prince might exit the maze. The image of a bull in Knossos and the maze of stone walls there bear striking resemblance to this myth. The Palace of Knossos is open to tourists right now. In 1878, the first excavation of the site was begun, and since then, restoration efforts have proceeded. Visitors may take in the spectacular multi-story structure remains that show the once-grand palace. There are huge columns, stairways, and a confusing network of walls. At the information center, visitors can choose between a self-guided tour and a group tour with a guide. Several further adjacent ancient sites can be visited as part of a day-long road trip in Crete.