Cities

The Historical Museum of Crete was founded in 1953 by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies. It is housed in a beautiful neoclassical building that was the home of Minos Kalokerinos and a courtesy of the Kalokerinos family Institute.

The Zakros’ Natural History Museum is located at the Polykentro building, lying along the main road that crosses Epanos Zakros village. The Museum is dedicated to the natural environment of the Park. The flora, fauna, and geology of the area is presented through small dioramas (reconstructions of ecosystems), staffed animals, posters and displays of rocks and fossils.

The Museum of Visual Arts in Heraklion is a private art museum. It was founded in May 2000 by Kostas Schizakis. Its activities include organizing educational seminars and lectures on artistic creation.

The very quiet area of Makrigialos with the plain and the sheltered beach could not be ignored by the Minoans, who left important traces of habitation. The main finding is a rural mansion, a miniature Minoan palace in position Plakakia, found in 1971 by Kostas Davaras.

The Late Minoan settlement of Kastro is located on a steep hill, 3km south of Kavoussi, which is accessed via an ancient trail. The view of the bay of Mirabello, the wild gorge of Mesonas, Malavra mounts and the island of Psira are unique.

The very quiet beach of East Tsigounas, mostly known as Petrakis, is located 1km east of Lendas and 76km south of Heraklion. it is located on the foots of the steep and inhospitable slopes of Asterousia Mountains.

Saint Minas is the patron saint and protector of the Grand Castle (Heraklion) and its past combines legend with tradition and the town's history. It was built in 1862, next to the smaller temple of Saint Minas.

This part of the E4 path offers nice seascapes and is not too hard. From the organized beach of Kato Zakros, the course runs northwards, alongside the rocky coast. It comes by the Cave of Pelekita and the ancient quarry of Pelekita, from where Zakros Palace material was extracted, and finally reaches the beautiful beach of Karoumes, at the exit of Chohlakies gorge.