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ABOUT HERAKLION
The Prefecture of Heraklion covers the Central part of Crete; its extent is 2.640 square klm, the coast line 250 klm approximately, and it counts circa 300.000 permanent residents. It is divided in 7 provinces: Viannou, Kainourghiou, Monofatsiou, Maleviziou, Temenous, Pyrghiotissis, and Pediados. Heraklion is the capital city of the prefecture.
 As it occurs with the rest of the prefectures in Crete, Heraklion has coasts both at the North, in the Aegean Sea and at the South, in the Libyan Sea. Most of the beaches at the North are sandy, some of them well protected from the "meltemia" (northern summer winds), due to the existing bays and small coves.
The southern coasts are open to the South, with only one considerable bay, that of Messara. Partly sandy and some of them pebbly, the beaches have crystal clear blue water and very interesting seabed, for the fans of snorkeling and underwater activities. Swimming starts earlier in the South, where the weather is a bit warmer .
The ruins of Knossos, home of the mythical Minotaur kept by King Minos, were uncovered in the early 1900s by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. Heinrich Schliemann, who had uncovered the ancient cities of Troy and Mycenae, had had his eye on the spot but was unable to strike a deal with the landowner.Evans spent 35 years and £250, 000 of his own money excavating and reconstructing parts of the palace. 
Some archaeologists have disparaged Evans’ controversial reconstruction, believing he sacrificed accuracy to his overly vivid imagination. However, most non experts agree that Sir Arthur did a good job and the reconstructions allow you to visualise what a Minoan palace looked like. You will need to spend some time at Knossos to explore it thoroughly. 
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