Knossos Palace - Minoan Wine Culture

Europe's oldest city (7000 BC) and center of Minoan civilization. The palace complex reveals wine storage facilities (pithoi), frescoes depicting wine culture, and evidence of the sophisticated trade networks that connected Crete to Phoenicia.

What to do there

5 things to do

1. 1 Stand Inside the World's First Wine Economy History · Free

   The West Magazines of Knossos are the oldest surviving evidence of industrial-scale wine production in European history — and the pithoi are still right where Evans found them.

   You are looking at 150 giant pithoi (storage jars) — the originals, 3,500 years old, still standing in the rooms that held them. The West Magazines (the long narrow storerooms along the western flank of the palace, immediately after you pass through the main entrance gate) had space for 400 of these jars total, with a combined capacity of 80,000 litres. That's not a winery. That's an export operation. The Minoans were the first people in Europe to domesticate grapevines for commercial production — and this is where they stored the results before shipping them to Egypt, Syria, and Cyprus. Walk slowly between the magazine rows and count the surviving jars. Look for the rope-relief patterns pressed into the clay — these were functional, mimicking the rope slings used to lift and transport the jars.

   Backup: If the West Magazines are crowded, come back early morning before 09:00. The tour groups arrive around 09:30 — the magazines are often the first area they pass through and the last area where they linger.

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2. 2 Sit Opposite the Oldest Throne in Europe History · Free

   Arthur Evans found it in April 1900, after just weeks of digging. He assumed it belonged to King Minos. Scholars now think it may have belonged to a goddess. Either way, it has not moved in 3,500 years.

   The gypsum throne is the oldest throne still in its original location anywhere in Europe. Gypsum benches line three other walls — these were for council members or ritual participants. On the wall facing the throne: the griffin fresco (partly Evans's reconstruction, partly original). In 2007, infrared imaging revealed that Evans had misinterpreted the griffins; they originally had feathers that his artist, Émile Gilliéron, never painted. The Throne Room Suite (located at the north end of the Central Court, north side slightly left of center) is 20% Minoan and 80% Evans's imagination — which is itself a fascinating historical fact. Stand in the antechamber first and look at the throne from the same sightline Evans had on April 13, 1900, when his workers broke through the rubble and he saw it for the first time.

   Backup: The Throne Room has a wooden barrier — you cannot enter, only stand at the threshold. The view is full and clear from the entrance. Visit as early as possible; afternoon light comes through the roof opening at a dramatic angle.

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3. 3 Descend the Staircase That Created the Labyrinth Myth Adventure · Free

   The Grand Staircase descends four full stories below ground level — an engineering feat so extraordinary that later Greeks, who could not explain it, invented the story of a monster living beneath.

   The staircase descends four flights into the hillside, with 54 steps total, opening onto two colonnaded landings. It was the main access route to the Royal Apartments below. The word 'labyrinth' almost certainly derives from 'labrys' — the double axe symbol that appears carved everywhere at Knossos — meaning 'Palace of the Double Axe.' The Greeks who came after the Minoans saw the multi-story ruins and could not understand how any human structure could be so complex, so they invented a Minotaur to explain it. The Grand Staircase (East Wing, on the east side of the Central Court) delivers actual sunlight into a room four stories underground using a calculated sequence of open colonnades. Stand at the top and count the stories visible below. Look for the double axe symbols carved into the column bases — these are original.

   Backup: The staircase is roped but viewable from multiple angles. If your access is restricted, the view from the east edge of the Central Court shows the full four-story depth.

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4. 4 Find the Stirrup Jar That Crossed the Mediterranean with Wine Wine · Price: moderate

   The Heraklion Archaeological Museum holds the actual vessels the Minoans used to ship wine to Egypt. The 'Wine Routes' exhibit tells the story no tour guide at Knossos can — because the objects that prove it are here, not there.

   The stirrup jar is a Late Minoan export vessel with two handles, a false spout on top, and the real spout on the side, sealed with clay. The false spout counteracted internal pressure during sea voyages — a 3,500-year-old pressure-equalization system. These jars have been found in Egypt, Syria, and Cyprus. The Egyptians imported them specifically for their wine. The Bull's Head Rhyton is a masterpiece of stone carving, used to pour wine libations to the gods — wine flowed from the nostrils of the bull. Find both in the 'Wine Routes' thematic display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum (Xanthoudidou & Hatzidaki str. 1, €20 entry or included in the €20 combo if bought at Knossos). Ask at the entrance desk for the 'Wine Routes' thematic guide (free pamphlet, sometimes available in English).

   Backup: The museum is large (24 halls). If you only have 45 minutes, go directly to Hall III (Neopalatial, 1700–1450 BCE) — this holds the wine vessels, bull rhyta, and the famous Snake Goddess figurines.

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5. 5 Toast the Grape That Almost Vanished — and the Minoans Who Grew It Wine · Price: low

   Vidiano is the white grape of ancient Crete — grown by Minoan winemakers, nearly wiped out in the 20th century, rescued from 3 surviving vines in a mountain village. One glass connects you to 4,000 years.

   Vidiano was grown in Crete since Minoan times, but by the late 20th century it had nearly disappeared — only a handful of ungrafted old vines survived in the village of Fourfouras in Rethymno prefecture. In the 1980s, a group of winemakers rescued those last vines, propagated them, and brought Vidiano back. The flavors — peach, apricot, melon honey, wildflowers — are aromas that have existed in Cretan wine since before Greece, Rome, or Phoenicia were named powers. Order a glass at Opus Wine Bar (Kapetan Charalampi 3, in a converted Venetian building with original stone arches). Tell the bartender you've just come from Knossos and want the wine the Minoans grew — they will likely enjoy the conversation. A glass runs approximately €7–10.

   Backup: If Opus is closed, the Think Tank espresso-wine bar near Theotokopoulos Park also carries good Cretan whites. Any wine shop in Heraklion old town will have bottled Vidiano to take away.

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Insider tips

• Hire a guide to understand the wine-related artifacts and storage areas

• The giant pithoi (storage jars) held wine and olive oil

• Visit early morning to beat tour groups