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Wineries and sites south of Knossos?

Ontario, Canada
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4,023 posts
30 reviews
35 helpful votes
Wineries and sites south of Knossos?
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Hello,

I'm planning a day trip that will start with an early morning visit of Knossos Palace, in early May (likely on a Wednesday).

We will have a car and would like to plan a route that will enable us to see the wine growing region south of Knossos as well. We'd also like stop at the Minoan villa site at Vathypetro as well.

Any suggestions for the route to go, wineries to visit and places to eat? Also the timing - as it seems that the Vathypetro site closes at 3pm.

We will have the whole afternoon, into the evening, looping back in the general direction of Hersonissos. We could also route back via Kastelli.

Many thanks again for all your suggestions and advice! :-)

Hersonissos, Greece
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354 posts
163 reviews
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1. Re: Wineries and sites south of Knossos?
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It takes a prospective visitor to tell someone that lives here about something....I know where Vathipetra is, and have driven through it, but didn't know there was anything there to see!!! Whatever it is, it is not marked on any of my maps.....

Most of the smaller archaeological sites close at 3pm. Knossos is about the only one that stays open late. I think that Knossos is enough archaeology for one day.

There are lots of wineries on Crete, in fact I really do not know why someone has not had the idea of starting wine tours. One of the best known is Boutari at Skalani (Boutari actually have wineries all over Greece), They do have a restaurant there too, but be warned that the last time I went there it was not cheap!

There are others centred around Arkaloxori too... Do a Google for 'arkalochori wines'. You will find places to eat there too. Just look for the 'brown signs' as you are driving to find the wineries.

My favourite winery is down near Moires near the south coast which is a bit out of the way for you on a one day trip. A friend of mine has grapes down that way too.There is a special grape grown here too which is accustomed to growing at high altitudes, it makes an excellent red.

On your return trip to Heraklion, pass through Thrapsano, a village renowned since Roman times for its pottery, and then via Kastelli, which is a busy hill 'town' with a military airport, to the coast. If you look closely you can see the remains of the Roman aqueducts that were used to bring water down to the coast.

Do bring a good map with you, the one you get with a rental car is almost useless, it makes everywhere look like it is 10 minutes drive when it is more likely to be 30 minutes, and be aware that some of the roads on your map might not have been built yet. Beware of goats too.

uk
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177 posts
7 reviews
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2. Re: Wineries and sites south of Knossos?
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Check out the wine and food festival at Dafnes around the first two weeks in July. Its south Heraklion

3. Re: Wineries and sites south of Knossos?

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