Malia description and photos - Greece: Crete (Topic)

Malia description and photos - Greece: Crete. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Malia.

Photo and description

Malia, or Malia, is a modern resort town located 34 km east of Heraklion. In addition to its tourist popularity, this area has great historical significance, since in ancient times this territory belonged to the Minoan state.

Malia is one of the oldest inhabited places not only in Crete, but throughout Greece. In ancient times, there was a flourishing Minoan settlement on the site of modern Malia. The original name of this ancient city was never established. During archaeological excavations, which began in 1915 under the leadership of the Greek archaeologist Joseph Hadzidakis, an ancient palace complex was discovered.

Historians put the huge two-story complex of buildings on a par with such examples of Minoan civilization as the Palaces of Knossos and Phaistos, although the Malian palace was less luxurious in terms of decoration. The palace, which today only remains in ruins, was built around 1700 BC. on the foundation of an older structure (1900 BC). The new palace was destroyed by the powerful eruption of the Santorini volcano around the middle of the 16th century BC. This natural disaster, recognized by scientists as the most global in the history of the earth, marked the beginning of the death of the powerful Minoan civilization.

A unique example of Minoan jewelry art is considered to be the "Golden Bees" pendant found in Malia, which is currently kept in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

Today Malia is a very popular resort, especially among young people. There is a huge selection of comfortable hotels, most of which are located near the beach. Excellent restaurants, numerous bars and nightclubs, open until the morning, as if specially created for lovers of active and noisy rest. Malia's gorgeous sandy beaches are considered some of the best in the region.

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Topic: Malia description and photos - Greece: Crete.