Monastiraki Minoan Palace

Northeast of the village Monastiraki , at position Kokkinos Harakas , some very important palatial Minoan buildings were brought to light from excavations that started in 1980. The palace covers an estimated area of about 30 hectares, but only its core has been revealed up to now.

The excavations revealed warehouses, workshops, houses, sanctuaries and some official apartments. The findings include many stamps (for controlling product trade), stone vessels, vases with Kamares style, many jars for storing oil, wine, cereals and pulses, etc.

The palace was destroyed in 1700BC like all major palaces of that era. It is considered that it controlled the trade in central Crete and was a dependency of the Palace of Phaestus .