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Heraklion Prefecture

Ruins · Beaches · History Museums

Situated at the center of Crete, Heraklion prefecture remains best known for its eponymous capital city, the birthplace of artists El Greco and Nikos Kazantzakis. A crowded tourist mecca, the vibrant city serves as the starting point for day trips to the prefecture's main attraction, an ancient complex of Minoan palaces. This important archaeological site contains traces of Europe's oldest city, from which the mythical King Minos allegedly ruled the region. Venture farther away from the prefecture's big city and popular northern resorts to discover a less-trodden landscape of tiny villages, fertile green plains, and low mountain ranges. Add Heraklion Prefecture and other Greece destinations to your travel plans using our Greece travel planner.

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