KNOSSOS (is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and is considered Europe's oldest city) Knossos (also Cnossos, both pronounced /(kə)ˈnɒsɒs, -səs/; Greek: Κνωσός, Knōsós [knoˈsos]) is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe's oldest city. Settled as early as the Neolithic period, the name Knossos survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete. The palace of Knossos eventually became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace was abandoned at some unknown time at the end of the Late Bronze Age, c. 1380–1100 BC. The reason why is unknown, but one of the many disasters that befell the palace is generally put forward. In the first palace period around 2000 BC the urban area reached a size of up to 18,000 people.In its peak the palace and surrounding city boasted a population of 100,000 people shortly after 1700 BC.

• MALIA PALACE (The palace of Malia, dating from the Middle Bronze Age, was destroyed by an earthquake during the Late Bronze Age) • ST. NIKOLAS (Agios Nikolaos was settled in the late Bronze Age by Dorian occupants of Lato, at a time when the security of the Lato hillfort became a lesser concern and easy access to the harbor at Agios Nikolaos became more important) • KRITSA (is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Crete, Greece, built amphitheatrically on a rock hill, named Kastellos, surrounded by olive groves, at an altitude of 375 m.) • ELOUNDA (is a small fishing town on the northern coast of the island of Crete)