Paliani Nunnery, Phaistos Palace & Gortyna

Visit  the Paliani Nunnery, one of  the oldest in the world and  cut a branch from the holy myrtle tree, to put it under your pillow, as thousands of  pilgrims do , for dozens of centuries in order to receive the blessing of Mary the Virgin. Drink a cup of greek coffee with the nuns and discuss with them enjoying the embroidery they make.

Later on, cruising over the mountains of Ida get to the Messara plain, the largest and most fertile land on the island. We ‘ll drive by the olive trees, through ancient villages  where Apostle Paul preached the word of Jesus heading to Gortyna, the most glorious city of Crete in the Roman times.  There excavations brought back  to light monuments of different periods, such as the basilica of Titus (6^th c. BC), the roman Odeum(1^st c.AD) as well as the oldest Law codex in Europe(6^th c.BC). Scroll around the remains of that beautiful ancient city center and take a rest under the shade of the sacred evergreen plane tree, just like Zeus and Europa did, thousands of years ago.

Getting right after in the center of the Messara plain on top of the hill of the Minoan Phaistos Palace, with the amazing views of Ida, Asterousia and Dikti mountain ranges. Visit the palace with the oldest theatre of the whole world, walk around the thousands of years old paved floors and feel the energy of one of the oldest advanced civilizations on earth.  On the way back to the hotel a surprise awaits you. Lunch in one of the hidden gems of the island, where only the locals know…Buon Appetite…