The Village of Malia is located along the northern coast of the island of Crete, between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. Malia is divided in two by the main road: towards the hinterland, at the foot of Mount Selena, there is the old city (more relaxing area), while on the coastal side there are the new buildings that go as far as the coast (livelier area). )
Malia is the right destination for everyone, because it manages to please both couples and families looking for a center with shops, restaurants and cafes, and groups of kids looking for nightlife. The same thing can be defined for the beaches: we move from the most lively to the quieter ones.
Malia is the right base from which to visit the eastern part of the island of Crete, as it is well positioned and perfect for getting around by day without having to drive and in the evening everything you could want: from the restaurant to the shopping street, the street where to find fun. This is why Malia is ideal for everyone!
The beaches of Malia
The main beach of Malia is located in front of the main street and is always full of tourists.
Those who prefer less crowded places can opt for one of the splendid sandy beaches located to the east of the port of Malia, very close to the archaeological site (which also has the most beautiful beaches).
The easternmost beach is known as Potamos (meaning river), because it is divided by a small stream. Potamos is a long sandy beach, well organized, but usually less crowded than the main beach of Malia. In the western part of the beach, there are several hotels with small sandy coves in front.
What to see in Malia
Walking in the old part of Malia you will find the large church of Agios Nektarios and the church of Panagia Galatiani, the oldest in the village built in different eras and with a nave of 1400.
Not far from the center, just a few kilometers away, is the famous archaeological site of the Minoan Palace of Malia. The ruins of the Minoan city cover an area of about 1 square kilometer and are, in our opinion, an obligatory stop for those visiting the island of Crete.
Palace of Malia
The palace of Malia, located 3 km east of the city, dates back to 1900 BC although in fact it was destroyed by a couple of earthquakes that occurred in 1700 BC and in 1450 BC. and always rebuilt.
Most of the ruins visible today date back to this second period of construction and we are specifically talking about the Second Palace.
For those who have already visited the Palace of Knossos, it will be quite easy to find your way, given the strong similarity, but above all thanks to the numerous information material present and available to all visitors.
The building has a surface area of 7,500 m2 and has a gigantic central courtyard, measuring 48m x 23m. On the south side there are two steps leading upwards and a maze of small rooms. Here is a strange carved stone called kernos stone, a stone disk with 24 holes, whose function is still unknown (probably it had a value from a religious point of view).
On the north side of the courtyard there are storage rooms with huge terracotta vases, up to two meters high. These were used to contain wheat, olive oil and other liquids.
What sets it apart from all the other palaces are the 8 kouloures in the south-west corner, the oblique building in the north court and the altar in the central courtyard. From the central court, the rooms were arranged in a centrifugal manner. This gives rise to the typical protrusions and recesses of the facades of the Minoan palace. On the west façade it is the most important, the center consists of carefully cut sandstone cuboid blocks, which are built on a base along the entire width. (Masonry masonry). The edges formed by blocks of limestone represent more than anything else the typical characteristics of Minoan facades.
The palace of Malia was discovered in 1915 by Joseph Hadzidakis, a Greek archaeologist. The excavations were carried out by the French school of Athens in collaboration with Greek scholars since 1921. After the First World War, excavations in the palace continued and discovered the surrounding residential area. Only after the Second World War in the 1950s Micheline and Henri van Effenterre carried out the excavations of the Crypt and the Agora.