The Herakleion Archaeological Museum is one of the largest and most important museums in Greece, and among the most important museums in Europe. It houses representative artefacts from all the periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times.

The singularly important Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. The Herakleion Museum is rightly considered as the museum of Minoan culture par excellence worldwide.

The museum, located in the town centre, was built between 1937 and 1940 by architect Patroklos Karantinos on a site previously occupied by the Roman Catholic monastery of Saint-Francis which was destroyed by earthquake in 1856. The museum's antiseismic building is an important example of modernist architecture and was awarded a Bauhaus commendation. Karantinos applied the principles of modern architecture to the specific needs of a museum by providing good lighting from the skylights above and along the top of the walls, and facilitating the easy flow of large groups of people. He also anticipated future extensions to the museum.

The colours and construction materials, such as the veined polychrome marbles, recall certain Minoan wall-paintings which imitate marble revetment. The two-storeyed building has large exhibition spaces, laboratories, a drawing room, a library, offices and a special department, the so-called Scientific Collection, where numerous finds are stored and studied. The museum shop, run by the Archaeological Receipts Fund, sells museum copies, books, postcards and slides. There is also a cafe.

A sud di Creta, a poca distanza da Agia Galini, si trova la spiaggia di Agios Georgios. È luogo lontano dalla frenesia della vita cittadina, con acque cristalline e una spiaggia incontaminata. Il posto giusto per una vacanza all’insegna del relax.

Sulla strada per Agios Georgios, troverete molti sentieri che vi condurranno a piccole cappelle o a minuscole e tranquille spiagge di ciottoli.

Grazie alla sua collocazione geografica, la spiaggia di Agios Georgios è davvero splendida. È protetta da un’enorme roccia, ha magnifiche acque cristalline e piccoli ciottoli.

Agios Georgios rappresenta il punto di partenza ideale per escursioni alle spiagge e ai villaggi di Agia Galini e Agios Pavlos, che distano rispettivamente 8 e 10 km.

The monastery was founded in the 16th or 17th century and has a long history. It is located in a lush and verdant landscape.

Today the monastery is deserted, but there is a museum of ecclesiastical documents, vestments, etc.

After leaving the monastery, the visitor can reach on foot the beautiful beach of Preveli.

A historic monastery of Crete, known for its contribution to the struggle against slavery, with its peak the holocaust of November 8, 1866. The monastery has a museum that is small yet significant for the history of Crete.

The small port of Kokkinos Pyrgos separates its two beaches. On the west side there is a rocky and pebble beach that stretches to Agia Galini and on the east side a beach that reaches Kommos.

This beach (Red Sand) aka Kokkini Ammos is a secluded beach which can be reached only by foot – with the reddish sand that bestows on it its name, and turquoise waters.

It is open to the strong south winds, and not very organized – just a few umbrellas and sunbeds, as well as a small café-canteen, built roughly out of stone. It is sensible, if you visit, to take all you need with you as the canteen is not always open, and there are no tavernas or shops nearby.

Kokkini Ammos and surrounding area has been included in the EC ecological network of Natura 2000: a protected refuge of the Mediterranean Monk seal, the loggerhead turtles (Kareta kareta) and other animals.