The rows of storerooms down both sides of the corridor contained supplies of cereals, oil and wine in enormous terracotta jars (pithoi): in the last storeroom on the right there was a device for collecting the oil that flowed from the receptacles.

The old town was built from the 13C onwards by the Venetians, who enclosed it within a wall that was rebuilt in the 16C to the plans of the great engineer Sanmicheli; a few fragments of the wall are still standing. Don't miss the Kastéli district, which was the site of ancient Kydonia, a rival of Knossós, and the Merchants' District which houses the Naval Museum (historic documents and model ships) and contains old Venetian houses (some doorways have sculpted coats of arms and mottoes).

The little abandoned village of Arádena, 4km from Anópoli and 16km from Sfakiá, marks the beginning of Arádena Gorge. There is a stunning view just before the metal bridge spanning it. The magnificent descent of this striking gorge is for experienced walkers and includes negotiating an amazing sheer drop from a rock cliff (there are steps and ropes to help).

An impressive flight of steps leads up to the Propylaia, a monumental entrance consisting of a pillared hall. To the left is a huge peristyle surrounded by the royal apartments, to the east of which lies a range of domestic buildings where the famous clay ''Phaistos Disk'' was discovered; the meaning of the hieroglyphs inscribed on it remains a mystery.