Crete holds the distinction of being the birthplace of Europe’s first advanced civilisation, the Minoan culture, which flourished from 2800 to 1450 BC., and it is the buildings excavated at the Palace of Knossos that are the main source of information about Minoan architecture and culture. Much of the palace was reconceived and reconstructed by Arthur Evans, who worked here between 1900 and 1932. His reconstruction though is a bit controversial, as archaeologists (including our guide) felt that he took a bit too much creative license in its restoration.