Phaistos, a significant Minoan city in Crete, second in importance to Knossos, located in the Messara Plain. It dates back to 4000 BCE with a palace built in 1900-1700 BCE. The city was destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BCE and rebuilt with a larger palace. Phaistos had connections with Knossos, Hagia Triada, and Gortyn. Important findings include the Phaistos Disk, Kamares Ware, and architectural remains. After a decline, Phaistos was reoccupied in the Hellenistic period (c. 323-67 BCE) until conquered by Gortyn.

The Palace of Knossos, located on the Kephala hill south of Heraklion, Crete, is an important site of the ancient Minoan civilization. Occupied since around 7000 BCE during the Aceramic Neolithic period. The First Palace, built during the Middle Minoan IB-IIA period, represents a significant shift in Minoan society from a clan-based structure to a hierarchical one. This monumental building, covering nearly 10,000 square meters on the ground floor alone, served as a hub for administrative, storage, and cult activities. The First Palace also introduced innovative features like storage magazines, showcasing the society's wealth and resources. The New Palace emerged after a massive earthquake that occurred at the end of the Middle Minoan IIIA period, the palace underwent major reconstruction in the Middle Minoan IIIB period. Around 1450 BCE, widespread destruction occurred across Crete, affecting palaces and settlements. While Knossos suffered damage, it wasn't destroyed like other palaces. This period saw the introduction of Linear B, an early form of Greek script used by the Mycenaeans, suggesting their presence at Knossos. The final destruction of the palace, possibly in Late Minoan IIIA2 (1325-1300 BCE), left it deserted, but the town continued to exist. Knossos continued to be inhabited during the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Two basilicas from the First Byzantine period indicate that the city was still active during this time. Knossos appears to have followed the fate of other urban centers in Crete and declined early.