Tylissos is a large traditional settlement on the eastern foothills of Mount Psiloritis, in a valley of olive groves and vineyards. The place name also points to a long history: it has been in use for at least 3,400 years and is considered the only place name read on the Linear B tablets of Knossos that is still used today. The landscape and history of the settlement offer different points of interest for a stay.
Archaeology: Several Time Periods
Tylissos was first settled before 2000 BC. The settlement flourished both during the Neopalatial period from 1650 to 1450 BC and during the subsequent Late Palatial period from 1450 to 1200 BC. These dates mark two successive phases, rather than a single, uninterrupted period of prosperity.
The archaeological site of Tylisos is located near Tylissos. Three excavated mansions attest to close links with Knossos. Finds, including three large bronze cauldrons, point to an important bronze-working centre; the cauldrons are considered unique in the prehistoric Aegean. Alongside the buildings, evidence of metalworking is therefore central to the archaeological interpretation of the site.
The site's chamber tombs date mainly from its final period of prosperity, from 1400 to 1200 BC. They contained painted clay sarcophagi, pottery vessels and other grave goods, including jewellery and seals. While the mansions and bronze cauldrons reveal links with Knossos and bronze working, the tombs bring burials and grave goods into focus as another aspect of the site's history.
Historical Traces in the Village
The village itself also bears witness to different periods. At its centre are two mansions from the early 20th century, which have been listed as protected monuments by the Ministry of Culture. Tylissos's square is also home to a restored Venetian fountain with two arches and two spouts. The periods identified distinguish the mansions from the fountain, without combining them into a single architectural history.
The Church of Christ, also known as the Transfiguration of the Saviour, is considered the oldest church in Tylissos. Its surviving frescoes date from the early 14th century. The Church of Saint Nicholas marks a different period: the saint is the village's patron, and the church building was constructed in the late 19th century. Its patron saint's feast day falls on 6 December.
A photographic perspective on a much more recent period is offered by the permanent exhibition of the K. Koutoulakis Photo Archive at the Malevizi municipal gallery in Tylissos. As a photographer, Koutoulakis accompanied the “Commission for the Investigation of Atrocities in Crete” and documented devastated Crete immediately after the end of the occupation. The local history thus spans archaeological evidence and photographs from the post-occupation period.
Feast Day and Local Food History
Roast cod with skordalia is served for the feast of Saint Nicholas on 6 December. Another culinary story recalls earlier trade routes and a nickname: residents gathered achinopodia, transported them to the city on mules and sold them. They used the proceeds to buy cod; for this reason, neighbouring villages called the residents “Bakaliaroi,” meaning “codfish.” The feast day and the earlier history of trade connect cod with local customs in different ways.
Discover more destinations: Mátala, Limenes, Mália, Kato Symi, Kastelli, Klima, Achlada, Ano Asites
For the broader travel overview: Heraklion.
