As you enter Kokkini Hani from the direction of Heraklion, on your right is the archaeological site of Niros. On this spot, in 1918, S. Xanthoudides excavated a most important and very well-preserved Minoan villa, dating from about the time of the second palaces of Knossos and Phaistos.

Niros villa appears to have been the home of the overlord of the region, and was named the "House of the High Priest."

Among the findings on the site were many ritual objects that are now stored in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

One kilometre west of the villa, at a spot called Aghioi Theodoroi, the remains of a Minoan dockyard and a port were found. Further on the way towards Herklion is Amnisos, which  was the port of Knossos. Minos was said to have his shipyard there, on the Karteros river.

It was at Amnisos, according to the myths, that Theseus disembarked when he came to Crete to slay the Minotaur, and it was from here that Idomeneus, grandson of Minos, set out with 80 ships to help Agamemnon in the campaign against Troy. Odysseus, too, called here when wandering the Mediterranean on his tortuous way home to Ithaca.

Less spectacular than Knossos, Phaistos or Mallia, Niros villa is still worth a visit as you wander around Kokkini Hani. It's a place to get out of the sun for a while - and pause to think of the civilisation that existed here almost 4,000 years ago.