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Minoan villas are buildings of the Middle Minoan and Late Minoan period
which are smaller than the palaces but much larger and more complex than the ordinary
Minoan houses. The villas are usually two stories high and have the features of
palace architecture, that is columns, pillars, light-wells as well as
provision for private cult rooms.
Some of the villas were built in the centre of Minoan cities, such as those of
Tylissos. Others are contiguous to the palaces, as in the case of the royal villa of Knossos.
Some were built in remote ares such as the rural villa (farmstead) of Vathypetro and
the Sklavokampos Villa. Some rather extensive building installations, such as
Agia Triada, have features common to both palaces and villas, which makes their
classification problematic.
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