Tympaki is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete

Crete

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...

, Greece

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Faistos

Faistos

Faistos is a municipality in Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Moires. It is named after the ancient city Phaistos, located in the municipality.-Municipality:...

, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located on the south coast, between Agia Galini and Matala

Matala

Matala is a village located 75 km south-west of Heraklion, Crete. Matala is part of the municipality of Tympaki, and Heraklion Prefecture.- History :...

. Population 10,000 (2001). In 2005, a major container harbor and free trade zone

Free trade zone

A free trade zone or export processing zone , also called foreign-trade zone, formerly free port is an area within which goods may be landed, handled, manufactured or reconfigured, and reexported without the intervention of the customs authorities...

 had been rumored to be built in the area. As of January 2009, it appears the project has been canceled, in part due to the strong opposition from the local population.

The Museum of Cretan Ethnology

Museum of Cretan Ethnology

The Museum of Cretan Ethnology is a museum in Vori, in the municipality of Tympaki, Heraklion Prefecture, southern Crete, Greece. Established as an institution in 1973, the museum was built under the French architect Georges Henri Rivière, the creator of the Musée National des Arts et Traditions...

, established in 1973 is located in the village of Vori. It conducts important ethnological research into Crete. The ancient city Phaistos

Phaistos

Phaistos , also transliterated as Phaestos, Festos and Phaestus is an ancient city on the island of Crete. Phaistos was located in the south-central portion of the island, about 5.6 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. It was inhabited from about 4000 BC. A palace, dating from the Middle Bronze...

is located south of Vori.