Heraklion City

Heraklion (Iraklio): Little is known of the city’s origins, but it was a major port to the under the jurisdiction of Knossos . In 824 AD, the Saracens took control of the city, at that time the city’s main source of revenue where slaves.

The slaves came from ships taken by the pirates who roamed the eastern Mediterranean looking for easy prey. The Byzantines were the next to take control over the city, after a long and bloody battle with the Saracens.

The commander of the Byzantine troops reduced the size of the Saracen prisoners, by cutting of their heads before throwing them over the castle walls. In the 13 th century the island was sold to the Venetians, and renamed the city Candia , they started on a course of modernisation, public offices and churches where built along with the reinforcement of the castle.

The cultural presence in the city grew, with artists such as El Greco, whose works today are on display in museums around the world. The Turks conquered Crete 1645; the city of Iraklio heroically resisted continual attacks for 21 years. Life on Crete took a turn for the worse, the cultural progress decreased and many Cretans slaughtered.

In the autumn of 1898, British forces took control of Crete after Turks had killed the British consulate, 17 British soldiers and hundreds of Cretans. During the Second World War, the city suffered massive damage, with the loss of many fine Ventian and Turkish buildings. Modern day Heraklion, with its old town enclosed by a maze of modern buildings is a busy and lively town, though many visitors pass through on their way to the resorts.

The museums in the town have on show some of the best artefacts from archaeological excavations on the island. The town with its many cafes and a good nightlife will satisfy the most urban of tourist. Iraklio is the islands main point of entry to the island and in the busy summer can be very busy. In new harbour, it is a hive of activity with ferries arriving and departing to the mainland and other islands.

Places of Interest in the City:

The Venetian Harbour : the local fishermen and tourist yachts mainly use the old harbour. Ferries and larger boats, dock at the new harbour to the east. The old harbour is protected by the Ventian fort ”Rocca Del Mare” also known as “Kastal Koúles” built 1523-1540.

City Walls: built between 1462 and 1562 these ancient city walls have withstood sieges and protected the inhabitants of the city. One can take a walk on the walls and look over the ever-expanding city.

Agios Titos Church : The church rebuilt many times, due to fires and earthquakes. The church named after Titus, a companion to St. Paul , who came to Crete to convert the islanders to Christianity. The Venetians took the holy relics including the skull of Titus to Venice after the Turkish Forces invaded Crete . The converted the church into a mosque and in 1922, reconverted back to a church of the Greek Orthodox Faith. In 1966, the holy relics returned to the church. Today you can see them on display in the side chapel.

Basilica of San Marco: built in 1239, is the oldest Ventian church on Crete . Now converted into an exhibition centre, where concerts are given.

Plateia Eleftherias: named after the Cretan born Prime Minister Eleftherias Venizélos (1864-1936), once a popular meeting place with several cafes, were one could relax with friends, now taken over by traffic. A statue of the Unknown Soldier stands in the middle, and a statue of Venizélos stands on the eastern side.

Plateia Venizélos: is the centre of the city, where the famous Morosini Fountain (Lion Fountain) stands. The fountain with its four lion heads spurting water into richly adorned basins. The square with its cafes and tavernas is a meeting place for both tourists and locals.

Bembo Fountain: at the end of the Odós 1866 street, named after the massacre in that year at the monastery at Arkadia, stands the Bembo Fountain. This quaint fountain built in the 16 th century, constructed from a variety of materials including a headless statue and an ancient marble basin.

Agios Minos Cathedral: isone of the largest Neo-Byzantine churches in Greece . Nearby is the Church of Agia Ekaterini, here a remarkable display of icons are on display.

Historical Museum of Crete: on display are items from recent Cretan history, varying from pottery, jewellery to literature, it also has on display the only El Greco painting in Crete . On the second floor is a reconstructed library, where letters, books and other items belonging to the Iraklio born author Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957), author of many works of literature, the most well known is “The ‘Life and Manners of Alexis Zorba”. This book was adapted into the film “Zorba the Greek” starring Anthony Quinn. In addition, a good collection of photographs, textiles, and musical instruments are on display.

Archaeological Museum of Crete : with its collection of Minoan artefacts, this museum is necessary for all those fascinated by this bygone civilisation. The exhibits will fascinate visitors with only a slight knowledge of the period.

The Museum displays the artefacts in 16 rooms, and the artefacts, dating from circa 5000 BC to circa 650 BC are chronologically arranged lead the visitor through the Minoan period. You will see pottery from the Early Minoan period, artefacts from The Palaces of Knossos and Malia dating from the middle Minoan period are on display.

Admire the small coloured reliefs depicting Minoan Houses, “town mosaic” these helped the Archaeologist Arthur Evans in his reconstruction of Knossos . Artefacts discovered at the archaeological site of Phaestos.

The artefacts include the Kamares Vases, named after the cave in which they were found, and the renowned Phaestos Disk. The Phaestos Disk, made out of terracotta is 3600 years old; this 16 cm disk has undecipherable writing upon which has confounded experts and probably will continue to do so.

Other displays show a drinking vessel in the shape of a bulls head with horns of gold, snake goddess figurines from Knossos , snakes symbolised everlasting life and a playing board made with silver, gold and semi-precious stones.

Bronze figures and tablets written in Linear A and B script, Linear B has been deciphered and the tablets from Knossos are accounts and transactions for the Palace. A stunning gold pendant unearthed at Malia, depicts bees and a honeycomb.

Another equally stunning item is a crystal vase found at Zakros. This vase was broken into about 300 pieces when found, and has been reconstructed by the curators of the museum. All the artefacts on display give an insight into the life of this once great civilisation, the Minoans.