The cradle of the Minoan civilisation, A vibrant city, 5,000 years in the making. Heraklion lives up to its status as the capital of Crete, offering a wealth of holiday fun, archaeological treasures, wonderful Cretan food and a wide selection of beaches. Explore monuments dating back to the Middle Ages; Venetian and Ottoman fountains, historic churches and treasures of the Minoan civilization await you!
Heraklion is the largest city of Crete and one of Greece’s major urban centres. The city flourished under a multicultural influence throughout the centuries; that’s why there is a plethora of Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman structures to look out for! The city’s landmark is the 16th c. Koules fortress in the westernmost side of the old Venetian port, which along with the fortification walls (dating back to the same period) are among the most significant and imposing sights. Start your visit at the old Venetian port where you can see the vaulted tarsanades (shipyard) where ships used to be built during the Middle ages.
On its west you can’t miss the 16th c. Koule Fortress whose first walls were built by the Arabs and were later reinforced by the Venetians in the 15th century. The Martinengo bastion, the only one out of seven that is preserved today, is where the renowned writer N. Kazantzakis’ tomb is located and overlooks the city. Τhe are only 2 out of 4 entrances to the city that still stand and you can see, Chanioporta (1570) Gate with its marble relief winged Lion of Saint Marc and the New Gate (1587) on the south side of the fortress.
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the most significant museums in Greece, must be added to your to see list; it showcases unique treasures of the Minoan civilization unearthed from Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and other sites. Other museums that are noteworthy are the Historical Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the Cretaquarium (aquarium in the area of Gournes). At a short distance from the city of Heraklion, in the area of Hersonissos, you can enjoy a golf game on a court ideal for either beginners or advanced players.
Last but not least, the food market of Heraklion, is where you will find all sorts of products as well as traditional Cretan ones such the famous Cretan olive oil, raki, local wine, honey, herbs, etc. which you can just as well take back home with you as a souvenir!
The dining and entertainment options in Heraklion are limitless. You can enjoy dishes from Crete’s celebrated cuisine in the many cafes, tavernas and restaurants, accompanied by traditional music, local wine and tsikoudia (the local firewater). Then it’s time to move on to one of the trendy cafes and bars, where the fun begins all over again.
The pedestrianised Daedalus shopping street, full of designer stores, connects Lionadarakia and Eleftherias squares. Walking west from the Lions’ Head Fountain, you enter the wide pedestrian Handakos Street, also pedestrianised and overflowing with even more shops and cafes.
The most important centre of the Minoan civilisation is just 5km from the centre of Heraklion. This is where master craftsman Daedalus built the labyrinth for the mythical King Minos to isolate the Minotaur, a creature that was half-man, half-bull. Theseus, the son of the King of Athens, slew him and found his way out of the labyrinth with the help of Minos’ daughter, Ariadne. What we know for sure is that the palace was the headquarters of King Minos and flourished during the Minoan period (2000-1350 BC) as the most important socio-economic and religious centre of Crete. Its complex architecture gave birth to the myth of the labyrinth. Thanks to the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans’ excavation and careful restoration, it is now one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Greece, where you can experience exactly what life was like inside the palace.
Heraklion has excellent museums and one of the largest aquariums in Europe. And for history buffs, without doubt the most fascinating ancient treasure of the region (also known as Heraklion) lies just beyond the city limits. Knossos Palace wasn’t just the most important centre of Minoan civilisation but it was the home of the legendary Minotaur and its labyrinth. It has a population of around 180,000.
On its west you can’t miss the 16th c. Koule Fortress whose first walls were built by the Arabs and were later reinforced by the Venetians in the 15th century. The Martinengo bastion, the only one out of seven that is preserved today, is where the renowned writer N. Kazantzakis’ tomb is located and overlooks the city. Τhe are only 2 out of 4 entrances to the city that still stand and you can see, Chanioporta (1570) Gate with its marble relief winged Lion of Saint Marc and the New Gate (1587) on the south side of the fortress.
In the heart of the city there are many monuments dating back to the Middle Ages, a period in which Heraklion witnessed great prosperity. From the port, ascending 25 Avgoustou (August) street, you will reach the public square, where the church of Agios Titos is found built in 1872 on the site where a Byzantine church once stood. Next to it lies the 16th c. Venetian Loggia, a Venetian building with ornate arcades and walls, sculptures etc. that served as a meeting place for the Duke and other noblemen during the Venetian period.
Don’t miss Heraklion’s Venetian and Turkish fountains, scattered around the city. The most famous one is the Venetian-style Μorozini fountain (aka the Lions fountain, 1628), a landmark for locals and visitors alike. Other noteworthy Venetian fountains are the Bembo fountain (1552-1554) on Kornaros Square, the Sagredo fountain (1602-1604) built in the northwestern corner of Loggia building, and Priuli fountain (1666) located near the port. The most interesting Turkish fountains are: Philanthropic fountain (1776), on Kornarou Square next to Bembo fountain, where in our days you can enjoy a refreshment as it runs as a coffeehouse; Idomeneas fountain (behind the Historical Museum of Crete), Genitsar Aga Fountain (on Ikarou street) and many more.
Among the churches of Heraklion the one that stands out is the imposing Metropolis of Agios Minas, on Agia Ekaterini Square, built between 1862-1895. Adjacent to it, stands the chapel of Mikros Agios Minas and on the northeast you can pay a visit to the 16th c. church of Agia Ekaterini, which runs as a museum housing exhibits from the Cretan Renaissance. The church of Agios Markos (13th century) towers over Venizelou Square. Other significant churches in the city are Panagia Akrotiriani, Panagia ton Stavroforon, the Monastery of Agios Petros and Pavlos etc.
How to Get There :
You can easily reach Heraklion by plane or boat. The airport just outside Heraklion town receives international and domestic flights (around 45mins from Athens and 1hr30mins from Thessaloniki). There are daily ferry connections from Piraeus and periodically from islands in the Cyclades and Dodecanese. The journey time from Piraeus is approximately 8.5-10hrs.
Famous For :
Heraklion is famous for its cultural sites and museums (Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion are landmarks) and its multicultural Old Town. There are sandy beaches on both the north and south coast (with luxurious options) and it is known for both authentic and high-end Cretan cuisine and some of the best wineries in Crete. Heraklion is a popular family summer holiday destination with plenty of fun activities for kids.
