The Archaeological Museum of
Heraklio is one of the most famous museum
in Greece. It was established in the 19th
century by the "Pro-Education Society of
Heraklio" and is housed in a building
constructed in 1937.
The museum's twenty rooms exhibit
significant archaeological finds from around
the island, Phaestos, Knossos, Agia Triada and
Archanes, all dated back to the Neo-Lithic-
Roman Period. Here, one can admire big jars,
domestic items, jewels, statues, works of gold
and silver, pots, etc., thus gathering a
multitude of information concerning the
island's history and civilization.
The archaeological site of Agia Triada
is located 63 km south-west of Heraklio. It
was named after the nearby 14th-century
church and a village which was situated there
until 1897, when it was destroyed by the
Turks. In the early 1920s, the Italian School
performed excavations in the area, which
brought to light a Minoan palace of great
archaeological importance. Historians claim
that it was built upon the ruins of a 1600 BC
settlement, ruined by a fire in 1450 - 1400
BC, only to be re-build anew. The structure
includes storage-rooms, the royal chambers,
the altar and many murals. As the ruins of a
slate-paved road, starting here and ending at
Phaestos, indicates, this palace probably
served as the royal summer residence.
Excavations in the surrounding area
have cast light upon arched tombs (3rd and
2nd millennium BC), the chapel of St. George,
with beautiful 14th-century frescoes, as well
as a wealth of items, like seals, pottery and
coins, which can be seen at the Archaeological
Museum of Heraklio.
The archaeological site of Gortys is
located 46 km south-west of Heraklio.
During the ancient years, here stood one of
the most prominent cities in Crete. The city, is
said to have first been inhabited during the
Minoan Era (16th century BC). After Gortys
occupied Phaestos, in the 3rd century BC, the
city acquired two harbours, Levina and
Matala and thrived. Excavations in the area
offer a wealth of information about the city's
history. The most exquisite of the finds is the
famous "Laws of Gortys" (6th-5th century BC)
which is also noted in Plato's "Law" and is an
important sources of historic facts.
During the Roman and Byzantine Era,
the city retained its status as, in contrast to its
rival, Knossos, sided with the invading
Romans. The city's population rose to 200,000
inhabitants and it was declared the capital of
the island. The city of Gortys thrived until
828 AD, when the Saracens destroyed it.
Among the finds of Gortys, one can
admire ruins of the Basilica of St Titus (6th
century AD) which was dedicated to Titus,
the island's first bishop. Other significant
finds are the acropolis, the concave theatre,
the ancient stadium (2nd century BC), the
temple of Pythios Apollo (7th century BC), the
temple of Isis and Serapes, the temple of
Asklipios, the Spa, the Odeum (1st century
BC), where the "Laws of Gortys" were built,
and Praetorium, the seat of the Roman
governor (2nd century BC).
Behind the Odeum stands the plane-
tree where, according to mythology, the sons
of Zeus and Europe were born: Radamanthys,
Sarpedon and Minos.
Most of the finds are exhibited at the
local archaeological museum.
The archaeological site of Knossos is
just 5 km away from Heraklio and is
considered as the most significant site of the
island. Excavations in the area began in 1878
by the local archaeologist, Minos Kalokerinos,
and continued by English, Sir Arthur Evans, in
1900.
According to historians, the area was
first inhabited in the Neolithic Period (6000
BC) and began a great civilisation. The city
stretched around the famous Minoan Palace,
first erected in the Neolithic Period,
underwent a series of renovations and took
its final form after a strong earthquake, in
1600 BC). Many buildings were later erected
around the palace and the population of
Knossos rose to approximately 100,000
inhabitants. The city’s harbours were
Amnissos and Heraklio. This was the leading
city of Crete, a fact which caused an on-going
rivalry between Knossos and its neighbours,
Gortys and Littos. The decline of the city
began after a strong earthquake in 1450 BC,
believed to have been caused by the volcanic
eruption in Thera, which caused severe
damage throughout the area.
The most imposing building at
Knossos is the palace of Minos, which covered
an area of 20,000 square meters, had 1,400
rooms and in some parts rose five-floors high.
In the interior, there are murals of unique
beauty and artistry, a tell tale of the city's
great prosperity.
Other buildings, brought to light by
excavations, are the ancient theatre, the South
House, the Royal Mansion, the Small Palace,
the Priest's Home, the Caravan Sarai or,
Guesthouse, the Royal Tomb-Altar and the
House of Dionysus.
Excavations in the surrounding area
revealed Minoan tombs and many
archaeological finds, such as worshipping
items and household items, many of which
are kept at the Archaeological Museum of
Heraklio.
The archaeological site of Malia is
located about 36 km east of Heraklio.
Excavations in the area began in 1915 by the
archaeologist J. Hatzidakis and continued in
1922 by the French School of Archaeology.
One of the findings was a 1900 BC palace
which was destroyed twice, in 1700 and
1450 BC, when a new palace was built,
covering an area of 12,000 square meters.
The palace of Malia was the third most
important palace in Crete, next to the palaces
of Knossos and Phaestos. The surrounding
city was a significant commercial and
financial centre, at that time. The palace
structure includes storage-rooms, the altar,
the yard, the ceremonial chamber, workshops
etc., while around it there are traces of an
ancient settlement and burial grounds of the
Late Palace Period.
Excavations in the area unearthed a
variety of household utensils and tools which
are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum
of Heraklio.
Phaestos, located 60 km south-west
of Heraklio, was one of the island's most
prominent cities and the dominant city in
Messara Valley. According to mythology, this
city's King was Radamanthys, the brother of
Minos and son of Zeus. The area had been
inhabited since the Neolithic Period (3000
BC) and in its prime had two harbours,
Matala and Knossos, with great commercial
and financial activity. The town thrived until
the 2nd century BC, when its rival, the city
Gortys, destroyed it.
Excavations in the area were
conducted in 1900 by the Italian School of
Archaeology and brought to light an imposing
palace which was ruined in 1700 BC. A new
palace was re-built on the same location,
covering an area of 18,000 square meters. In
1450 BC, probably due to the volcanic
eruption in Thera, the new palace was also
destroyed. Today, one can see the remains of
the storage-rooms, the altar, small reservoirs,
workshops and the royal quarters.
A number of archaeological finds was
unearthed during the excavations at Phaestos,
the most important of all being the disc of
Phaestos, exhibited today at the
Archaeological Museum of Heraklio.
The Bembo fountain, in the centre of
Heraklio, at Kornarou square, is the oldest
fountain in town. The fountain was built in
1588 by Venetian architect Zuanne Bembo,
whose name it took. It is decorated with
beautiful sculptures, columns, coats-of-arms
of Venetian families and a headless male
statue, brought here from Ierapetra.
In the years of the Turkish
Occupation, the Arabs of Chandax (Heraklio)
believed that the statue had supernatural
powers and every May, they organised
religious rituals in its honour.
The Castle of Heraklio, known also as
"Megalo Koule" stands at the entrance of the
venetian harbour and is said to be the best
preserved sample of the city's venetian
fortification. It was originally built by the
Venetians in the 13th century and was
destroyed by two strong earthquakes, in 1303
and 1500. It was rebuilt in 1523 - 1540 and
was named "Rocca al Mare".
The Castle grounds housed the port
authorities, prisons and storage-rooms. When
Heraklio came under Turkish Occupation,
mosques were built in the yard and the castle
was renamed "Koule". Today, one can see a
large part of the building, part of a mosque,
signs of Morozini and the lions of St Marcus,
symbols of the Venetian Rule.
From the Castle, the view of the city
and the port is impressive.
The cave of Ilithia is about 1 km away
from Amnissos. Ilithia, mentioned in Homer,
was the goddess of birth. The cave was her
main place of worship. It was discovered late
last century, and the locals called it
"Neraidospilios" (the cave of the fairies). It is
60 m long and 9-12 m wide. As excavations
indicate, it served as a place of worship from
the Neolithic Period to the 5th century BC.
On the centre of the cave stands the
remarkable rectangular altar surrounded by
two cylindrical stalagmites which have
human shape.
The church of Ag.Titus - Heraklio's
patron saint - is located in the centre of
Heraklio. It was built by the Byzantines and
during the second Byzantine period it served
as the city's cathedral. During the Venetian
Rule, it housed the seat of the Latin
archbishop and became a catholic cathedral.
It was renovated in 1466, only to be ruined
while in a fire, in 1544. During the Turkish
Occupation it served as a mosque and was
called "Vizier Tzami".
The present-day structure is the result
of renovations, in 1872 and 1922, after its
entire destruction by a strong earthquake in
1856. The skull of St Titus was transferred
here from Venice, in 1956, and has since been
kept in the church.
The convent of Kera Kardiotissa is
located in the village of Kera, 43 km south-
east of Heraklio. It is dedicated to the Birth
of Virgin Mary and celebrated on September
8th. The convent is built in an area (630 m.
altitude) full of plane-trees and walnut-trees;
the view from here is breath-taking. The
convent building is a complex of four
separate structures, the oldest being the
church.
Inside the church, one can admire the
remarkable frescoes (14th century) and
Byzantine icons, among which is the
miraculous icon of Panagia Alissodemeni
(Virgin Mary in chains). According to legend,
the icon was stolen twice to be sent to
Constantinopole but, although it was chained
on a big column - which now stands in the
convent's yard - it came back to its original
place.
Crete's Historic and Ethnologic
Museum was established in 1952 by the
Society of Cretan Historic Studies and
Andreas Kalokerinos. It is housed in the
three-storey house of Kalokerinos family, at
Heraklio.
Exhibits include a multitude of
objects from the Palaeo-Christian, Medieval
and Modern Era, depicting the island's
glorious history. Here, one can admire
beautiful sculpts, chalcographies, icons and
ecclesiastic heirlooms, folk art objects,
woven-fabrics and embroideries traditional
cretan costumes and jewels, daily life tensils,
historic documents, manuscripts, books and
maps, local traditional instruments,
photographs and portraits.
There are also two separate rooms
exhibiting personal things and manuscripts of
the famous Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis
and the Leader of Crete's Battle, Emmanuel
Tsouderos.
Loggia, a classic sample of Venetian
architecture, is located in the centre of
Heraklio. It is a four-side building with
semi-circular arches, built in the 16th
century, and used as a place of gathering and
recreation by the local nobility.
During the Turkish Occupation it was
turned into a mosque and a minaret was
erected.
Today, Loggia houses the
Town-hall of Heraklio.
The Lychnostatis Museum is situated
at Limenas Hersonissou and was established
in 1992 by professor of ofthalmology and
collector -laographer Georgios Markakis.
It is a remarkable Folk and Nature
Museum of tremendous interest. Here, one is
informed about the island's natural
environment and folk tradition. Exhibits
include representations of a traditional cretan
house, a church, a windmill, a field, a
workshop of weaving and natural paint, a
workshop proccessing aromatic plants etc.
Here, one can also tour the small
outdoor exhibition of Cretan raw materials,
the exhibition concerning Cretan folk artists,
the outdoor theatre and the auditorium
which hosts significant cultural events,
seminars and lectures.
The monastery of Varsamonero is
located near the village of Voriza. Originally,
it was a head-cloister, belonging to the
Monastery of Vrontissio. Today, in the ruins of
the monastery, one can still admire the three-
aisled church of Agios Fanourios.
The building’s architecture is famous,
with two parallel aisles and another one
vertical, built on different dates. The most
beautiful parts of the monastery are the
church's frescoes (14th-15th century) and the
icons, most of which were transferred to the
Museum of Agia Ekaterini, in Heraklio.
The monastery of Vrontissio was built
in the 14th century. It was a significant centre
of monastic life and spiritual guidance,
particularly during the last years of the
Venetian Rule. The church, as well as a
significant part of the cells, were destroyed in
1866, during the Greek War of
Independence.
Today, the church is decorated with
frescoes dating back to the 14th century. At
the monastery's entrance, there is a marble
fountain (15th century), where one can
admire carved images of God, Adam and Eve,
as well as four figures, symbolising the rivers
Heaven.
The Morozini fountain is situated at
the centre of Heraklio, at Venizelou square. It
was built in 1628, on the location where once
stood a 14th-century fountain, by the
Venetian commander, Francesco Morozini,
whose name it took. It is surrounded by eight
cisterns and decorated with depicting figures
of Greek mythology, Nymphs, Tritons, sea
monsters and dolphins, while the main basin
is supported by four lions. It is said that in the
fountain's centre stood an impressive statue
of Neptune, holding a trident. The most
popular version claims that the statue was
destroyed by an earthquake during the
Turkish Occupation.
One of the most significant Greek
novelists, poets, drama writers and scholars.
He was born in Heraklio, in 1833 and studied
Law in Athens and Philosophy in Paris. He
was influenced by the theories of Ion
Dragoumis and Eleftherios Venizelos. His trip
to Russia in 1919, acting as General Manager
of the Ministry of Welfare, was the
introduction of his exciting odyssey: Vienna,
Berlin, Italy, Crete, Russia, Cyprus, Spain,
Egypt, mount Sinah, Goethesgub
(Tsechoslovakia), Nice (France). He died in
Germany, in 1957.
His first novel was "The Snake and the
Lilly", in 1906, followed by "Foreman",
"Ascetic Life", the translation of Dante's
"Divina Comedy". His prime was evident by
the works "Life of Alexis Zorbas", "Christ is
crossed again", "Captain Michael", "The Last
Temptation", "God's Poor Man" and
"Reference to Greco".
The Walls of Heraklio constitute the
most significant work of fortification on the
island. Their construction began in 1462 and
was based on the design of the architect
Michele Sanmicheli. The construction took
almost a century to complete, while the
supplementary work for their expansion
lasted until the 17th century.
The exterior of the walls (4,500 m
long, 60 m wide), enclosing a triangular area,
is surrounded by a deep trench. Along the
walls one can see the carved lions of St
Marcus, parts of the outposts and fortresses
of all shapes, the largest being the one north-
east, the Agios Demetrios. The Walls had four
gates, the Gate of Molos, the Gate of Agios
Georgios, or Porta Lazaretou, the Gate of
Jesus, or Kenourgia Porta and the Gate of
Pandokrator, or Panigra. Along the walls
there were other smaller towers, such as the
Tower of Leon (Kastelli or Megalo Koule) and
Mikro Koule.
From the entire fortress unit, today
one can only see seven barracks, the most
prominent being the imposing barrack of
Martinego, and two gates, the Gate of
Pandokrator - decorated with the lion of St
Markus, the facade of Pandokrator, the Latin
sign "Omnipotent" and Kenourgia Porta (New
Gate) which was built in 1587 and was
named after the Venetian Ruler, Mogenigo.
In this area, one can also visit the
burial site of world famous author, Nikos
Kazantzakis.
http://www.areianet.gr/infoxenios/
