Heraklion, the largest city and capital of Crete, offers a rich history, fascinating sights and a unique atmosphere. Situated on the shores of the Aegean Sea, the city is a meeting point of the ancient and modern worlds, where historical monuments, a bustling port and the welcoming Cretan lifestyle are all part of the charm.
Did you know? the marina is almost in the city centre, from here you can walk to the centre
History
The history of Heraklion dates back thousands of years, as nearby is Knossos, the most famous palace of the Minoan civilisation. In the Middle Ages, the city was ruled by the Venetians, who built massive fortifications that still define the city’s character today. Later it came under the Ottoman Empire and in the 20th century Crete became part of Greece.
Did you know? Legend has it that Heracles landed here to catch the Cretan bull, hence the name of the town. To this day, Heraklion’s most legendary landmark is arguably the Knossos Palace in Minoan, which dates back to around 1900 BC.
Attractions
Knossos Palace – The particularly large and magnificent Knossos Palace was built between 2100 and 1800 BC. Although there is evidence of around 800 rooms, the palace may have had many more, up to 1300. Like all Minoan palaces, it was built around a rectangular central courtyard. The courtyard was surrounded by narrow, richly decorated corridors and staircases, colonnaded galleries and painted halls. A fascinating relic of Minoan culture, it is the subject of many legends, including the story of the Minotaur and the labyrinth.
TIP: crete-palace-of-knossos-archaeological-site-entrance-ticket
knossos-knossos-palace-skip-the-line-guided-walking-tour
Meet the legend! The legend of the Minotaur and the labyrinth
Minos, King of Crete, claimed to have been chosen by the god Poseidon to take the throne. To prove this, the god sent a beautiful white bull from the sea, which Minos was to sacrifice. However, the princess took a fancy to the beauty of the bull and sacrificed another animal instead. Poseidon, in his rage, cursed Minoes’ wife, Pasiphae, and made her fall in love with the bull.
With the help of Daedalus, the famous Athenian architect, Pasiphae had a hollow cowhide made, in which she hid and managed to mate with the bull. From this union was born the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature.
King Minos was ashamed of the beast, but he didn’t want to kill it, so he commissioned Daedalus to build an elaborate labyrinth that no one could figure out. It was here that the Minotaur was kept, to whom human sacrifices were regularly offered.
Athens was then required to pay a tribute to Crete, as part of which every nine years seven boys and seven girls were sent to the labyrinth to be devoured by the Minotaur.
Finally Theseus, son of the King of Athens, volunteered to be one of the victims to end the reign of terror. When he arrived in Crete, Ariadne, daughter of Minos, fell in love with him and gave him a magic thread to find his way back from the labyrinth. Theseus defeated and killed the Minotaur, and with Ariadne’s help he escaped the labyrinth and returned to Athens.
This myth is probably a symbol of the power relations between the ancient Cretan civilisation and the Athenian state, but some have suggested that the labyrinth may actually refer to the complex structure of the palace of Knossos.
Fortress of Koules – Built by the Venetians, this fortress is located at the entrance to the old port. It was built during the Venetian period, in the early 16th century. It is still very well preserved and one of the most popular attractions in the city. No wonder, as from the Koules and the Venetian walls you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city, its surroundings and the open waters. The fortress has two floors with 26 rooms in total. Originally used as a prison, church, barracks and storerooms, a mill and bakery, and a reservoir. There is also a lighthouse in the northern part.
Did you know? The Arabs built the first bastion on this site as early as the 9th century. In 1462, the Venetians, who were in power at the time, repaired the fortifications. Old ships were filled with stones and sunk to form a breakwater. This enlarged the basement on which the fortress was built. The fort was completed in 1540.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum – home to the most important and valuable artefacts of the Minoan period. Some of the outstanding finds include the statues of the Serpent Goddess, the famous Bikaugro fresco and the enigmatic Phaistos Disc, which are fascinating examples of the art and religious beliefs of Minoan culture. There are also classical Hellenistic and Roman artefacts, including sculptures, mosaics, jewellery and everyday utensils, which provide an insight into the artistic and social life of the period.
Heraklion has some interesting and beautiful ancient buildings , the so-called Loggia is definitely one of them. In fact, it is one of the most remarkable buildings of the Venetian period of Crete. Built around 1541, it actually served as a sort of gentleman’s club for the rich and noble. Its current appearance, however, was designed by Francisco Morosini around 1628. Yes, the same Morosini who designed the Lion Fountain and Heraklion’s aqueduct. Today, the Loggia is home to Heraklion Town Hall.
The history of St. Titus Cathedral is extremely varied. It was originally built in 1446 as a three-nave basilica. Although slightly damaged by the earthquake of 1508, it was completely destroyed by fire in 1544. Fortunately, the precious relics survived. The church was rebuilt in 1557 in the same style. After the Ottoman conquest of Crete, the temple was converted into a Muslim mosque and the ancient relics were transported to Venice. The skull of St. Titus was returned to Crete in 1966 and is preserved in a small chapel inside the church. It was finally converted into an Orthodox prayer house in 1925.
The Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Menas is the seat of the Archdiocese of Crete and was built in honour of Saint Minas, the patron saint of Heraklion. The cross-domed church impressively accommodates 8,000 worshippers. The history of the church is closely interwoven with the history of Crete. When the Venetians conquered the island in 1204, they banned the Orthodox clergy and converted the Orthodox cathedral of Agios Titos into a Roman Catholic church. This left the Orthodox community without a place of worship. After the Ottoman conquest, the church was converted into a mosque, but the Sultan allowed the Orthodox Greeks to build a new church. Construction of the church was completed in 1735, but it soon became too small for the rapidly growing Orthodox community, and a larger cathedral was needed. The present St Menas Orthodox Cathedral was consecrated in 1895.
Morosini Fountain – An ornate Venetian fountain in the heart of the city, a popular meeting point for locals and tourists.
Old Town and Market – Narrow alleyways, traditional shops and a lively atmosphere characterise this historic part of the city.
Heraklion’s Lakkos district was once the city’s crawlspace, where social outcasts lived and survived by prostitution and drug dealing. Greek refugees from Asia Minor settled here in the 1920s and the area was heavily bombed during the Second World War. Australian artist Mathew Halpin began transforming the neighbourhood with paintings, music events and film festivals as part of the Lakkos Project. As a result of the project, the neighbourhood has undergone a dramatic transformation and, although still hidden, is being transformed into a colourful subculture gentrified area, supported by the arts community and volunteers.
Did you know? The Greek language has had a huge impact on the development of Europe. Both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets were developed from the Greek alphabet. In addition, the New Testament was written in classical Greek and is still read in the original version in Greek worship services. Only the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 marked the end of the medieval Greek era. This was the beginning of the era of the modern version of the Greek language. Scientific terms are still directly derived from Classical Greek and Latin.
Gastronomy
Cretan cuisine is world-famous and Heraklion is home to many authentic flavours. It is well worth trying:
- Dakos – Barley bread with olive oil, tomatoes and feta cheese.
- Kalitsounia – Sweet or savoury stuffed pasta, often made with local honey.
- Stifado – Traditional Greek meat dish cooked in a spicy tomato sauce.
- Raki – An indispensable accompaniment to Cretan cuisine, a strong, aniseed-free spirit.
One of the island’s most important treasures is Cretan olive oil, which wins the hearts not only of locals but also of visitors from all over the world. What makes Cretan olive oil so special and unique and why should everyone try it? Read our blog to find out
Heraklion is a city where past and present meet in harmony. Historical monuments, vibrant local life and fabulous gastronomy all contribute to an unforgettable experience. Whether it’s cultural exploration, seaside relaxation or culinary adventures, Heraklion will fascinate all visitors.