Heraklion

General

Heraklion is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island. The first European civilisation, the Minoan civilisation, flourished on this land 5000 years ago.

The conquering of Constantinopole by the Franks in 1204, left Crete under the sovereignty of the Venetians until 1669. During this period, Heraklion experienced significant cultural growth and became the capital of the Regno di Candia. However, all this cultural and spiritual growth came to a sudden end in 1669 with the invasion of Crete by the Turks. Crete became autonomous in 1897, to be united with Greece in 1913.

The cultural heritage of the city of Heraklion offers a variety of forms of modern entertainment. Every year, the city, as well as numerous villages in the surrounding area, organize cultural events such as theatrical performances, art exhibitions, musical nights and festivals which attract a lot of people, locals and visitors alike.

For those inclined to modern entertainment and clubbing, the city offers ample opportunities for night life. Heraklion is a city with one foot rooted in the past, the other stepping into the future. Currently the population of Heraklion is approximately 150000 people. It is a very dynamic and cosmopolitan town, particularly during the summer period when thousands of visitors can be seen shopping in the market or visiting the museums and other places of interest. Today Heraklion is the top choice for tourist destinations in the Mediterranean.

The unique natural beauty favours the development of alternative forms of tourism and provides a combination of mountain and sea sports. The city is also the commercial and scientific centre of the island. It has a strategic geopolitical position in the southeast basin of the Mediterranean Sea connecting three continents and many different cultures.

During the last 20 years the city has made remarkable progress in the academic and technological fields. The dynamic and imaginative combination of natural beauty, climate, strategic position, cultural heritage and scientific background has created an appropriate environment to add value to the broader entrepreneurial activity in the region and stimulate the local economy.

Geography

The prefecture of Heraklion is bounded with the prefectures of Rethymno to the west and Lasithi or Lassithi to the east. The valley of farmlands are situated in the central and the northern parts and within the coastline and valleys. The mountains dominate the rest of the prefecture including the south. The main mountains are parts of Ida or Idi Mountains to the west and Asterousia in the south. The prefecture includes the island of Dia to the north.

History of Heraklion

Heraklion is the 5th in size city of Greece. Near the city’s area there are settlements from the Neolithic Period. Even though there are just a few findings to prove it, it is believed that the city was the port of the ancient city of Knossos. The Saracens occupied the city on 824 AD and renamed it to El Khandak (Fort of the dike), when they dug the big dike around the city.

The city was re-occupied by the Byzantine Empire on 961 AD after numerous failed efforts. Two hundred years later the Empire was dismantled by the Crusaders that took over, and Cretan government was given to the Venetians for 1.000 silver coins.

During the Venetian occupation arts flourished and Candia, as the city was named by the Venetians, became the center of literature and arts. Many intellectuals and artists found refuge in Candia after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

The Venetians started the construction of the city’s fortification on 1462 and they needed more than a century to complete it. The walls had a total length of over 4 kilometers. They had a triangular shape and 7 bastions. The Venetians also built the port and many other buildings of magnificent architecture.

The strategic importance of the fortification was proved during the city’s investment. The city’s investment by the Turks lasted 21 years and was one of the longest in history. The final surrender was on 1669 after 100.000 Turkish and 30.000 Venetian casualties.

During the Turkish occupation the Cretans repined against the compulsory conversion to the Islamic faith. From 1820 onwards, a continuous guerilla / partisan warfare was done against the Turks.

Heraklion population was increased after 1913, when Crete was unified with motherland Greece. Due to her strategic location th city became a target for the German invasion forces on 1941. The German bombardment during the Battle of Crete caused great destruction to the city and after the war she was rebuilt to a great extent.

Initially Crete’s capital was the city of Chania. The administrative center of Crete was transferred to Heraklion on 1971.

Access

The Heraklion airport (HER), named after the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis, is one of the biggest in Greece. There are many airlines currently operating flights from Athens and Thessaloniki to Heraklion, Olympic Airways, Aegean Airlines, Cronus and others while during the high season there are flights from/to Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini. There is also an international airline,Transavia, that connects Heraklion to Amsterdam , Holland.

Transavia has two flights per week , during the winter season, with more of these during the tourist period. During the summer season there are numerous chartered flights to Heraklion from all over Europe (mainly Germany, the United Kingdom , and Holland).

During the summer months there is a huge increase in air traffic that peaks in August (approximately 130 flights per day). Heraklion’s airport is about 5km east of the city. Major car-rental companies have desks at the airport. Taxi and public bus are available for trenfer to Heraklion.

Heraklion also receives a lot of visitors by boat. There are two main companies that connect Heraklion to mainland Greece, Minoan Lines and ANEK. During the winter months there are two daily trips from Athens to Heraklion.

The trip takes approximately 10 hours (it can be 8 even 6 hours with new Super Ferries) by ferry boat. The ships depart Athens in the evening (8.15 p.m.) and arrive in Heraklion at 06.00 a.m. After a 12 hour stopover at the Heraklion port they depart for Athens.

There is also a weekly trip to Thessaloniki (sailing time is approximately 24 hours.). During the summer season both companies operate also an extra daily trip that departs in the morning from Athens and arrives at Heraklion port in the afternoon. Finally various other companies operate ships connecting Heraklion with other island in the Aegean (Rodos, Santorini etc.).Daily cruises are also offered to the island of Santorini.

A tour in the city of Heraklion

The city of Heraklion still enjoys its reputation as one of the most attractive Mediterranean capitals. It has enough to offer that the cultural tastes and shopping needs of both the visitors and the residents are fully catered for. It is no accident that it has always been the business and social center of Crete throughout the ages and that status is maintained today. It plays host to many interests and activities as well as providing a very pleasant way of life.

Places of interest For those who wish to learn a little bit about the history, Heraklion is home to ancient monuments and examples of major Western civilization. The region of Heraklion is famous for Zeus, the Greek god of hospitality, who met and fell in love with a Princess of unsurpassed beauty, named Europa. She gave birth to the race of Minoan Kings and sages, the founders of the earliest civilized nation in Europe.

There are many medieval monuments that indicate the prosperity of the era, situated in the center of the city. If you continue onwards from the port to the city centre, the first significant landmark you can see is the Venetian Loggia. Nowadays this houses the City Council and part of the Municipality of Heraklion services departments. Lotzia used to be the society for the Duke and Officers of Crete, and is decorated with uniquely sculptured coats of arms, trophies, and metopes.

For centuries the noblemen of Crete gathered here to rest, to be entertained, or to practice their formal rituals. Its passageways (stoas) have their roots in the 14th century, but Lotzia took its final architecture from the early part of the 17th century. It is located in the PIAZZA DEI SIGNORI (Square of the Administrative Authorities). It is considered to be the finest Venetian monument in the city, and was awarded the EUROPA NOSTRA first prize in 1987, for best renovated and preserved European monument of the year.

The majestic fortress, Koule stands by the port. It had been used for centuries not only for the protection of the city but as a prison too, with its huge dark hallways and cells. In the southern part of the city the palace of Knossos is situated, which was built in preclassical times, when Crete was still under reign and consisted of a hundred cities. In the center of Heraklion, at the North-east corner of Liberty Square (Platia Eleftherias) is the Archeological Museum of Crete. Every year thousands of visitors come to admire fabulous treasures from the Minoan, historic, classical, Hellenistic and Roman times.

West of Heraklion, there is the Cretan History Museum, where the riches of the Christian, Byzantine, Medieval and earlier times are preserved for all to see. There are also many objets d’art, examples of Cretan popular culture through the ages. These include pieces of work by the great painter EL GRECO, who was born and studied painting in Heraklion itself. In the same Museum we can also find hagiographies from the famous Cretan School of Hagiography. In addition, visitors have the chance to see a typical Cretan house as well as memorabilia of the great author, Nikos Kazantzakis.

Just a few meters from the Loggia there is an elaborate fountain, called Lions. It is exquisitely sculpted and decorated with images inspired by the sea and the animal kingdom. It was constructed during the first decades of the 17th century by Franzisco Morozini, not only to decorate the square but also to provide the city with water.

South of the Lotzia is the Basilica of Saint Marcus which was built in 1239 in the PIAZZA DELLE BIADE (Square of Blades) and used to be the Cathedral of Crete. The Basilica belonged to the reigning Duke and it was used as the Dukes burial place. Nowadays it houses the Municipal Art Gallery.

Heraklion is surrounded by enormous medieval walls, which used to protect it from enemies and gave the city its reputation as the best-fortified state in the Mediterranean basin. It stood up to a siege by the Turks for 25 years but the city was finally seized after its betrayal by a Venetian Engineer who led the invaders through a secret passageway into the city.

The Medieval monastery of Saint Catherine stands in the southwest corner of Lion Square. This building used to be the Cretan University during the Middle ages, through which many European artists, philosophers, church fathers, poets and authors rose to prominence. Nowadays the church of Saint Catherine houses a priceless collection of Cretan hagiographies.

A few meters from the church, you will find the Cathedral of Saint Minas, who is the patron saint of the city. Saint Minas rescued the Christians from slaughter when the Turks had tried to annihilate them in the early 19th century. The church took thirty years to construct and was inaugurated in 1896 with lavish celebrations. Next to it we can find the older, smaller church of Saint Minas, embellished with magnificent hagiographies and icons created by great hagiographers.

Tour in the City: The central market and the shops in Heraklion are among the most diverse in Crete. Visitors can easily find souvenirs, jewellery, furs, food, and clothes for any price. Famous Cretan products such as oil, wine, raki, honey and herbs are really worth tasting and buying.

The Martinengo battlements rise from the south part of the wall, where the celebrated Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorbas and the Odyssey, was buried. South of here is the Old Gate called Hanioporta. Lots of old churches and battlements still decorate Heraklion, which in addition to having a rich cultural heritage is very lively during the day and night.

Festivals: Every evening during the summer, the Municipality of Heraklion organizes several arts events in its charming open-air theatres. The Festival has been honored by the presence of the Bolsoi Ballet, Kirof, the Opera di Vienna, Joan Baez, Theodorakis, Hatzidakis, Markopoulos, Brubek, Moustaki, Roussos, Halloway and Alvinand Berzam. The Festival begins in June and finishes in September, but during the rest of the year, art exhibitions, shows, recitals and concerts take place. At Christmas, Easter and in May there are celebrations for Holy Days and also for the Battle of Crete in 1941.
Modern life: Arts events still take place, which are examples of a both a flourishing civilization and a creative development.
Night life: In Heraklion there are many nightclubs as well as tavernas/restaurants with Cretan and other folk music with dancing.
Hotels: In Heraklion there are a great number of hotels ranging from one to five star, various rooms to rent and many travel agents and car rental firms.
Foods: There are a great number of restaurants and tavernas, which offer traditional Cretan food as well as international cuisine. Local raki, ouzo(spirits and fish-taverns are well known for their local delicacies, traditional drinks and low prices.
Airport: The Cretan airport is named after Nikos Kazantzakis and is very busy, being the link between Crete and everywhere else in Greece and Europe. In addition, Heraklion port is the link to Piraeus, Thessaloniki and the Aegean islands.

Municipalities of the county of Heraklion

Aghia Varvara, Archanes, Arkalochori, Asteroussia, Episkopi, Gazi, Gorgolaini, Gortina, Gouves, Heraklion, Hersonissos, Kastelli, Kofina, Krousonas, Malia, Moires, Nea Alikarnassos, Nikos Kazantzakis, Palianis, Rouvas, Temenos, Thrapsanos, Tilissos, Timpaki, Viannos, Zaros