Heraklion, Greece

Heraklion is the largest urban center in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic center of the island. The first European civilization, the Minoan civilization, flourished on this land 5,000 years ago. It is the fifth largest city in Greece. The metropolitan area covers an area of ​​684.3 square km. Heraklion has been named the fastest growing tourist destination in Europe for 2017. According to the ranking, Heraklion is ranked as the 20th most visited region in Europe, as the 66th area on the planet and the second in Greece for 2017.

Heraklion is located on the north coast of the island, in the west about 80 km from the city of Rethymnon and 135 km from the city of Chania. To the east is the town of Agios Nikolaos - about 60 km away, and the town of Sitia - about 130 km away.

Several sculptures, statues and busts can be seen around Heraklion today, commemorating significant events and figures from the history of the city and the island, such as El Greco, Vicentos Kornaros, Nikos Kazantzakis and Eleftherios Venizelos. Many fountains from the Venetian era have also been preserved, such as the Bembo Fountain, the Priuli Fountain, the Palmetti Fountain, the Sagredo Fountain, and the Morosini Fountain (in Piazza del Lions).

Also around the historic center of Heraklion are a number of preserved defensive walls, bastions and other fortifications that were built earlier in the Middle Ages but were completely restored by the Venetian Republic. The fortifications managed to withstand the longest siege in history for 21 years before the city fell to the Ottomans in 1669.

The Bronze Age Palace of Knossos, also known as the Palace of Minos, is located near Heraklion. In Minoan times, the palace was the largest population center in Crete. Knossos had a port on the site of Heraklion from the beginning of the Early Minoan period (3500 to 2100 BC). Around 1500 BC the harbor was destroyed by a volcanic tsunami from nearby Santorini, which leveled the area and covered it with ash.

The port of Heraklion is dominated by Venetian structures such as the Kules Fortress, the fortifications and the arsenal.

In addition to historical sights, museums abound in Heraklion. The Archaeological Museum, the Historical Museum of Crete, the Natural Science Museum, the National Museum of Resistance, the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum, the Lichnostatis Open Air Museum, the Museum of Visual Arts and others are extremely interesting.

After the fall of the Minoans, Heraklion, like the rest of Crete, experienced difficult times in its development. It was only with the arrival of the Romans that things began to move in the area, with some construction work being started.

The present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 by the Arabs under Abu Hafs Umar, who were expelled from Al-Andalus by Emir Al-Hakam I and took over the island from the Eastern Roman Empire. They built a moat around the city to protect themselves and named the city Rubin, Rab al-Chandak ("Castle of the Moat"). It became the capital of the Emirate of Crete around 827-961. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates who raided the imperial territory around the Aegean Sea.

In 960, the Byzantine troops, under the command of Nikephoros Phokas, who later became emperor, "landed" on the island of Crete and attacked the city. After a prolonged siege, the city was besieged in March 961. The Saracens were slaughtered and the city looted and burned to the ground. Soon rebuilt, the city was renamed and remained under Byzantine control for the next 243 years.

In 1204, present-day Heraklion was purchased by the Republic of Venice as part of a complex political deal. The Venetians perfected the construction of huge fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a gigantic wall, up to 40m thick in places, with 7 bastions and a fortress in the harbour. Chandax was renamed Candia and became the seat of the Duke of Candia, and the Venetian administrative area of ​​Crete was known as the Kingdom of Candia.

The city retained its name Candia for centuries, and the same name was often used for the entire island of Crete. To secure their rule, the Venetians began in 1212 to settle families from Venice on Crete. The coexistence of two different cultures and the stimuli of the Italian Renaissance led to the flourishing of letters and arts in Candia and Crete in general, and this era is known today as the Cretan Renaissance.

During the Cretan War, the Ottomans besieged Heraklion for 21 years, from 1648 to 1669, perhaps the longest siege in history. In its final phase, which lasted 22 months, 70,000 Turks, 38,000 Cretans and slaves and 29,088 of the city's Christian defenders perished. During the Ottoman period, the port of Heraklion closed down, so most ships diverted to Chania in the west of the island.

In 1898, an autonomous Cretan state was established, existing under Ottoman rule but with the Greek Prince George as High Commissioner and under international supervision. During the direct occupation of the island by the Great Powers (1898-1908), Candia was part of the British zone. At that time the city was renamed Heraklion.

In 1913, along with the rest of Crete, Heraklion was incorporated into the Kingdom of Greece. Heraklion became the capital of Crete again in 1971, displacing Chania from that position.

Heraklion is an important port city. Travelers can take ferries and boats from Heraklion to various tourist destinations such as Santorini, the islands of Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. There are direct ferries to Naxos, Karpathos, Kasos, Sitia, Anafi, Chalki and Diafani. There are also several daily ferries to Piraeus, the port of Athens in mainland Greece.

Heraklion International Airport, or Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, is located about 5 kilometers east of the city. Heraklion Airport is the second busiest airport in Greece after Athens International Airport, first in charter flights and the 65th busiest in Europe as Crete is a major tourist destination. In April 2018, the interior of the airport was modernized and expanded.

Heraklion is a modern city that has extensive facilities that meet all the needs of its visitors. There are many hotels ranging from luxury class to small rooms for rent and youth hostels that operate all year round. Most of them are located in the old town.

When it comes to entertainment, the options are almost limitless. Locals are people who like to go out a lot, either for lunch, dinner, coffee or a drink. Therefore, there are many restaurants, family taverns, luxury cafes - snack bars, traditional cafes, music halls with traditional Cretan or bouzouki, discos, small pubs and music bars, indoor or outdoor, open all year round.

Heraklion is also the business center of the area, so it has many shops that sell clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. Shops are open in the morning from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and in the evenings from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, excluding Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings.

The long history and cosmopolitan nature of Heraklion is reflected in its rich cultural life. A large number of cultural events, from music and dance recitals to theater performances, to lectures, to art exhibitions and more, take place in the many private or public venues the city has to offer.

The main cultural event in Heraklion is the summer cultural festival organized by the municipality. It lasts for three months, during which concerts of extravagant music, theater and dance are held, with performers both Greek and foreign. Most concerts are held outdoors in several theaters that are created from the bastions of the Venetian walls, adding to the scenery of each performance.

The Carnival Festival, the Heraklion Parade, the Municipal Cinema and the Mediterranean Arts Festival (25 September - 05 October) are also organized by the Heraklion Municipality.

History is very much alive in the old town of Heraklion, just like in most Greek cities. The central square, surrounded by cafes, shops and restaurants, is dominated by the fountain of lions. It was built in 1628. The "Central Market" street starts from the central square and ends at the "Cornaru"

square. On the left, Averof street leads to Eleftherias quarter. The main square of Heraklion, where the archaeological museum is, leads to the cathedral of Agios Minas and the museum of Agia Aykaterini.

In the old part of Heraklion, visitors can walk along the Venetian walls that meet in the old port and the "Kules" - the fortress that rises in the old port of the city.