Herakleion

Herakleion boasts the most ancient monuments and the first signs of western civilization in Europe. It is in Herakleion where Zeus, the god the hospitality, was united with the beautiful princess Europa who gave birth to the Minoan kings and sages, the founders of the first civilized world on the European continent.

In the center of the town there are many medieval buildings suggesting Herakleion’s prosperity during that period. Ascending the road from the port, one comes across the Loggia, the first important monument, where the City Council and several Municipality Services are housed today. It is considered the most elegant Venetian building which in 1987 was awarded the EUROPA NOSTRA prize as the best rehabilitated and preserved European monument of the year.

The port is dominated by the Κoules fortress which for centuries sheltered the city from attacks, while it later served as a prison.

In the center of Herakleion, at the northeast end of Eleftherias Square stands the Archaeological Museum of Crete, receiving thousands of visitors every year; on display are fabulous treasures dating from the Minoan, classical, Hellenistic and Roman period.

West of the port of Herakleion lies the Historical Museum of Crete, showcasing treasures from the Christian and Byzantine period, as well as from the Middle Ages and the more recent history of Crete. Also on display are folk art works, a painting by ΕL GRECO who was born and studied painting in Herakleion, and hagiographic works (icons) by artists of the famous Cretan School. Moreover, the museum houses a reconstruction of a typical Cretan village house, while in two of its rooms personal belongings of the prominent author Nikos Kazantzakis are exhibited.

At a short distance from the Church, lies an ornately sculpted fountain, known as "the Lions" with themes of animal life and the sea. I was built in the early 17th century by Francisco Morozini.

South of the Loggia, stands the basilica of Aghios Markos built in 1239. Today it houses the Municipal Picture Gallery of Herakleion.

Herakleion is surrounded by huge Medieval walls, that successfully protected it from its enemies, thus, rendering it the best fortified state in the Mediterannean.

Southwest of the Lions’ square, at a 100-m distance, lies the Medieval Monastery of Αgia Aikaterini which functioned in the Middle Ages as a university, the Cretan university.

The south end of the wall is dominated by the Martinengo bastion, where lies the tomb of the great Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis (author of Zorba the Greek). Further to the south, oen can see the old Gate, the so-called Chanioporta, the city’s gate to Western Crete. Today old churches, fountains, bastions, medieval streets decorate Herakleions with bustles with activity around the clock.

Knossos

The first excavations were conducted in 1878 by Herakleion-born Minoas Kalokairinos. Other extensive digs followed carried out by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1900-1913 and 1922-1930), thus, unearthing the rest of the palace of Knossos.

The Throne Room with the Griffin fresco.

The Queen’s Megaron.

Phaistos

An ancient, famous city in Crete, second in importance to Knossos. According to historical records, Phaistos, was one of the three major cities that King Minos founded on the island, the other two being Knossos and Kydonia.

Gortyn

A small city which during the Minoan period was under the dominion of Phaistos. The people of Gortyn engaged largely in piracy, using the city’s port (present-day Lentas beach) as their base of operations. It was here that the Gortyn Code of law was discovered, a text dating to the 5th century BC, inscribed on stone slabs, constituting the largest archaic insciption ever found.

Archanes

The palace of Archanes was probably built circa 1900 BC and can be compared only with the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos.

Matala

A sweeping, sandy beach extending over 300 m flanked by rocks on either end, forming a small cove.

Fodele

Small, picturesque village, birthplace of Domenikos Theotokopoulos or El Greco.
Here in the house where it is said he was born there is a small museum featuring replicas of his works.