HERAKLION

On the northern side of Crete is one of the islands’ most dynamic, popular and biggest cities, Heraklion.

Heraklion is the cosmopolitan hub made up of big urban centers; the city attracts more than 2 million visitors every year as they flock to the city’s multiple historic sites as well as the Summer Cultural Festival which is a 3-month festival celebrating arts and culture through music, dance and theatre.

The historic sites of Heraklion should not be missed and places like the Venetian Harbour which was built in 1523 to 1540 and the old town centre is just a drop in the bucket and it gives visitors a glimpse into city’s past.

The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion tells the stories of Minoan civilization through exhibitions, the 4.5 km Venetian walls dating back to 1462 which was built over a period of a hundred years and the Koules Fort situated at the entrance of the Venetian harbour.

Another beautiful unsurpassable site is the marble Morosini Fountain – a decorative Venetian fountain built in 1628 and situated in the centre of Heraklion - featuring four lions with water gushing from their mouths.

In the heart of town, next to the market, is the Church of St. Catherine of Sinai. This single-aisle vaulted basilica architectural masterpiece was built in 1600 and is home to six unique works of Michael Damaskinos, an icon-painter and advocate of the Cretan School. The church is situated in St. Catherine Square with a thriving café culture, lots of open spaces and thousands of pigeons which locals and visitors feed every day.