Monuments
Palace of Knossos
The Minoan palace is the main site of interest at Knossos, an
important city in antiquity, which was inhabited continuously from
the Neolithic period until the 5th c. AD. The palace was built on
the Kephala hill and had easy access to the sea and the Cretan
interior. According to tradition, it was the seat of the wise king
Minos. The Palace of Knossos is connected with thrilling legends,
such as the myth of the Labyrinth, the Minotaur, and the story of
Daedalus and Ikarus.
Lion Square
This is the heart of Heraklion where tourists and locals share
the small space around the fountain, exchanging glances and perhaps
a few words. Business and pleasure combine here, and it is the
place to meet for whatever purpose or no purpose. To give some
background, it might also be called the Morosini Fountain or,
Liondaria in Greek or, more properly, Plateia Eleftheriou
Venizelou, after Venizelos, Crete's greatest man of state. The
decorated fountain is composed of eight cisterns and decorated with
stone relief, depicting figures of Greek mythology, Nymphs,
Tritons, sea monsters and dolphins, while the main basin is
supported by four sitting lions balancing a circular bowl on their
heads. It was left by Francesco Morosini, the Italian governor who
had it built to commemorate Venetian success in bringing much
needed water, through a brilliantly executed viaduct system from
Mount Youchtas, to the centre of the city. Morosini was still in
charge when the Turks captured the city. Nowadays it is always
interesting, the hub around which Heraklion revolves.
Saint Minas Cathedral
You will find plenty of life around the wide space in front of
the cathedral, dedicated to the Patron Saint of Heraklion and one
of Greece's largest churches, completed in a cruciform shape with
twin towers. The church suffered damage in the battles for the city
and needed thirty years to be rebuilt. In 1896 it was inaugurated
with lavish celebrations.
The City Walls
Heraklion is surrounded by a formidable medieval wall, which was
used to protect it from enemies. Owing to this, the city enjoyed
the reputation as a well-fortified state in the Mediterranean
basin. It stood up to a siege from the Turks for 21 years, but was
finally seized in 1669 after its betrayal by a Greek-Venetian
engineer who informed the invaders of the walls' weaknesses at east
and west bastions. It is possible now to walk along the top of
these walls and enjoy a view over the city. You may reach the Grave
of the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957), where it is
written: "I hope for nothing, I fear nothing; I am free".
City of Phaistos
Phaistos is an ancient city on the island of
Crete. It was located in the south-central portion of the island,
about 5.6 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. It was inhabited
from about 4000 BC. A palace, dating from the Middle Bronze Age,
was destroyed by an earthquake during the Late Bronze Age, together
with Knossos Palace and other sites. The palace was rebuilt toward
the end of the Late Bronze Age.
The most important discovery of Phaistos, which one can admire
at the archeological museum of Heraklion, is the Disc of Phaistos,
made of fired clay. It is about 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter and
covered on both sides with a spiral of stamped symbols. Its purpose
and meaning, and even its original geographical place of
manufacture, remain disputed, making it one of the most famous
mysteries of archaeology.
Malia Minoan Palace
To the east of the modern resort of Malia one can find the
Minoan Palace of Malia. This is the third-largest
Minoan palace in Crete, built in a wonderful setting near the sea,
on the road linking eastern and central Crete.
This palace - the seat, according to myth, of Minos' brother
Sarpedon - was first constructed circa 1900 BC. The already large
settlement, some parts of which are preserved around the palace,
thus became a palace-city. This first palace was destroyed circa
1700 BC and rebuilt circa 1650 BC, on the same site and with the
same layout. Finally the new palace was destroyed circa 1450 BC and
not reoccupied. During the Mycenaean period a small building,
probably a sanctuary was constructed in the ruins.
You can actually walk around the ruins of the palace, just as it
was uncovered by archaeological excavations. The majestic size,
complex plan and multiple details of the palace make it a
fascinating place to visit.
