Mediaeval Heraklion

Would you like to visit a wonderful mediaeval city rich in historic past and great events? Welcome to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, which is full of places to discover.

Heraklion or Iraklion is the largest city of Crete. It is also the 4th largest city in Greece. It is close to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, which in Minoan times was the largest centre of population on Crete. Though there is no archaeological evidence of it, Knossos may well have had a port at the site of Heraklion as long ago as 2000 BC.

The present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens who had been expelled from Al-Andalus by Emir Al-Hakam I and had taken over the island from the Byzantine Empire. They built a moat around the city for protection. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates who operated against Byzantine shipping and raided Byzantine territory around the Aegean.

In 961, the Byzantines, under the command of Nikephoros Phokas, who later became Byzantine Emperor, landed in Crete and attacked the city. After a prolonged siege, the city fell. The Saracen inhabitants were slaughtered, the city looted and burned to the ground. Soon rebuilt, the town of Chandax remained under Byzantine control for the next 243 years.

In 1204, the city was bought by the Republic of Venice.

The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40 m thick, with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour.

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Chandax was renamed to Candia in Italian.

After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 many local inhabitants moved to the Christian part of Candia leading to cultural development.

In 1462 the Venetians decided to build a new wall for protection. It took 100 years to construct the wall. Every islander from 14 to 60 years old spent one week a year on construction works.

During the Cretan War (1645–1669), the Ottomans besieged the city for 21 years, from 1648 to 1669, perhaps the longest siege in history.

In its final phase, which lasted for 22 months, 70,000 Turks, 38,000 Cretans and slaves and 29,088 of the city's Christian defenders perished. The Ottoman army under an Albanian grand vizier, Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha conquered the city in 1669.

In the beginning of the 19 century the city gained the name of Heraklion.

In 1898 Crete won the right to independence and in 1913 it reunited with Greece.

The inhabitants of Heraklion took active part in their struggle for Crete in 1941 and subsequent participation in Greek rebellion in 1941-1944.

The city has been the administrative center of Crete since 1971.

The prefecture of Heraklion Crete is full of picturesque villages, lovely beach resorts and Various beautiful beaches.

Heraklion has numerous restaurants and tavernas that cater for all tastes (and pockets).

As far as night life goes there is a big number of bars and nightclubs, open throughout the year, with the number doubling during the high season.

Heraklion, being the business center of the area, has plenty of stores selling clothes, shoes, jewellery etc.

Heraklion is a place where the sun warms, the breeze cools and the wine, wonderful local food and conversation flow freely!

via piran-pm