Page 256 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

The Venetian fortress, a
major landmark at the end of
the old harbour, Iráklio

3 this Venetian fortress, whose
dauntingly massive structure
IRÁKLIO repulsed prolonged assaults
by the invading Turks in the
ΗΡΆΚΛΕΙΟ 17th century. It was erected
between 1523 and 1540 and
named Rocca al Mare (Fort
⌂ 130 km (80 miles) E of Haniá k 5 km (3 miles) E of town on the Sea) by the Venetians.
g E of Venetian harbour @ Outside of ferry port (for Opposite the fortress are the
Réthymno, Haniá, Ágios Nikólaos and Ierá petra); outside arcades of the 16th-century
Haniá Gate (for points southwest) n Xanthoudídou 1; Venetian Arsenali where ships
were built and repaired.
www.heraklion.gr
The sprawl of traffic-jammed streets does not make
the best first impression of Crete’s capital. But look THE GREEK
again and you’ll see the wealth of Venetian architecture El Greco (Domenikos
and the world’s best collection of Minoan art. Theotoko poulos) was
born in Crete in 1541.
His art was rooted in
1 square set back from the the Cretan School of
road, is the refurbished
Platía Venizélou 16th-century church of Ágios Painting, an influence
that permeates his
At the heart of Iráklio is Platía Títos, dedicated to the island’s individualistic use of
Venizélou, a pedes trianized patron saint. On the other side dramatic colour and
zone with buzzing cafés and of Ikostipémptis Avgoústou, elongated human
shops grouped around the the tiny El Greco Park is forms. In Italy, El Greco
ornate 17th-century Morosini named after Crete’s most became a disciple of
Fountain. Facing the square, famous painter. Titian before moving to
the restored church of Ágios Spain. He died in 1614
Márkos was built by the and his works are now
Venetians in 1239 and is now 2 on display in museums
used as a venue for concerts around the world.
and exhibitions. From here, Fortress Arsenali
Ikostipémptis Avgoústou (25 ⌂ Venetian Harbour
August Street) leads north to § 28102 88484 # Apr–Oct:
the Venetian harbour. Found 8:30am–7pm Tue–Sun; Nov–
on this street, the elegantly Mar: 8:30am–3pm Tue–Sun
restored 17th-century Loggia ¢ Main public hols
was a meeting place for the
island’s nobility and now Located at the northern end of
serves as Iráklio’s city hall. Ikostipémptis Avgoústou, the
Beyond the Loggia, in a small old harbour is dominated by
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