Summer festival
by fassolia
Don't miss the summer Heraclion festival,held at "kipotheatro"(garden theater).Every day a different show,from ancient tragedy,to modern famous Greek and foreign performers.The tickets vary from 12 to 20 Euro.There is also another festival,called Hiakinthia, held in the historic village "Anogeia",in July,with a more local colour.Btw some think that Anogeia is the heart of Crete ,so visit it. (one hour drive from Heraclion on the mountain Psiloritis).Good if you want to see men in black shirts,boots and moustaches!
Science!
by fassolia
Did you know that in Heraclion there is a reknown technological institute called FORTH,with some good achievements in the fields of molecular biology ,physics and computer science?Foreign students come here to have their master degree too!Now,HOW can you do science in a place like this,you wonder.Believe me you can.
FORTH
Visit The Venetian Harbour!
by johngayton
For a pleasant place to take the camera for a walk on a sunny afternoon during that limbo period between coffee time and beer time you could do worse than visit the Venetian Harbour and its fort (Koules) at the western end of the seafront. The fort itself was destroyed by an earthquake in 1303 and rebuilt in 1523 whilst Crete was under Venetian rule and has recently been restored and is now used for cultural events and exhibitions.
Also worth noting are the three Lions of St Mark sculpted into the walls.
Morozini Fountain
by Balam
At the top of 25th August St is El Velizelou Square (Lion Square) and the Morozini Fountain. It was built in 1628 by Francesco Morozini who was the Venetian Governor of the Island. A 16km long aqueduct was built to channel the water to it from Mt Giouchtas. It has 8 circular basins decorated with reliefs of Cherubs, Mermaids, Dolphins, nymphs and mythical creatures. Above the Lions (which are from the 14th c and were incorporated into the fountain when it was constructed) would have been a statue of Neptune.
The fountain works but is very rarely in operation and when we went it was being restored and so had a green net around it. Sort of spoiled the pictures but at least there are not loads of people sat around or on it.
There are some very nice looking cafe's here some of which specialize in Bhougatsa which is a flaky pastry filled with cheese or cream and then drizzled with honey trying them is certainly a must when you visit. (see my restaurant tips.)
When we visited Iraklion again later in our holiday the nets had been removed from around the fountain.
One Day In Irakleion
by maxovna
Visit Crete Island, where you will get stuck on myths every other minure! Crete is considered to be the cradle of our civilization. Our stay here was too short - Irakleion was just one of the scheduled ports of our Mediterranean cruise. But if you keep your eyes open, you may see a lot! Up to 1629 Crete used to be a part of Venetian Republic - even now in Irakleion we can see Venetian arsenal and the fort with the picture of a lion - the symbol of Saint Mark. Irakleion is a university town where students study mathenatics, physics and medicine. I like the names of streets - Daedalus Street, Knossos street - a lot is connected with myths and King Minos. Here you can see plenty of churches - the catholic church of Saint Mark, Cathedral of Saint Reinoso, the church of Saint Titus - the first episcopacy on Crete. Crete is a mountaneous area - in winter one summit is even covered with snow. The main attractions of Irakleion are the Palace of Knossos and the museum of archaeology.
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Heraklion street market
Koules Venetian Fortress
Morning View:)
Harbour
