For an island with such a rich history, it is no surprise that there are numerous monuments scattered around, in urban, coastal and mountainous areas of Crete.
Venetian fortresses and castles, Byzantine churches, Turkish mosques, monuments of vernacular architecture and other noteworthy buildings, as well as locations which have left their mark in the history of the island are waiting for you to explore.
You will find monuments marking the presence of conquerors who ruled the island down the centuries and others celebrating victories over said conquerors. From the struggle and sacrifice of the Cretan people, the local craftsmen, songwriters and knife makers, or the personalities that made the island famous, monuments give a glimpse of the history that took place. We need only look if we want to listen to their tales.
In Chania, don’t skip a visit to the Venizelos Tomb close to Akrotiri. This beautiful location, with panoramic views over Chania Bay, was chosen as the resting place of Prime Minister of the Cretan State and later of Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos and his son Sophocles. In the city, you will not miss a walk towards the Venetian port and lighthouse, and the public gardens of Chania, built under the Ottoman occupation.
Some of the monuments in the city of Heraklion are the churches of Saint Minas, Saint Titos, Saint Catherine, and Saint Peter, the beautiful Venetian architecture of Loggia, the Venetian Walls and Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis and Morosini (or Lion’s) Fountain.
In Rethymno, the Fortezza, the Venetian fountain Rimondi, the Guora Gate and the Clock Tower (that no longer exists) mark the most well-known landmarks around the city. You will also find the Kara Musa Pasha and Veli Pasa mosques and plenty of churches both in the city and in a short driving distance. The churches of Timios Stavros, and Four Martyrs and the monasteries of Saint John the Theologian, Panagia Chalevi, and Arkadi are all found in the area.
Traveling east in Agios Nikolaos, you will find the statue of Europa, wife of Zeus, and the Horn of Amalthea, the goat that fed Zeus when he was just a baby living in a cave.
The church of Agios Titos was originally built after the liberation of Crete by Nikiforos Fokas in 961 AD. During the Venetian period, it was converted into a catholic church, however, it did not lose its Byzantine character.
Already from the years of the First Byzantine Period (330-840 AD), the city of Heraklion had fortifications which were completed by both the Arab conquerors (840-961 AD) and the Byzantines (961-1204 AD) as well as by the Venetians after 1211 AD. However, the emerging threat of the Turks forced Venice to fortify the capital of Regno di Candia in the most modern and effective way at the time. The form of fortifications we see today is based on drawings by…
One of the most brilliant monuments of the city of Heraklion is the Fountain of Morosini or the “Lions“, as the residents of Heraklion call it.
On the road towards Akrotiri peninsula, in a location with a unique panoramic view, are the tombs of Eleftherios and his son Sophocles Venizelos. Eleftherios Venizelos, Prime Minister of the Cretan State and later seven times of Greece, and Sophocles’, his second son who was also the Prime Minister of the country between 1943 and 1952, are buried in the park.
At the entrance of the large bay of Souda, there are two small islands, which controlled the movement of ships to and from the large natural port. On the larger of the two islands, the Venetians decided to build a strong fortress to protect the gulf from enemy and pirate ships.
The famous Clock Tower of Rethymno is one of the most famous monuments of Rethymno but there is a catch. It no longer exists! The only sign that proves its existence is a part of its door that can be seen built into a store on Arkadiou Street.
The Rimondi Fountain is one of the most well-known attractions in the city of Rethymno, including the Guora Gate, the Clock Tower (that unfortunately no longer exists) and the Kara Musa Phasha mosque. The cities of Crete have always had a water supply problem, which the Venetians faced by building aqueducts and fountains.
The stunning Public Garden or (Dimotikos Kipos) is located in the central district of Chania, not far from the Municipal Market. In the last years of the Ottoman rule, at a time when the city was suffocating within the restrictive walls, the need for a relaxing recreation area was very strong.
The Venetian Port The Venetian port of Chania, including the Venetian lighthouse, is one of the symbols of the city and a favorite walking area for locals and visitors alike.
The Municipal Market of Chania is a particularly lively spot, full of colours, scents and constant movement, that in addition to being a popular tourist attraction is still used by locals.
Already from the Venetian period, August 25 Street in Heraklion was one of the most important streets in the city even though it had not acquired its name yet. The road connects the port with Saint Mark’s square, and this is where the palatial mansion of the Venetian Duke was built.
The Lasithi Plateau is the largest mountain plain on the island, and the only one occupied all year-round. It spans an area that runs some 11 km east-west and 6 km north-south. Surrounding it are the peaks Selena (1559 m) at the north, Afendi (1588 m) and Louloudaki (1163 m) west, Spathi (2148 m) to the south and Katharo (1564 m) and Varsami (1545 m) to the east. Animal-rearing and agriculture were the main occupations here in the past. Perhaps…
The Venetian villa Dei Mezzo, also known as the Seragio by the locals, is a once three-storied tower located at the village of Etia in eastern Crete, in the region of Sitia. The name of the village translates to “willow tree” in Greek even though it is uncertain how the connection was made.
The name Kazarma is derived from the Venetian Casa di Arma, which means barracks or armoury. Indeed, these were the barracks of the Venetian garrison, the army headquarters of the fortified town of Sitia. The walls of Sitia, which reached as high uphill as the fortress, were built at the same time as the Kazarma, in the late Byzantine years.
The area of Frangokastello was named after the fortress built there by the Venetians in 1371, to control the area. It is believed that building materials from an ancient city of the region were used for the construction.
The Venetian fortress of Gramvoussa was built on the unoccupied barren island of Imeri Gramvoussa, opposite the Gramvousa peninsula. This is where the ancient town of Agneion flourished during the Roman years.
The Nerantze Mosque is one of the most impressive and best-preserved monuments of the old town of Rethymno which, like many other buildings, underwent significant changes, as did the city itself.
The Guora Gate is all that is left from the Venetian fortification of Rethymno. This magnificent gate, which was named after the Venetian rector (= governor) Giacomo Guoro, has an opening that spans 2,60 m wide. It used to be the main entrance to the walled city and it led to the central square, where the most important public buildings of Rethymno were located. (the Loggia, the Rimondi Fountain, the Clock tower).
The Kara Moussa Pasha Mosque The Kara Moussa Pasha Mosque was named after the Turkish commander of the naval campaigns that were conducted against the city of Rethymno. It is situated where the Venetian monastery of Agia Varvara used to be.
The archaeological site of the Basilica of Agia Sophia dates back to the early 6th century AD and is located south of the coastal settlement of Panormos and east of Rethymno. According to researchers, it was probably the Diocese’s seat of Eleftherna during the Early Byzantine years. It was most likely dedicated to Agia Sophia, hence the name and is one of the largest to be found in Crete.
On the road from Agios Nikolaos to Kritsa, 1 km before the village, we meet the church of Panagia Kera. It is one of the most important Byzantine monuments of the island of Crete with impressive Byzantine frescoes. The church is three-aisled, vaulted with a dome and was built gradually starting in the 13th century. The central aisle is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is the oldest (13th century) while the two side aisles were built later (14th century)…
The Rotunda of Episkopi is a remarkable Early Byzantine church, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, that can be seen near the village of Kato Episkopi, in the area of Kissamos. In the early Christian years, it was the seat of the Bishop of Kissamos. In the 6th century AD, the church took the form it has today, and it has been in use continuously since then.
Spinalonga is a small island-fortress located at the northern entrance to Elounda bay, at a strategic point that secures control over the natural harbour of Elounda. An ancient fortification existed on the site of the fortress that can be seen today, for the protection of the port of the ancient town of Olous.
The pottery workshop “Keramos” is located in the village of Fodele, a place with characteristic natural beauty but also a special historical and artistic charge since, among other things, it is the special homeland of Dominikos Theotokopoulos.
The village of Viola is a deserted settlement in eastern Crete. It takes up the northern and the western side of a steep hill on the eastern side of the plateau where the villages Ziros, Armeni and Handras are located.
The Fortress of Koules in the city of Heraklion is part of the fortification works conducted by the Venetians in the 16th century while it was part of the Republic of Venice to defend the port city from attackers. Two fortresses were built at the end of each pier, however, only the largest one, the so-called Koules, survives today.
The cathedral of Saint Minas, patron saint of Heraklion since 1734 is located near the centre of the city following Vikela Street and then entering Agiou Mina Street. Near the cathedral, a much smaller and older church known as “Little Saint Minas” can also be seen. On the other side of the square, we find the church of Saint Catherine, and the square that is named after it, full of vibrant cafes, restaurants and shops.
The Fortezza is an imposing fortress, which overlooks the city of Rethymno from the rocky hill of Paleokastro. It is possible that in antiquity before the medieval Fortezza was built, the acropolis of Ancient Rithymna and the temple of Artemis Rokkea existed in the area.
The old town of Chania embodies the long history of the city. In the picturesque alleys, visitors can see the marks left by every civilization that has settled here for a period of time in the past.
The municipality of Viannos in the southeastern part of Heraklion is known for its wild beauty. Located at the foothills of Mount Dikti, it offers impressive geomorphological formations, beautiful plateaus and charming villages. During World War II, Viannos found itself at the centre of a mass extermination attack by Nazi soldiers, in reprisal for their support of the rebel forces. Most of the villages in the area were burned and looted while more than 500 people were executed during a…
At an altitude of 2.456 metres, the chapel of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross in Greek) immortalises the ancient practice of worship in peak sanctuaries.
Saint Francis The single-aisled basilica of St. Francis belonged to the order of the Franciscans during Venetian rule and stands out both for its special architecture and its sculptural decoration. The Turkish conquerors turned it into a poorhouse and in 1796 established a girls’ school right next to it. To its east, the ruins of the two chapels can still be seen.
The name of these ancient, dry-stone constructions derives from the Latin word “metatum“, which means soldiers’ lodging. The word passed on to the Byzantines, meaning a temporary lodging, and it still has, more or less, the same meaning in Crete; mitata are used by shepherds as lodgings and storage rooms for cheese. They seem to have come about as a result of some ancient construction tradition and can be seen in various locations around the island but especially in the…
The Loggia (from the Italian word for “lodge“) is one of the most important buildings of the Venetian period in Crete. It was a kind of gentleman’s club, where the rich nobles and lords gathered. The building was built after 1541 probably with designs by Michel Sammicheliin Palladian style.
The city of Chania was surrounded by walls already in the Byzantine era. The Byzantine fortification had an irregular shape and enclosed the hill of Kasteli. These walls, which were built with stones detached from the ruins of Ancient Kydonia, were repaired in 1252 by the Venetian conquerors, who built a new city within the walls, following a new city plan.
The Cathedral of the Presentation of Virgin Mary also known as Panagia Trimartiri is considered the protector of the city of Chania. The central aisle is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary (Isodia tis Theotokou), which is celebrated on November 21. The northern aisle is dedicated to St. Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) and the southern aisle to the Three Cappadocian Fathers (Tris Ierarhes).
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