Sightseeing in Heraklion - what to see. Complete travel guide

Heraklion is one of the largest cities of the country which history enumerates over two thousand years. The resort can accept visitors whole year long as water on some beaches of Heraklion stays warm even in winter. The most famous coasts are Stalis and Gouves. Multiple hotel complexes, entertainment centers and cleanest beaches are located near them. Recently an aqua park has been opened in this region. It has quickly grown popularity among small visitors and their parents.
1. Motorists should remember that the local drivers are not distinguished by strict compliance with traffic regulations. Therefore, it’s important to be very careful on the roads of … Open
From the historical point of view suburbs of Heraklion are the most interesting place. Palace of Knossos is the most famous building of this region. The palace is famous not only in Greece, but also abroad. This is an exceptionally beautiful building, halls and corridors of which keep the atmosphere of previous centuries. The gates of the fort are decorated with statues of winged lions and its towers are equipped with observation areas that are open for visitors every day. Near the fort are located a church and cathedral named in honor of St. Menas.
Art connoisseurs will be very excited to visit St. Catherine church as one of its halls is turned into Art Museum. Here you can see the works of a famous painter Michael Damaskinos. You can see priceless historical findings in Museum of History and Ethnographic that has recently moved into a new building. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
People, who enjoy walking on picturesque forests and groves, will like the opportunity to attend an excursion to Agia Varvara village that is located high in mountains. The slope here is very gentle, so you don’t need any climbing skills to reach the village. Votomos village is famous for its caves and canyons. Here you will also see a manmade lake.
On one of the main squares of the city is the beautiful fountain Morosini. It is one of the main historical symbols of Heraklion. Its name was given in honor of the governor of Crete Francesco Morosini. In 1628, he ordered the construction of a water pipe in the city, which would allow water to be extracted from the slopes of Mount Juktas. To build the water pipeline, the governor employed famous engineers. Few years later, a gorgeous fountain appeared in the city, which is adorned with a sculptural composition of lions. For locals, it became the first permanent source of fresh water.
Each trading street of Heraklion has its own characteristics. For the most fashionable brand things, you can go to Daedalou Street. Here, are concentrated the most fashionable boutiques, … Open
The most visited cultural institution of Heraklion is the Archaeological Museum. It is one of the largest museums in Greece. Its halls contain unique archaeological discoveries brought from various regions of the country. The opening of the museum took place in 1883. Its collection so rapidly expanded that, at the beginning of the 20th century, next to the old building, new buildings were erected. Among the exhibits is worth noting the unique frescoes, restored during the study of ancient Greek palaces, as well as precious accessories that were created over 2,000 years ago.
Fans of walks in historical places should definitely visit the Sea Fortress Kulesi, in the port region of ​​Heraklion. The first mention of this fortress dates back to the beginning of the 14th century, while the exact date of its construction remains unknown. At present, the entire territory of the ancient fortress is open to visitors. They can see the ancient living quarters, and the rooms in which weapons were stored. On the territory of the fortress, there is a mosque and an old prison, in which, prisoners were kept during the Middle Ages.
For many years Ippokambos Ouzeri has remained a confident leader among the restaurants of Heraklion. This beautiful dining facility offers the most popular dishes from the local cuisine. … Open
During the walk through Heraklion, you can see many interesting architectural structures. One of the most unusual is the building Loggia. It was built in the 17th century according to the design of the famous architect Francesco Morosini. Outwardly, this building resembles a traditional Venetian palace. Its architectural style is completely uncharacteristic for Heraklion and Greece as a whole. According to some information, this beautiful building was built in the likeness of the Basilica Palladiana, which is located in the Italian city of Vicenza. For many years this beautiful building was used for important political events and meetings.
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Sightseeing in Greece: things to see

Aphrodite Temple, better known under the name Parthenon, is considered the main historic landmark of Athens. The building has a miraculous construction from an archaeological point of view. Built in the 5th century BC, Parthenon consists of numerous columns and looks very light weighted at a glance. There is another important landmark nearby – the Erechtheion that was constructed in the 5th century. Many centuries ago a beautiful palace stood on the site of the ancient temple. According to a legend, the dispute between Poseidon and Aphrodite took place at that palace. The territory around the Erechtheion is decorated with beautiful statues, the most famous of which are Caryatid sculptures. One of the statues was brought to the British Museum in order to keep it in safety. … Open
Reference information
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Heraklion
♥   Castle 'Fortifications of Heraklion' Heraklion, 0.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Koules Fortress' Heraklion, 1.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Moni Arkadiou' Arkadi, 45.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Spinalonga Castle' Spinalonga, 55 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Fortezza of Rethymno' Rethymno, 60.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Heraklion and around
♥   Art museum 'Heraklion Archaeological Museum' Heraklion, 0.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sightseeing in regions nearby Heraklion

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