A taste of Heraklion

Knossos, a thriving center of civilization, flourished for about two millennia, showcasing grand palace buildings, elaborate workshops, and opulent tombs. This bustling hub of trade maintained connections with cities across the Eastern Mediterranean, marking an era of prosperity and urban sophistication starting around 2000 BC. At its peak, Knossos boasted monumental structures and a sophisticated social hierarchy. The Minoan palace, perched atop Kephala hill, stands as a testament to this ancient legacy. Revered in myth and legend, it is associated with tales of the wise King Minos, the Labyrinth, the Minotaur, and the ingenious craftsman Daedalus and his ill-fated son, Icarus.

Bembo Fountain is in Kornarou Square. It was built between 1552 and 1554 by Captain Gianmatteo Bembo and is decorated with Renaissance and Gothic stylistic elements.

The tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis is located on the Martinengo bastion on the Venetian walls. The grave of the great Heraklion writer Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957) is modest, stone and bears a wooden cross and the famous inscription that he himself asked to be engraved: "I hope for nothing. I'm not afraid of anything. I'm free."

The Morosini Fountain ,also known as Liontaria, is the most famous fountain in Heraklion. It was inaugurated on 25 April 1628 and  was inspired by Francesco Morosini.

It is decorated with reliefs of mythological scenes , sea creatures such as Tritons and dolphins. Four lions stand over the fountain with water running from their mouths.

A large statue of Poseidon originally dominated the top of the fountain, but this has been destroyed by an earthquake.

The Priuli Fountain was built in 1666 by the Proveditor General Antonio Priuli on the south side of the island section of the walls, and is an excellent example of renaissance architecture . Today it lies opposite the Bodosakeio secondary school.

The Church of Agios Titos is an Orthodox church in Heraklion, Crete, dedicated to Agios Titos. The current church was built in 1869 as the Geni Mosque and in 1925 it was dedicated to Christian worship. The church was declared in 2013 the cathedral of the archdiocese of Crete. The building is an eclectic style tetragonal temple with a dome. The exterior of the temple is dominated by the vertical elements, while at the top there is a stone-carved apse.