Everything is harmonious here- modern buildings match to the ancient architectural concept, and they absolutely do not violate the neighborhood of historical and current urban traditions. This city is a repository of Minoan, Venetian, Ottoman, Greek masterpieces. It is beautiful at night and in the daytime. It admires with its hospitality and can conquer you at first sight. And its name is Heraklion.
Imagine that you are in ancient Greece, where you can find an extensive port with the beautiful name of Heraklion on the shores of the azure sea. This "haven of ships" gave the name of a wonderful city, which has not been changed since either the Cretan, Byzantine, or Ottoman period.
Heraklion is the main city on the island. There are more than 120 thousand indigenous inhabitants, and about 1.5 million tourists come here every year. The name of the capital of Crete (which is Heraklion) is due to Hercules, who committed one of 12 exploits on this island, which glorified him a lot.
It is hard to imagine, but the city was the largest center of the slave trade long-long ago, and in the years of the War World II, it was subjected to the most powerful destruction. Industrious locals (yes, they are hardworking, despite the stupid myths about the laziness of the Greeks) restored the historical pearls by bit, preserving the virgin appearance of the ruins of Minoan culture, the Venetian and Turkish eras. And, new buildings that can compete with the ancient heritage if not by age, then by beauty, were built in Heraklion.
Religious Heraklion
Having visited this city, it is definitely worth visiting the main Christian shrine of Heraklion - the temple of Saint Mina, the saint patron of the city. Admire the beauty of this place and rest in peace in the sacred oasis of coolness and faith. And you should visit the Cathedral of Titus - a temple built in the X century, in honor of the apostle Paul's apprentice, the first bishop of Crete, who spread Christianity in the island.
By the way, an interesting thing is that local Christian traditions are rather different from ours: dear ladies, go boldly to the Temple with your head uncovered. And take candles as much as you like, and completely free! And still the Orthodox believers sit here, as well as Catholics. But you must agree, perhaps this is right - it's better to think about God rather than standing and thinking about your legs ...
By the way, Greeks, even non-believers, consider it is a good way to visit the church at Easter or the Trinity. After all, the school curriculum includes an obligatory subject - the God`s Law. And there is a faculty of theology in every university.
While staying in Heraklion, visit the church of St. Catherine, built in the middle of the XVI century. Today, there is an amazing collection of ancient frescoes dating back to the 13th-14th centuries. And there you will see an incredible collection of Byzantine icons. Six of them were written by Mikhail Damaskin himself - an outstanding icon painter who created his masterpieces in Crete, Venice and the Ionian Islands. It is interesting that you will meet icons collected from all corners of Crete and even from Russia in this collection.
The main treasures of Heraklion
The entrance to the port is still adorned with a reliable stone protective structure, Kules Fortress. It was built in the 16th century and all subsequent years protected the city from unfriendly guest conquerors: Arabs, Venetians, Turks. Look - waves splash about the modest sides of boats and yachts, not like the glorified melt of Mr. Abramovich's money and the chic cruise ships. This is modern port - the place of mooring for peaceful fishing and tourist boats.
Of all the conquerors of Heraklion, the most significant trace was left by the Venetians, especially in architecture. you can admire the Venetian Loggia, the Morozini fountain (called today's residents of the city the fountain "Lviv") and the wonderful houses of that era, built on the street on August 25 up to these days.
But if you are interested in what is within the city, then go to the richest museums of Crete: the Archaeological, the Historical, the Museum of Nature and the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum, a famous writer named after a local airport.
And yet, there is a "diamond" of Minoan culture just 5 kilometers from Heraklion (or in the hour of walking) - the famous Knossos palace. It is said that King Minos hid the sinful fruit of the love of his unfaithful wife and the sacred bull-the Monotonous Minotaur. Which, fortunately, the ancient Greeks, won the same hero-Theseus.
Heraklion at night
When the island is almost in a mysterious darkness, do not go straight to a comfortable bed at a local cozy hotel. The night city has its own special color, sounds and flavors, when the attracting coffee notes are mixed with the smell of the sea. And, there are aromas of Greek dishes in the air made of the freshest Cretan vegetables, freshly caught fish and divine local wine. By the way, do not be afraid to recover - the Greek cuisine will give you the harmony of the beautiful Helena, Hercules and, if you like - Zeus or Aphrodite.
But not even tastes and smells are the main part of the nightlife in Heraklion. At this time, the city fades away, giving way to the sounds of national tunes. You can hear the amazing sounds of Heraklion here and there in the numerous cafes, restaurants and taverns. This is the incendiary rhythms of Sirtaki, a dance that unites all the tourists and town dwellers who cannot keep calm and sit still. And the caressing sounds of the guitar and voices, singing in the duet folk songs.
And you know, it's impossible just to tell about Heraklion - you just need to go there and feel everything yourself. Just once, and you want to come back again and again. In order to feel the spirit of this place one more time, breathe in the scent of past centuries and enjoy the miracle of modernity. Heraklion is a city that cannot be omitted or not to visit - it's the main village of the island, the homeland of the Olympian Gods. So, come here immediately during your next vacation - Heraklion will find something to surprise and please you at any time of the year.
