The present city was founded in 824 AD.
In 1204, the city became part of the Republic of Venice. The Venetians built a fortress in the harbor, known as Rocca al Mare (rock in the ocean) which has been beautifully restored. It is open to the public, and I went to look at it before flying out on my last day...
The Venetian Lion
View from the entrance
An amphora close up
Here you can walk up to the outside level
Look at that floor!
Further up...
A hallway. Notice the windows in the ceiling!
What a door... notice the cannon balls!
Another floor
Steps leading to the outside level
The wall...
View of the harbor
Place for a look-out
Room for lots of soldiers up here!
View towards the sea
A window
The entrance
A family of feral cats lives in one of the arched spots in the wall
The fortress and the harbor
This was an amazing place to visit. To think that people have been living and working in the fortress since about 1200 is something indeed!
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Comments: 30
Thank you for sharing - I really enjoyed seeing the steps and fortress through your eyes.
the kitties look so funny in that environment... sweet...
the harbor is gorgeous... thanks for sharing...
Girly Comments & Graphics
Nana, I knew you would like the cats - in fact, I took the photo for you...
Rose, I think lots of places in that area of the world have similarities - for me it was a first visit, but surely not the last!
Marianne K., and of course there is much more history to this than I could ever post here...
Necee - yes, isn't it amazing, the cats living up there? But then, the whole island is filled with feral cats - and street dogs...
Vivian and JoAnn and Melinda, thanks for stopping by!
Marianne M., it's really worth the trip - and the fairly "simple" airport...
What awesome photos. Thank you for showing them to us. Who knows if I'll ever be able to visit Crete....but through your shots, I'll be able to see what I'm missing.
So it was part of the great Venetian empire? That's so interesting. Crete seems to have been in the middle of everything since ancient times. I'm sure that you can feel that when you are there.
You seem to have caught the Mediterranean blue sea and sky colour-perfect. Well done dear.
Bill, yes, it is a fantastic place to visit!
David, and it's exactly that color for real!
Fred, yes, the Venetians were real conquerors in their time! Maybe you want to write a story about that? Those blues were exactly like that - I could have spent all day just looking at the colors! And yes, you can feel the millenia of history - which is always amazing for someone who grew up in the States...
Linda, lots of small pensions in and around Heraklion to this day...
Yes Sherrie - isn't it the truth!
Bill, in downtown Heraklion...