Plan HERe
Where to stay
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Parking
City Routes
Routes at the heartland of Heraklion
Cultural Event Venues
Annual Events
Archaeological Sites
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Main attractions and monuments of the city
SCULPTURES AND DRINKING FOUNTAINS
TEMPLES AND MONASTERIES
HERAKLION MUNICIPAL ART GALLERY
Maritime Tourism
Congress Tourism
Wine tourism
AGRITOURISM
Erotokritos & Aretousa
The bronze sculpture of Erotokritos and Aretousa, located in Kornarou Square, pays tribute to one of the greatest poems of new European literature and perhaps the masterpiece of Cretan literature during Venetian domination, "Erotokritos" by Vitsentzos Kornaros. It was written in the 17th century and it consists of 10,012 rhyming verses in the fifteen-syllable iambic line written in the Cretan dialect. Erotokritos is a timeless masterpiece about love, honour, friendship, faith and bravery and it is an integral part of local tradition. Christodoulos Halaris has composed music for the poem and it has been sung by a plethora of important artists such as Nikos Xilouris.
Eleftherios Venizelos
The statue of Eleftherios Venizelos stands in a
prominent location at the Vitturi Bastion, overlooking the sea and the
commercial port of the city. Eleftherios K. Venizelos (born in the village of Mournies,
prefecture of Chania on August 23, 1864 and died in Paris on March 18, 1936)
was a Greek politician who served as Prime Minister of the Cretan State and
seven times Prime Minister of Greece. His role in the Cretan Issue was crucial
and his actions left their mark on the political events in Greece from 1910
until his death. He organized the Therissos Revolt and in 1910 he was named
Prime Minister of the Cretan State. A few months later, following an invitation
by the Military League, he resigned in order to serve as Prime Minister of
Greece. He brought about many reforms in almost all sectors, aiming at organizing
the country to become a civil state.
Artist: Giannis
Pappas, Architect: N. Hatzimichalis
Location: Opposite
Eleftherias Square (Treis Kamares)
Unknown Soldier
The sculpture is located in Eleftherias Square in
dedication to the services of the thousands of anonymous protagonists of
historical events and defenders of freedom. Most modern states honour them by
placing a monument commemorating the Unknown Soldier. On National Days and National
Holidays, state officials and people lay wreaths and flowers in their
memory.
Location: Eleftherias
Square
Battle of Crete
The sculpture is located on the east side of Georgiadis
Park and represents the brave resistance of the Cretan people against the
German invaders during the Battle of Crete on May 20, 1941, considered as one
of the most important events of WWII. The German military leadership had
decided to attack Crete (an operation codenamed Unternehmen Merkur, "Operation Mercury”) with its elite paratrooper units. The plan had been prepared by the
Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring and the Vice-Commander in
Chief Kurt Student. English, New Zealand and Australian soldiers defended the
island. Eventually on May 27, 1941 Chania and Rethymnon were captured and on
May 30 the city of Heraklion fell into enemy hands. Heraklion Municipality
placed this brilliant monument to honour the heroic resistance of the island's
inhabitants.
Artist: Giannis
Kanakakis
Location: Dimokratias Avenue, East side of Georgiadis Park
El Greco (Doménikos Theotokópoulos)
The sculpture is located in Theotokopoulou Park and represents one of the most important painters of all times, Doménikos Theotokópoulos. Also known as “El Greco”, Doménikos Theotokópoulos was born in Heraklion in 1541 and died in Toledo, Spain, in 1614. He took his first lessons at the Artistic and Grammar School of Saint Catherine. In 1566 he went to Venice, in an effort to broaden his knowledge on the artistic currents of the Italian Renaissance. He started working in Titian's atelier where he stayed for four years working also on Sculpture. He then went to Rome, where he was first nicknamed El Greco.
Minas Georgiadis
Minas Georgiadis earned his place in history for his struggle
during the Greek Resistance against the Germans. Born in Heraklion, he was
known for his integrity, honesty and dynamism. As a result, he was honoured by
the people of Heraklion who elected him Mayor in 1934. During the Metaxas
Dictatorship (1936) he was exiled to Athens. During the German occupation, he
was arrested, jailed and tortured. After a short while he was executed in Gazi (June
2, 1942) along with the 62 Martyrs. The city of Heraklion, in honour to his
memory, placed a marble bust of him in a park that is named after him as well
(Georgiadis Park).
Location: Georgiadis Park
.jpg?rnd=1506413829 "The sculpture Daskalogianis")
Daskalogiannis
The sculpture depicts Ioannis Vlachos, nicknamed "Daskalogiannis" for his great education. He was born in Anopoli of Sfakia (1722). His real name was Ioannis Vlachos. He was a close personal friend of the Benakis family from Mani and of the Russian Admiral Orlov. He travelled to Russia from where he brought weapons for the revolution that followed. Leading a group of 1,300 rebels from the area of Sfakia, he launched the Revolution in Sfakia in 1769. The revolution was a success and Daskalogiannis fought bravely, but when things got difficult, he turned himself in, in order to avoid retaliation against his compatriots. He was transferred and imprisoned in Koules, Heraklion.
THE DANCER
The sculpture entitled “The Dancer” was created by Man. Tzompanakis and is located in Theotokopoulou Park. It portrays a woman who is dancing.
Artist: Manolis Tzompanakis
Location: Theotokopoulou Park
As years go by
The sculpture “As years go by” (Χρόνο με το Χρόνο) is a creation by Manolis Harkoutsis under the campaign to save and promote the ancient olive trees of Crete launched by the Technological Educational Institute of Crete and various cultural associations.
Artist: Manolis Harkoutsis
Location: Forecourt of the Natural History Museum of Crete (temporary location)
Mother
A sculpture dedicated to the dearest of all creatures, the Mother! It is located in Faneromeni Square (opposite Heraklion Cultural and Conference Centre).
Artist: Tzompanakis Emmanouil
Location: Faneromeni Square (opposite Heraklion Cultural and Conference Centre)
«Venus»
It is a Gortynian marble sculpture by Italian artist Alessio Ranaldi located on the western seafront of Heraklion (2014 International Sculpture Symposium, village of Venerato. Organised by Heraklion Municipality). The symposium was dedicated to the great Cretan painter Doménikos Theotokópoulos.
Olympic Harmony
The sculpture “Olympic Harmony” is located in the park next to the bus station (KTEL). It was unveiled in August 2002 to celebrate the 2004 Olympic Games held in Athens.
Kornarou Square Sebil (Charity Fountain)
Back in 1776, it was the particular importance
attributed to water by Islam that prompted Haci Ibrahim Agha, a wealthy citizen
of Heraklion, to build a sebil (charity
fountain). Being a Muslim neighbourhood, the area next to the fountain soon
attracted many cafés which became the meeting point for worshippers, especially
during the Ramadan, along with the nearby Valide Mosque.
All semicircular
windows of the small round building had a fountain below them and an
inscription (written in old Ottoman) on the upper part of one of the walls
reminded that “water if the source of everything”.
Idomeneus Fountain
It was built in the late 17th century and
is currently located behind the city’s Historical Museum. The fountain is highlighted
by two columns with capitals featuring flora-themed decorative elements. In
their middle and within an arch-like structure we find a marble bas-relief plaque.
Water streamed from an opening underneath the plaque and into a marble bowl.
Hanialis Fountain
Hanialis Fountain is located next to the outer part of
Agios Georgios Gate below the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos. Its top features
flora-themed decorative elements and its tap lies within a marble bas-relief frame.
The water streamed into a marble bowl featuring similar decorative elements.
Genitsar Agha Fountain
It is currently located on Ikarou Avenue, next to the
Inscriptions Collection. An elaborate tap is located within an arch-like
structure surrounded by two large semi-columns decorated with rosettes.
Sagredo Fountain
It was built by Giovanni Sagredo between 1602 and 1604.
Part of the fountain has been walled in the northwest side of the Loggia and is
decorated with a statue of a woman figure, which, according to Gerola’s
description, was quite possibly holding a shield with her left hand and a kind
of sledgehammer (large hammer) with the her right hand. It is thought that it
was an impersonation of Crete.
Μοrosini Fountain (Lions Square)
One of the most famous fountains of Heraklion and a
reference point for both its residents and visitors, Morosini Fountain is currently
one of the most beautiful monuments of the city. It was built by the Provveditore Generale Francesco Morosini
in 1628, who, using a rather complex - at the time - pipeline system, managed
to bring water from the springs of Archanes to the thirsty city of Khándax. The
octalobe cistern was placed on a special base and was decorated with bas-relief
mythological representations and sea creatures, such as mermen, dolphins, and
various coats of arms, while water was pouring from the mouths of the four
lions.
The top of the fountain was dominated by a supernatural statue of
Poseidon, which, however, collapsed, probably during an earthquake. During
Ottoman rule, the fountain underwent a rather poor re-configuration and a
cage-like structure was placed around it which was subsequently removed.
Priuli Fountain
It was built by the Provveditore Generale Antonio Priuli in 1666 and it is currently
located behind the Bodosakeio Primary
School (area of Dermatas Gate). It is decorated with columns and semi-columns,
with Corinthian capitals, while the whole structure is crowned with a
triangular pediment. Both sides of the columns feature alcoves whose metopes are
elaborately decorated. In the middle of the fountain there is an inscription in
Turkish of the name of the Pasha who managed to bring water back to the
fountain.
Bembo Fountain
In the mid-16th century, Candia's military commander,
Gianmatteo Bembo, built an aqueduct to supply the city with spring water. The
fountain, which was named after him, belonged to the nearby temple of San
Salvatore and is decorated with a statue of the Roman period, marble columns
and the coats of arms of Venetian officials while the bowl into which the water
pours is also from the Roman period. During Ottoman rule, the fountain remained
in use and served those Muslims who wanted to be purified before entering the
Valide Mosque, which was the name that had been given to the temple of San
Salvatore at that time.
Sempil Ibrahim Aga
Η ιδιαίτερη σημασία που η μουσουλμανική θρησκεία αποδίδει στο νερό, ώθησε στα 1776 έναν πλούσιο κάτοικο της πόλης, τον Χατζή Ιμπραήμ Αγά, να κατασκευάσει μια φιλανθρωπική κρήνη, ένα σεμπίλι. Καθώς, μάλιστα, η ευρύτερη περιοχή ήταν μουσουλμανική συνοικία, γύρω από την κρήνη δημιουργήθηκαν καφενεία που, σε συνδυασμό με το παρακείμενο Βαλιδέ Τζαμί, αποτελούσαν χώρο συγκέντρωσης των πιστών, ειδικά την περίοδο της γιορτής του Ραμαζανιού. Το μικρό στρογγυλό κτήριο, περιβαλλόταν από ημικυκλικά παράθυρα, κάτω από τα οποία υπήρχαν αντίστοιχες βρύσες, ενώ ψηλά στη μία πλευρά του, μια επιγραφή στην παλιά τουρκική γραφή, επισημαίνει ότι «το νερό είναι η πηγή των πάντων».
