Pantocrator Gate: A Gate for all

A major road, known as Strada Larga or Strada Imperiale or Strada Larga di Panigra (centuries later was replaced by Kalokairinou Avenue, also known as Platia Strata/ (Wide Road)), led to the western side of the Venetian fortification, where one of the main Gates of the city was located. Pantocrator Gate or Panigra Gate presented a peculiarity. It was the only Gate used both by citizens and by the army. In order to secure uninterrupted passage of both, the facade had two separate entrances, while in its interior a wall created two separate corridors. The Gate and its Bastion were named after the small church of Pantocrator located within the enceinte, very near the Gate. On its outer facade, above the door, it had embossed plaques depicting the winged Lion of St. Mark, the Pantocrator with the inscription ΠΑΝΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ, the only one written in Greek in the entire fortification, and the crown of the Doge of Venice Pietro Loredan (1567-1570). From the inside, the Gate had a monumental facade made by the famous architect Michele Sanmicheli, with two arched-shaped openings, which were three meters wide. Above the door, there were two embossed plates depicting the winged Lion and the Pantocrator, crowned by the inscription PANTOCRATOR, but this time written in Latin: OMNIPOTENS. After same years, Pantocrator Gate was also called "Hanioporta", since it connected the city with western Crete and Chania. Hanioporta was also the name given to the crack on the defensive walls, created in early 20th century, next to the Gate, which was subsequently bridged with an arched opening. Like the rest of the Venetian gates, the Pantocrator Gate is currently used as a showroom for exhibitions and events. In the future, it will be reformed to house the Heraklion City Museum.