Iraklion Greece a city on the island of Crete
By: S Pappas | Posted: 23rd November 2006
Iraklion Crete, the largest city in Crete island in Greece, changed hands frequently throughout history. Today it
is the region's business center, and busiest port in Crete. It
is best known for the nearby, restored Minoan palace,
Knossos. Iraklion also is known as Heraklion or Eraklion
Iraklion or Eraklion Crete is one of the largest cities of the
Greek island of Crete. Because of its ideal location
in the Aegean Sea, this is another Cycladic city with
a long history of invasions, uprisings and frequent
change of hands.
Iraklion Greece was built on the port that was used by the
largest known Minoan population center on the island of Crete or Creta,
at Knossos. The port has been in use at least since
2000 BC. The present city was founded in 824 AD by
the Saracens, Arabic Muslim peoples, who dug a moat
around their settlement. And they named it Andaq,
which means moat. Andaq was a safe haven for pirates,
which offended the Byzantine Empire. In 961 a
Byzantine invasion led to the slaughter of all
Saracens.
Tied to the politics of the Fourth Crusade, Crete or Creta Greece -
including Iraklion - became Venetian. The Venetians
improved the city’s protective moat with enormous
fortifications, most of which are still in place.
They also built a fortress in the harbor. Andaq,
which had become Kandaq through time, now became
Candia to the Italians, who sometimes referred to the
whole island as Candia.
Venetians were ousted by Turkish invaders after a
bloody 22 year war. Venice ceded the city in 1669,
and the city as well as the island became known as
Kania. During the time of the Turkish reign,
Iraklion's harbor in Crete silted up. The Turks moved to the
west part of the today greek island, and the city has had a
relatively peaceful history ever since.
Iraklion Crete became an independent city in 1898, then
joined the Greek kingdom in 1913. That was when
Andaq/Kandaq/Kania was renamed Iraklion, sometimes
spelled Heraklion or Eraklion Greece. This, the City of Heracles, was
renamed for the ancient Roman port of Heracleum that
had once existed in the area.
Today Iraklion or Heraklion Crete In Greece is home to an international airport in Crete.
It is the island’s most important shipping port as
well as docking point for ferries that serve much of
Greece. Iraklion of Heraklion is the major business center and a
major cruise destination. This busy city has a lot of
traffic, which looks out of control to visitors! The
city is known for its shops, its designer fashions,
and local produce. Iraklion’s Saturday Market, a
farmers market featuring a kilometer of fresh fruit
and vegetable displays, was held in the port area for
a long time. The market was recently relocated to a
suburb, to the great disappointment of some.
In Crete Iraklion's Archaeological Museum offers exhibits and
education spanning several thousand years of history,
beginning with the Minoan culture. There is a Battle
Museum, and a beloved Natural History Museum which
shares the flora, fauna, the wildlife of the island.
The city's largest monument is Rocca al Mare, the
Venetian fortress in the port.
Iraklion Creta or eraklion might be best known for the near by Knossos.
About a 20 minute ride out of town, a man named Arthur
Evans restored the Minoan palace in Crete. Visiting Knossos Greece in Crete is probably the closest modern people can get to
experiencing and understanding the culture and daily the life of the Minoan civilization.
by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com
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by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com
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Tags: venetians, frequent change, aegean sea, island of crete