Archaeological sites in Heraklion Crete - Hotel Georgia

Archaeological Sites in Heraklion

Knossos flourish for approximately 2000 years. Has big palatial buildings, major facilities and rich craft and cavernous chamber carved tombs. Large financial and commercial center, Knossos has relations with most cities of Eastern Mediterranean.

In the center of Heraklion on the north side of Liberty Square is the great Archaeological Museum of Crete, where thousands of visitors see the fabulous treasures from the Minoan, ancient, classical, Hellenistic and Roman times. Regarded as one of the major museums in Europe.

The current building was constructed between 1933-1937 by P. Karantinou in place of majestic Venetian monastery of San Francisco destroyed by earthquake in 1856.

The museum brings together archaeological finds from all over Crete, covering the history of the island for over 5500 years. Prominent among them have the treasures of the Minoan civilization, which here can be admired in all its historical continuity. The collection of Minoan antiquities is probably the largest in the world and the museum is rightly regarded as privileged museum of Minoan civilization.

South of the Loggia, the Basilica of San Marco, built in 1239 in PLAZZA DELLE BIADE (Cereals square) and was the Cathedral of Crete. Belonged to the Duke and at the area the Dukes are buried. San Marcos Today houses the Municipal Art Gallery.

Just a few meters from the Church, is an elaborate fountain, known as the "Lions" (with great sculptural decoration with the animal kingdom and the sea. Built in the early 17th century by Francesco Morosini, to decorate the square but also to provide water to the big city.

Southwest of the Lions Square, 100 meters, lies the medieval monastery of Saint Catherine in the Cretan University of the Middle Ages and many European artists, philosophers, church fathers, poets and writers. Today, St. Catherine houses a great collection of Cretan hagiographies.

A few steps from St Catherine stands the Cathedral of St. Mena, who is the patron saint of Heraklion and rescued the city's Christians from slaughter when the Turks in the early 19th century tried to annihilate them. The temple was built for thirty years and inaugurated in 1896 with lavish celebrations. Next to it is the small church of St. Menas, an older and embellished with magnificent hagiographies and icons of large Hagiographers ..

At the port there is the majestic fortress, Koules, which protected the city for centuries but was also used as prison full of prisoners shackled lived in huge dark galleries and halls.

West of the port of Heraklion, is the Historical Museum of Crete, where are the treasures of the Christian, Byzantine, Medieval and modern times of the island. Artistic works of folk culture of Crete, some works of the great painter EL GRECO, who was born and studied painting in Heraklion and paintings of the famous Cretan School of Hagiography, decorate this great museum. A typical Cretan house as well with memorabilia of the great writer Nikos Kazantzakis also housed in the same Museum.

Contact

Hotel Georgia
Amoudara, Heraklion, Crete
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