Venetian Buildings

Venetian Buildings of Crete

Hania

Of the Venetian city of Hania one whole neighborhood remains, while of the fortifications (early 13th century), the bastions, moat and ruins of the walls surrounding the city have survived.
Other monuments from that era are the Loggia (once a gentlemen's social club), the Hiones (Neoreia) (16th century), the breakwater of the Venetian harbor and the churches of San Frencesco (the Archaeological Museum), San Rocco and of the Saviour (tou Sotiros).

District of Hania

Southwest of Kissamos, 43 km. west of the city, near the village of Kalathenes, is the Villa Rotonda, most probably the country estate of some Venetian feudal lord, dating to the 16th or 17th century.
At Agria Gramvoussa, a remote islet in the northwest part of the district, are the remains of a Venetian fort. Getting to the islet is difficult, and can only be done by caique from Kissamos, weather permitting, departing early in the morning during the summer.
At Paleohora, washed by the waves of the Libyan Sea, 73 km. south of Hania, the ruins of Castel Selino rise out of the shore. This fortress was built in 1279 by Duke Marino Gradenigo, governor of Crete. Frangokastello about 11 km. east of the Hora Sfakion (Sfakia), is the site of the old "Castel Franco" (Frankish Castle), built by the Venetians in 1371 as a defense against pirates and Cretan rebels.

Rethimno

The Great Gate, one of the old city gates left over from the Venetian fortifications of 1540 - 1570.
The Loggia, mid-16th century, was a social club where the lords and noblemen used to meet and relax. It is now the Archaeological Museum.
The Rimondi Fountain, north of Petihaki Square, a 17th century work.
The Fortezza, north of the city, on Paleokastro Hill. Built in 1574, it offers a marvelous view of the city and the sea. The facades of Venetian houses, most of which are found in the old city. The churches of San Francesco and Our Lady of the Angels, known as the church of the "Little Virgin" (Mikri Panayia).

Iraklio

The old fortifications at Handak, reinforced for the Venetians in 1462, are still in good condition today.
Of the fortress's seven bastions, the one called Martinengo - where the simple tomb of Kazantzakis is located - has survived and offers a view over the entire city.
Two of the four entrance gates to the city, the Hania Gate and New Gate, still stand on the south side.
Koules is the name of the imposing fortress at the entrance to the Venetian harbor. It was constructed between 1523 and 1540.
The Bentenaki, the breakwater running from the Venetian harbor to the bay of Dermata or Koum-Kappi. The vaulted arsenals, the shipyards where the Venetian galleons were built.
The Morosini (1628), Delimarco (1666) and Bembo (1588) fountains on the north side of Kornaros Square.
The Palazzo Ducale, the residence of the Duke of Crete and the Loggia (reconstructed), the noble's social club.
The Basilica of San Marco (13th c.), today an exhibition hall, and the Orthodox church of Aghios Titos (1446).

District of Lassithi

Spinalonga Rock-isle at the entrance to Elounda Bay, 12 km. from Agios Nikolaos, the site of the ruins of a fortified castle built by the Venetians in 1526 to present enemy ships from entering the harbor.
Sitia 70 km. east of Iraklio. The scant remains of a fortress built during the Byzantine era stand of the western limits on the city.
Ierapetra 36 km. southeast of Agios Nikolaos. On the far western side of town, near the sea, lie the ruins of a fortress erected in the early years of Venetian rule and radically rebuilt in 1626 by Francesco Morosini the elder when he was Governor of Crete.

Caves

Sentoni

The Greek Speleological Society has recorded over 3.000 caves in Crete. Not only astounding examples of nature's talent for interior decoration, many of them are also of great scientific value, being of archaeological, paleontological and historical interest. Man used caves as places of worship as well as dwellings from the Paleolithic era on.
The Minoans began the custom of worshipping their gods in small palatial or house shrines, in sacred caves and in shrines built on mountain peaks and the tops of hills.
The cave of Sentoni Zoniana. This is Crete's richest cave in terms of natural decoration. It lies in the District of Rethimno. 13 km. west of Anogia and 1 km. from the village of Zoniana at an altitude of 800 m.
The Diktaian Cave (Dikteon Andron). The legendary birthplace of Zeus, this cave can be reached by going to the outskirts of the village of Psihro (48 km. east of Iraklio and 52 km. west of Agios Nikolaos), where there is a path ascending to it. Significant archaeological finds indicate that the cave was long a place of cult worship. One can go from the village to the cave on foot or by mule or donkey, which can be rented from the locals. The descent into the fascinating cave demands some caution. Stalagtites of various shapes adorn the lower cave.
The Idaian Cave (Ideon Andron). 20 km. south of Anogia, on the upland plain of Nidas, on Mount Psiloritis, lies this sacred cave, where according to mythology, Rhea hid the baby Zeus from the murderous Kronos. Cult objects have been found here, along with statues and bronze shields and other finds now on display in the Iraklio Archaeological Museum.
The Cave of Eileithyia (Ilithiia). This cave was used for cult rituals from the Neolithic era up to the 5th century B.C. Lying 1 km. south of Amnissos, it was sacred to Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth. Archaeological investigations here uncovered idols of woman in the act of giving birth, nursing or praying, figures of animals, Neolithic shells and tools.
The cave of Ag. Paraskevi Sskotimou. 22 km. from Iraklio. This very interesting cave was used for cult worship both in antiquity and during the Christian era.The Kamares Cave. Northeast of the village of Kamares (57 km. from Iraklio) lies the Cave of Kamares, established during the Minoan period as a sacred spot, possibly dedicated to the worship of the goddess Eileithyia. The wonderful Kamares vases, on display in the Archaeological Museum of Iraklio were found here. Visiting the cave entails a 4-hour walk from the village.
The Gerani Cave of Rethimno. 6 km. from Rethimno, this is a cave of prehistoric, paleontological and archaeological interest. Finds from this cave may be seen in the Rethimno Archaeological Museum.
The Melidoni Cave. 3 km. from the village of Melidoni (26 km. east of Rethimno), this was used for cult worship during the Neolithic, Minoan and Archaic periods.

Churches and Monasteries

Capital of the Roman province of Cyrenaica, Gortyn became the first Christian community in Greece in the year 65 A.D., after St. Paul appointed Titus as bishop, with a mission to convert the whole of Crete. In the 16th century the Cretan School of painting, closely allied with Byzantine tradition, produced numerous painters of icons, both famous and unknown.

Crete is scattered with the ruins of countless frescoed churches dating from 961, when the Byzantine recaptured Crete from the Saracens, to 1204, when the island fell into the hands of the Venetians. The following churches can still be seen:

In Hania

The chapel of the Moneyless Saints (Agii Anargiri) with old Byzantine frescoes.
The Russo-Byzantine church of Agia Magdalini in the Halepa quarter.

In the District of Hania

At Akrotiri northeast of the city (16.5 km.), the Monastery of Agia Triada (Tzangarol), with a fine gate and church, built in 1632.
Near Agia Triada, the Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels or Gouvernetou, founded in 1548, has a Renaissance-style church whose impressive facade is decorated with Venetian sculptures.
The Gonia Monastery, (24 km. west of Hania), near the village of Kolimbari. Also called the Hodigitria (madonna as Guide), it has a lovely view and buildings dating from 1662.
At Kato Episkopi, a village about 10 km. south of Kolimbari, the Rotonda of the Archangel Michael with interesting mosaic floors and important frescoes by Byzantine artists of the 12th century.
At the village of Alikianos (13 km. southwest of Hania), the Byzantine church of St. George with frescoes dated 1430.
At the village of Sougia on the south coast of the District, there are some exquisite mosaics from an early Christian 6th century basilica preserved in the village's modern church.

In the District of Rethimno Preveli

The Monastery of Arkadi (Moni Arkadi) (23 km. southeast of Rethimno), built in the 16th century in a wonderful natural setting. It is linked with memorable events in the island's struggle against Turkish oppression. There is a tourist pavilion outside the monastery.
The Monastery of Preveli (36 km. south of Rethimno). A historic monastery well worth visiting with a small museum and beautiful view of the Libyan Sea (Liviko Pelagos).

In Iraklio

The cathedral of Agios Minas and the smaller church of Agios Minas beside it.
The church of St. Catherine (Agia Ekaterini), containing icons by Michail Damaskinos, the most important representative of the Cretan School.

In the District of Iraklio

At Skotini about 1 km. northwest of Fodele the little church of the Presentation of the Virgin (Issodia tis Theotokou) built on the site of an older church of the 11th or 12th century.
About 56 km. southwest of Iraklio the Monastery of Vrondissi with a fountain carved in relief (15th c.) at the entrance to the garden and a panoramic view.
Further southwest, near the village of Vorizia (52 km. from Iraklio), the abandoned monastery of Varsamoneri. Here one can see the church of Agios Phanourios whose 15th century frescoes are of great artistic and scientific value, a unique monument of the Cretan School.
At Gortyn (Gortis) the three-apsed basilica (6th century) dedicated to St. Titus, one of the most important monuments to Christianity in Crete.
Near Krassi, west of Agios Nikolaos, the Monastery of Kardiotissa, with its church consecrated to the Virgin of Kera.

In the District of Lassithi

Some 9 km. from Agios Nikolaos before the village of Kritsa, the church of Our Lady of Ker, filled with frescoes from the 14th or 15th century and judged to be the finest in Crete.
East of Sitia (18 km.) the Monastery of Toplou or the Panayia (Virgin) Akrotiriani, dating from the 15th century. The monastery contains an inscription from the 2nd century B.C. and a famous 18th century icon by Ioannis Kornaros.
South of Sitia (41 km.), the Monastery of Kapsa.