Venetian Sights in Crete



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The SPINALONGA FORTRESS

Location: Lassithi prefecture, at the entrance to the bay of Elounda
The SPINALONGA FORTRESS - image 1
Spinalonga remained Venetian for half a century after the Turkish conquest of Crete and became a refuge for Christians fleeing from the Turks. Finally, in 1715, the Venetians handed over the island to the Turks by a special treaty.
In 1903, the Cretan Republic made Spinalonga a colony for the lepers of Crete, that subsequently closed in 1957.
VISITATION OF THIS SIGHT IS INCLUDED IN THE EXCURSION "SPINALONGA FROM AGIOS NIKOLAOS (WITH GUIDE) 12:30-17:00"

The GREAT KOULES FORTRESS

Location: Harbour of Heraklion
The GREAT KOULES FORTRESS - image 1
The GREAT KOULES FORTRESS - image 2
The Rocca al Mare or Great Koules protected the harbour of Iraklion. An impressive two-storey fortress, the Koules stored foodstuffs and military supplies as well as being an officers' quarters and a prison. The Genoese built it in 1303 and it was rebuilt in 1523 (inscription over northern gate), after its destruction in an earthquake. The impressive fort has three relief carvings of the Lion of St. Mark, the one to seaward being the best preserved. The second storey is an outdoor theatre during the summer months.
VISITATION OF THIS SIGHT IS INCLUDED IN THE EXCURSION "KNOSSOS, Heraklion"

The GRAMVOUSA FORTRESS

Location: Chania prefecture, on Gramvousa island
The GRAMVOUSA FORTRESS - image 1
The GRAMVOUSA FORTRESS - image 2
Imeri Gramvousa contains the remains of a Venetian castle (1579). The castle, although built for 3,000 men, was never involved in a major battle. The Venetians handed it over to the Turks in 1692 - 23 years after Iraklion fell.
VISITATION OF THIS SIGHT IS INCLUDED IN THE EXCURSION "GRAMVOUSA - BALOS (ΒΟΑΤ TICKET) 10:40-17:45"

The HARBOUR and FORTRESS KALES of IERAPETRA

Location: Lassithi prefecture, Ierapetra
The HARBOUR and FORTRESS KALES of IERAPETRA - image 1
The Venetians built the fortress and harbour and in 1626, they enlarged and reinforced it. Recently, the castle was restored by the city.
The Ierapetra harbour offers docking facilities for medium size boats.

The FORTRESS KAZARMA of SITIA

Location: Lassithi prefecture, Sitia
The FORTRESS KAZARMA of SITIA - image 1
The FORTRESS KAZARMA of SITIA - image 2
There were fortifying walls around the city of Sitia from the Byzantine period. These fortifications were restored by the Genoese and by the Venetians but were never very strong. In 1539, the pirate Barbarosa conquered the city and levelled the forts and the town. When the Turks invaded the island the Venetians destroyed the fort so that it would not fall into the hands of Turks. The ruins of a Venetian castle are still visible today. A tower of three storeys has survived. North of the fort there is a little chapel built from the ruins of a Venetian monastery destroyed by the Turks.

The VILLA DE MEZZO in ETIA

Location: Lassithi prefecture, Etia
The VILLA DE MEZZO in ETIA - image 1
The VILLA DE MEZZO in ETIA - image 2
Before Etia, on the left side (south) of the road, there is a Venetian villa as well as the remains of a whole village. The Mezzo Villa itself very interesting and is being renovated. The fifteenth century villa is considered to be one of the most important Venetian villas in Crete.
The Mezzo family was a very important Venetian family from Sitia and having been given the area as a fiefdom they built the famous three-story villa. The Turks lived in the villa when they occupied the area but during the revolution of 1867 the Cretans destroyed it.