Route
Venetian Port and Shipyards, Venetian Fortress Rocca a Mare, Church of St Peter the Martyr, Historical Museum, Dermatas Gate, Priuli Fountain, Natural History Museum
Venetian Port - Shipyards of Heraklion is situated at the end of 25th August Street. The fortress of Rocca a Mare dominates over the north entrance, while the impressive arches of the shipyards and the Salt warehouse are situated towards the south.Â
Venetian Fortress Rocca a Mare or Castello del Molo or Koules was built by the Venetians to protect the pier and the port. It assumed its final form during the period between 1523 and 1540.
Church of St Peter the Martyr was built during the first year of the Venetian rule as the Cathedral of the Dominican order monastery.It was one of the town’s largest churches, with various chapels being added to it. The building which has been restored, suffered extensive damage from earthquakes from the 14th up to the 18th century.Â
Historical Museum of Crete was founded in 1953 and is housed in a neoclassical building of exceptional architectural merit. It tells the story of seventeen centuries of local history and culture, from the early Christian centuries up to modern times.
Dermatas Gate is situated approximately in the middle of the coastal Venetian wall, in the homonymous gulf. Today a part of its internal side towards the city is visible, while its exit towards the sea is preserved beneath the current coastal avenue.Â
Priuli Fountain or Fontana Nuova or Delimarkou is an excellent example of Renaissance architecture. It was built around 1666 by the Proveditor Antonio Priuli.Â
Natural History Museum of Crete operates as part of the University of Crete. It is housed in the old Power Station, next to the Gulf of Dermatas. Â
