Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil
Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Heraklion. Give it roughly ~20 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type monument
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Heraklion Heraklion guide
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About Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil
A Venetian fountain built around a headless ancient Roman statue, the only public building in Crete with antiquities set into it, paired with a domed Ottoman water-kiosk from 1776.
The Bembo Fountain on Kornarou Square was built between 1552 and 1554 by the Venetian capitano Gianmatteo Bembo and was the first fountain to bring running water into Candia from a source outside the city walls. Its marble facade, about 5.7 by 2.35 metres and shaped like a temple front, carries Renaissance and Gothic detailing and the carved coats of arms of the duke and his councillors. At its centre is a re-used headless ancient Roman statue, probably of Asclepius, said to have been brought from Ierapetra; it is flanked by two marble columns, and an ancient sarcophagus serves as its basin.
The Bembo Fountain is the only public building in Crete into which ancient antiquities were incorporated. Only the facade survives, the cistern behind it having been demolished in the 1930s. Beside it stands an Ottoman sebil, a fountain-kiosk built in 1776 by Haci Ibrahim Agha, its domed, arched form later housing a coffee house.
Did you know? The Bembo Fountain is the only public building in all of Crete to have ancient antiquities built into it. Its centrepiece is a headless Roman statue, probably of the healing god Asclepius, brought from Ierapetra.
How long is a visit to Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil?
Set aside roughly ~20 min for Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil worth your time?
Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil is among the 20 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Heraklion, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Heraklion
Day 2 of the Heraklion in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Bembo Fountain and Ottoman Sebil
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