Venetian Harbour and Arsenali
Venetian Harbour and Arsenali features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Heraklion. Give it roughly ~45 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 landmark
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Heraklion Heraklion guide
About Venetian Harbour and Arsenali
Once ringed by sea walls, this working harbour built and sheltered Venice's war galleys in tall stone shipyards. Five of the original nineteen vaulted arches still line the quay.
Heraklion's old Venetian harbour was the maritime heart of the city the Venetians called Candia, guarded at its mouth by the Koules fortress. It was once enclosed by a seaward line of fortifications, of which only Koules survives today.
Lining the waterfront are the Arsenali, or Neoria, the shipyards where the galleys of the Venetian fleet were built, repaired and sheltered from wind and salt. Each tall vaulted hall was sized to hold a single galley. Nineteen shipyards were raised in three complexes, the Arsenali Antichi, Vecchi and Nuovi, but only parts of five arches remain, most having been demolished in the early twentieth century for a coastal road. Beside the newest arsenal stood the Zane cistern, holding around 20,000 barrels of water, and a warehouse for the salt trade. The restored arches now host cultural events and exhibitions.
Did you know? Each vaulted hall of the Arsenali was built to fit exactly one galley, which was hauled in off the water for building or repair, then rolled back out to sea when finished.
How long is a visit to Venetian Harbour and Arsenali?
Set aside roughly ~45 min for Venetian Harbour and Arsenali. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Venetian Harbour and Arsenali worth your time?
Venetian Harbour and Arsenali 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 1 of the Heraklion in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Venetian Harbour and Arsenali
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