Venetian Walls of Heraklion
On Gingerguide's self-guided Heraklion audio tour, Venetian Walls of Heraklion is a stop worth about ~60 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Heraklion Heraklion guide
About Venetian Walls of Heraklion
Among the best-preserved Venetian fortifications in Europe, seven great bastions that withstood a twenty-one-year siege and now hold the mountaintop grave of the writer Nikos Kazantzakis, high above the sea.
The Venetian walls of Heraklion form a roughly triangular enceinte around the old town, their land front defended by seven bastions, St Andrew, Pantocrator, Bethlehem, Martinengo, Jesus, Vitturi and Sampionara, fronted by a deep ditch and outworks. Begun in 1462 to designs by the military architects Michele Sanmicheli and Giulio Savorgnan, they took over a century to complete and are regarded as among the best-preserved Venetian fortifications in Europe. The land front survives largely intact, while of the seaward line only the Koules fortress remains.
During the Siege of Candia, from 1648 to 1669, the walls held out for twenty-one years before the city fell to the Ottomans, who then repaired them and renamed the bastions. At the highest point, on the Martinengo Bastion, is the grave of the writer Nikos Kazantzakis, whose epitaph declares that he hopes for nothing, fears nothing, and is free.
Did you know? During the Siege of Candia the walls held out from 1648 to 1669, twenty-one years, one of the longest sieges in history. When Candia surrendered, its people were allowed to leave in peace rather than be sacked.
How much time do you need at Venetian Walls of Heraklion?
Around ~60 min works well for Venetian Walls of Heraklion — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Venetian Walls of Heraklion?
Yes — Venetian Walls of Heraklion made the cut as one of 20 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Heraklion. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Heraklion
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Venetian Walls of Heraklion and read more:
Day 1 of the Heraklion in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Venetian Walls of Heraklion
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