Heraklion, Crete

 (Usual waiver applies to grammar, typos, spelling as I'm posting via  a small phone screen on the hoof 🤭, click on the pics to zoom in).

Thursday 28 May 2026
Landed at Heraklion airport at the same time as three SunAir charter flights. People were four deep at the luggage carousel. Outside the airport there was a row of charter company kiosks for people to meet their island charter rep, uh oh. Quite a culture shock after chilled out Alghero.

Not to be deterred we found our apartment for the week, settled in. It's  tucked down a side street,  close to everything and beautifully set up with all the little things that make a place perfect. We set out to explore Crete's capital city. Just walking to the old Venetian port there were numerous examples of this city's  history represented  in the  architecture. We passed ancient ruins still being excavated, early  Ottoman  and Venetian period buildings and 16th century fortification walls protecting the city.

The 16th c. Koules Fortress was pretty spectacular and the fishing fleet tucked into the old sea walls was well protected.

So nice to see this fisherman had a soft spot for the dock cat, the kitty jumped on to the nets and rather than being scared off, kitty got a gentle pat. 

Two big cruise ships were in port so there were charter sail boats taking punters out on the bay.

In amongst all the traffic you could still see the Venetian boat yards where I imagine boats were built or hauled up and repaired. A confluence of times,  busy traffic with a terrific historic backdrop.

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and I think the third largest city in Greece. It's busy and bustling with locals, government/municipal function and visitors. There are the big UK chain stores like Zara and M&S and super trendy chic boutiques ... something for everyone 😁. All set in this blended, historical town which serves up an amazing patchwork of architecture and history.

There are lots of street cats that look silently at you, patiently waiting for a tidbit. The good thing is I did see water and kibble stations for the street kitties.

There are lovely lanes to wander along and so many eating options, very up market and chic or cheap and cheerful - we didn't go hungry 😁.

We turned a corner onto a square with an old , now church, once an Ottoman mosque by the look of the domes.

So much history to see, not polished and pretty, just in the street amongst it all.  It was too bad the fabulous St Minas Cathedral was closed for repairs, it looked incredible from the outside.

The  18th c. Turkish pumphouse and water basins are just at the end of a market avenue and daily life just goes on around these gems. 

Tucked beside the Turkish pumphouse is a magnificent marble frieze which once was the base of a spectacular fountain.

There are many Venetian and Turkish era fountains across the town. The Venetian Bembo Fountain above, 1552-1554,  was the first to bring spring water via an aqueduct.

The most famous one is the 1628 Venetian-style Μorozini fountain (aka the Lions fountain). I saw a photo in the museum where all around the fountain was bombed during the German occupation but the fountain was untouched 🙏.

We visited the calm and serene Cathedral of St Titus, 1869.   This magnificent building started  life as a mosque, including a now destroyed minuret, before being converted for the Greek Orthodox faithful.

In a quiet side chapel is the skull of St Titus, a disciple of St Paul.

We lit candles for our loved ones and enjoyed the calm and cool.

Heraklion is a gutsy, gritty town that has survived numerous occupations and therefore is packed full of history, not least the history of the earliest occupants, the Minoans. The fabulous Knossos Palace is just 5ks from the centre and, after Athens, is considered one of the most important sites for history and antiquities in all of Greece...more to look forward to 😁.

KS 39 Spot Feel at Home, Heraklion