Fountain in Greece. Aqueduct of Saint Irene. Natural History Museum of Crete

Heraklion is the capital of Crete, the “gateway of the island”. On at the moment This fifth largest city in Greece with great international airport and seaport. Heraklion is worth visiting at least for the Archaeological Museum alone; in my opinion, this is the main attraction of Heraklion. But besides this museum, there is something to see here - so, first things first.

Sights of Heraklon

Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion presents a rich collection of objects and artifacts of the Minoan civilization. Stunning finds belong to different eras from the Neolithic to the Roman Empire, but the most remarkable collection represents exhibits of Minoan culture. You will see here beautiful frescoes from excavations of palaces on the island of Crete: from Knossos, Festus, Malia and other Minoan settlements on Crete, as well as votive figurines, gold jewelry, dishes, weapons and sarcophagi. In simple terms, this is absolutely iconic place, where you can practically touch ancient history. Believe me, this is a completely unique museum, significant not only within Greece, but also, of course, within the framework of world human civilization.
Museum address: Xanthoudidou Str. 2

Venetian harbor and Kules fortress

Be sure to take a walk along the Venetian pier to the Kules fortress, it is perfectly preserved. The entrance to the fortress is via a dam, which blocks the quiet fishing harbor from the sea waves. Here you can admire a variety of yachts, boats, caiques and other vessels. Sea air, fresh wind and sun will make the walk very pleasant.

The Kules fortress was built by the Venetians in the 16th century and served as a refuge from the Turkish siege, which lasted 21 years. If you are lucky and the fortress is not closed for restoration, you will pay little for entry - about 2 euros. And it’s worth doing this at least for the picturesque view of the city, the islet of Diya and the Psilorit Mountains, which opens from the top of the battlements of the fortress.
(in the photo of the fortress below, pay attention to the waves breaking against the walls from the sea, and how quiet it is in the harbor; tourists’ favorite pastime is to run from these waves and take photographs of this fascinating process))

Surely you will notice the remains of an ancient building with huge arches in front of the harbor on the city side. This is the Venetian Arsenal - an enterprise where warships were built and equipped.

Cathedral of Saint Titus

Orthodox. It was originally built by the Byzantines. Named after the saint who preached Christianity in Crete in the 1st century. The cathedral suffered several earthquakes and various metamorphoses: during the period of Venetian domination it was Catholic cathedral, and during the time of the Turks it was converted into a mosque. In 1923, the cathedral was consecrated again as Orthodox church. The building is comfortably located in a quiet and peaceful square. In the chapel to the left of the entrance there is a shrine containing the relics (head) of St. Titus.
Agiou Titou Sq./ 25 Avgoustou Str.

Venizelos Square with the Morosini Fountain and St. Mark's Cathedral

A small but crowded and noisy square is the heart of Heraklion. The famous one attracts attention here Morosini fountain , the stone bowl of which is held by four marble lions, which is why the square is also called the Square of Lions. The fountain itself was built in 1628 not only for decorative, but also for practical purposes: it received fresh water from the slopes of Mount Yukhtas. The water supply was laid under the governor of Crete, Francesco Morosini, after whom the fountain was named.
To be completely honest, the Morosini fountain is, of course, cute and cute, but... not particularly impressive) It is more interesting from a historical point of view. And you won’t pass by it if you walk in the old town.

In the photo above, an elegant vaulted gallery can be seen directly behind the fountain. St. Mark's Cathedral . If you have been to Venice, you will immediately understand that this building was built by the Venetians (only it does not look much like a temple). It was already in 1239, the basilica was named in honor of the patron saint of Venice - the Apostle Mark. Now it is the city gallery of Heraklion, where art exhibitions are constantly held.
Venizelou Square.

Unfortunately, there are not as many architectural attractions in Heraklion as there could be: during the Second World War, the city was subjected to massive bombing.RI will continue the story about the sights of Heraklion below. Now I’ll digress a little to look at the map of the city center.

Below on Heraklion map I noted bus station- look for it in the upper right corner - it’s an easy walk from it to the very center of the city. And it’s just two steps to the Archaeological Museum (to the southwest;)). Buses are the easiest way to travel around the cities of Crete. Seaport, where huge ferries from all over the world arrive, you can also see in the upper right corner (above the bus station). The old town and the most interesting places are marked with an oval in the center. Here you will find interesting architectural structures and mNumerous restaurants, cafes and shops.

Other attractions of Heraklion (rather minor)

Historical Museum of Crete

The museum tells the history of Crete, from the early Christian era to the 20th century. The first floor introduces the times of the Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman eras. On the second floor there is a reconstructed Byzantine church and a gallery of icons and paintings by the famous Cretan artist Domenico Theotokopouli, probably known to you as El Greco. The third floor is dedicated partly to the classic of Greek literature Nikos Kazantzakis, partly to the times of the Second World War.
Museum address: Lysimachou Kalokairinou Str. 7 and Sofokli Venizelou Str. 27.

Natural History Museum of Crete

Earthquake simulator in the basement - this seems to be the most unusual thing here. The museum also tells about the animals of Crete, the flora and fauna of this island. There are many installations depicting wild animals, including extinct ones. For example, it is interesting to recreate the huge elephant Deinotherium, which lived 9 million years ago. The Stavros Niarchos Discovery Center features interactive nature films.
Sofokli Venizelou Str. - at the very edge of the seashore.

Dominican Church of St. Peter

The recently restored church is located very close to the harbor - to the east of it. The temple was built by Dominican monks back in the 13th century. Unique frescoes dating back to the 15th century are located in the south chapel. On the territory of the temple there are still held archaeological excavations. The building of St. Peter's Church is an architectural and historical monument Middle Ages. After the completion of the reconstruction work, this monument was opened to visitors.
Sofokli Venizelou Ave. Free (for now)).

Bastion Martinego

The old city is surrounded on all sides by massive fortress walls - they were built by the Venetians. They are clearly visible on the map above. In some places the walls reach a height of 60 meters. Of the four gates, only two have survived: the gates of Jesus and Pantocrator. But contrary to my personal expectations, these walls did not become some kind of vivid impression of Heraklion. It's worth climbing them just for a good view of the old town. If this is a strong hook in your program, you shouldn't do it.

Cathedral of Saint Menas (Minas) - Agios Minas

The cathedral is one of the largest in Greece and can accommodate up to 8 thousand people (however, a Russian person will not be impressed by its grandiose size;)). Construction began in 1862. Saint Minas is the patron saint of the city of Heraklion. There are several wonderful stories associated with this building. One of them is about a bomb that fell on the roof of the cathedral on May 23, 1941, but did not explode. The cathedral is beautiful and harmonious, and certainly deserves to be seen as one of the main attractions of Heraklion.

Not far from the Cathedral of St. Minas (not next to the left, but somewhat behind it) there is an outwardly not very remarkable St. Catherine's Church, built in 1555, is an example of a mixture of Byzantine and Venetian architecture. It houses a museum of religious art, where you can find the most complete collection of icons in Greece. These walls remember the famous icon painter Michael Damascene, who was the first to use perspective and elements of the Italian Renaissance in Orthodox icons. The heart of the modern collection consists of six of his works.

There are several other temples in the city, but if you are far from religious, you are unlikely to be interested in visiting them.

Some tour operator websites are misleading that the famous Palace of Knossos is also located in Heraklion. It is located near Heraklion, but not in the city itself.

Heraklion today is not only a number of attractions that I wrote about, it is many taverns and restaurants with a Greek flavor, it is a shopping center, economic and cultural center, as a capital should be. In fact, I wouldn’t go to Crete just for the architecture of Heraklion. But for the sake of the Minoan era palaces and the Archaeological Museum - yes!

Allow one, maximum two days for sightseeing in the city of Heraklion (unless you have any special preferences).

Other cities, resorts and attractions of the island:

• Malia - vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches of Crete

The Morosini Fountain is an excellent example of architecture from the Venetian period. Favorite place townspeople for meetings, walks and dates.

Greece is famous for its ancient cities, which are literally imbued with unique events of past years. One of these cities is Heraklion, the capital of the island of Crete, shrouded in legends and popular throughout the world. ancient monuments belonging to different eras and dynasties.

The Morosini Fountain is an interesting structure located in the center of Lviv Square, which is located in the historical part of the city of Heraklion. It is considered the starting point of many routes: excursions to the Morosini Fountain are included in the mandatory program of a planned trip to Crete.

The Morosini Fountain bears the name of its founder Francesco Morosini, a valiant military leader and governor who ruled the island. Crete in the 17th century. The best craftsmen and engineers of that time worked on the design and creation of the majestic structure. They managed to bring a fresh water supply system 15 kilometers long to the source. In fact, it was a water supply system that supplied the city with clean water. drinking water, which came from the mountain slopes through a special aqueduct.

The hydraulic structure is an original sculptural composition in the shape of an eight-leaf leaf, decorated with relief plots Greek mythology: beautiful nymphs, newts, dolphins, sea monsters. Its grand opening took place in 1628, on St. Mark's Day (April 25). In the middle of the fountain there is a pedestal with a wide bowl supported by four lions: water pours from their open mouths. Huge stone sculptures symbolize the power of the Venetian Republic.

Once upon a time, the central figure of the fountain was a statue of the ancient Greek god and ruler of the seas, Poseidon, with a trident, for which the structure was nicknamed the “Giant’s Spring.” According to legend, the marble statue was destroyed during an earthquake, but there is another opinion that it was destroyed during the capture of the island by the Turks. During the Turkish occupation, the appearance of the fountain underwent changes: holes were made in it, and the water was intended for washing the hands, feet and faces of people reading prayer.

Today, the charming composition is a significant historical monument for all of Greece and is under state protection. The fountain, which now serves mainly a decorative function, is invariably popular with tourists. It is surrounded by cozy cafes, taverns, restaurants and souvenir shops. Very close are no less interesting attractions - the Venetian Loggia and the Church of St. Mark.

Useful information

In 2004, during the Olympic Games in Greece, the restored fountain worked to the delight of guests and local residents. However, after a few months the Morosini fountain was turned off. And only now, in 2016, after installing a special water filtration system, the fountain started working again.

How to get there

From the embankment to the city center along the street. On August 25th, past the Cathedral of St. Titus, to Venizelos Square, in the center of which there is a fountain.

Lviv Square in Heraklion is one of the most active and visited areas of the city. There are always a lot of young people here who use it to make dates; tourists relax here in numerous cafes and shop in local stores.

The most important attraction in this square is, of course, Morosini fountain. It was not originally built for decorative purposes. The fountain served as a source of water for the city residents, which came here through a 15-kilometer-long pipeline. Both the fountain and the water supply were designed by the Italian architect Morosini, whose name it bears.

The grand opening of the fountain took place on April 25, 1628, on the feast of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice. The fountain is located on a round base and is decorated with engraved scenes from ancient Greek mythology, dolphins, nymphs and others. mythical creatures living in the water element. In the middle of the Morosini fountain, on an octagonal pedestal, there are four lions with water flowing from their mouths.

Initially, these lions were not there and they were not connected to the fountain. In the case of the Morosini fountain, they symbolized the power of Venice. In the past, a statue of Poseidon was located in the center of the fountain. A work of local craftsmen, it, unfortunately, was destroyed.

During the Turkish occupation, the fountain's facade was perforated in many places and was used for the ritual of washing the face, hands and feet before prayers. Then marble columns were added and memorial plaque, dedicated to Sultan Abdul Mesit.

In 1900, the fountain was restored to its original appearance. Today it is decorative and very popular among both locals and tourists. Near the square there are many hotels where city guests can stay. A detailed list of hotels in Greece can be found here romaninvest.com/poisk-otelei-v-grecie. This will help you make a choice in advance.

Next to Lviv Square is the Venetian Loggia. This beautiful building was also designed by Morosini and built here in the 17th century. Here the people who governed the city met to resolve economic and social issues, and it was also used as a place where they rested after government affairs.

The Morosini Marble Fountain is an iconic landmark of Heraklion, the main city of Crete. Evidence of the heyday of the Venetian Republic now adorns the city, but in the old days it was an essential element of the fresh water supply.

The picturesque structure is popular among local residents and attracts the Morosini Fountain and numerous vacationers and travelers visiting Crete.

Location and appearance of the Morosini Fountain

The described object is located in the central part of Heraklion, on Lviv Square. The name commemorates the symbol of Venice - a sitting predator; the use of images of these proud animals in the design of the Morosini fountain is symbolic and more than appropriate.

The fountain's pool is surrounded by a low edge in the shape of a regular circle, and a circular stepped pedestal protrudes from the water. The fencing of the upper pool, which receives water jets from the lion's mouths, is made like a flower with eight petals when viewed from above. The sides are decorated with superbly executed bas-reliefs on mythological subjects.

The central octagonal support ends in a platform with four lions, on the backs of which rests a large bowl. Water pours out in streams from the mouths of animals and from roses on the sides of a round vessel. There is evidence that initially a majestic statue of the sea deity Poseidon stood in the center of the bowl.

The destruction of this monumental detail of the Morosini fountain is attributed either to an earthquake or to the Turkish conquerors of Crete, who did not accept pagan symbols. Many sources call the Morosini fountain an imitation and almost a copy of the Venetian fountain that allegedly existed in St. Mark's Square. However, there has never been such a structure there, and it could hardly have happened given the known shortage of fresh water.

The pool at the base of the structure consists of eight round baths, united in a single wavy fence. The marble sides are decorated with convex stone carvings depicting mythological scenes. Dolphins and nymphs, fish and monsters on the bas-reliefs are far from the real events that took place in the confrontation between the Venetians defending Crete and the attacking Ottoman Turks.

Meanwhile, the siege of Heraklion entered the world military history an example of unprecedented duration and tenacity of defense. The Turks could not overcome the resistance of the city's defenders for 20 years. A major role in this unprecedented durability was played by the presence of a drinking water supply system, of which the structure in question was an integral element.

Morosini Fountain, its history and builder

The Morosini Fountain served as a receiving reservoir for a water pipeline built by the prudent governor of Crete. Water from mountain springs it was transferred through the aqueduct to the underground storage precisely through the Morosini fountain. Heraklion, due to support from the sea and the supply of drinking water, resisted the Ottoman invaders much longer than others settlements islands, but was eventually abandoned to the Turks.

The invaders did not destroy the wonderful structure, but used it according to their own concepts and customs. The Turks made several holes in the frame of the pool, allowing free flow of water into the outer bowl. Here the ablutions prescribed by Islam were performed before praying.

A strictly executed information sign conveys to arriving tourists basic information about the site being visited. The initiator of the construction of the fountain as part of the water supply system, Francesco Morosini, was a high-born Venetian aristocrat and military leader, in the last period of his activity he was elected Doge of the Venetian Republic.

For his great services, his sculpture and paintings are placed in the Doge's Palace, the center of power in Venice, now a museum. Of the nearly 500 years of Venetian rule of the island of Crete, in recent decades it was Morosini, a prominent statesman and military figure of the republic, who led the leadership of the province.

In addition to his significant contribution to the development of the urban economy of Heraklion and its unparalleled defense, Morosini is also known for other good deeds. Through his efforts, the priceless relics of St. Titus, evacuated to Venice before the Turkish occupation, were saved from desecration by Muslims. He also saved another relic of the Cathedral of St. Titus - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.

The name of Morosini is associated with the construction of not only a water supply system and a fountain, but also many other structures. One of them, the Venetian Loggia, is located near the Morosini Fountain. A noticeable building with a gallery under the portal on columns can be seen from the benches placed near the fountain.

The review simply provides some information about the object, without advocating for its obligatory visit. It is simply impossible to miss the Morosini Fountain while staying in Heraklion for at least a few hours, and not a single tourist will regret this visit. Photos taken against the backdrop of a fountain with such a rich and heroic history will be memorable for a long time.

The Aqueduct of Agia Irini, sometimes called the Morosini Aqueduct, is the largest building structure of the Venetian architect Francesco Morosini, located near Conssa, in the village of the same name, on the island. Crete. Through this aqueduct, Heraklion was supplied with water. Heraklion has always had the problem of water scarcity - in the 17th century the city was supplied with brackish water from wells, as well as small fountains and water reservoirs that accumulated rainwater. It is known that in 1639 there were 1,270 wells and 273 water reservoirs in the city.

To solve this problem, General Proveditor Francesco Morosini developed and implemented an ambitious urban water supply project - the construction of a 15-kilometer water pipeline that carried water from various sources from northern slopes sacred mountain. Construction of the water pipeline lasted 14 months and it was opened on April 25, 1628. Water entered the water supply system, passing through the Aqueduct of St. Irene and appeared in the city through a source in the fountain, which was named the Morosini Fountain in honor of its creator. The aqueduct is made of stone and has three large arches.