Heraklion is one of the four prefectures of Crete, one of the beautiful Cyclades Islands in Greece, with its capital city of the same name. It is bounded by two other prefectures of Crete, the Rethymno prefecture to the west and Lasithi to the east. The farmlands are located within the valley and along the coastline while the remaining part of the prefecture is occupied by mountains to the west and the south. Apart from being the economic centre of Crete, Heraklion offers a variety of attractions such as luscious beaches, scenic villages, important archeological sites and picturesque landscapes, all of which entice tourists to the beautiful city.
The prefecture of Heraklion comprises of beautiful villages perched atop picturesque mountains while attractive sandy and pebbled beaches mark the clear blue waterfront. Amoudara, Tsoutsouros and Analipsi are only a few of the many scenic beaches that you can find in Heraklion. The city of Heraklion, which is the fourth largest city in Greece, was founded by the Saracens, then taken over by the Byzantines followed by the Venetians and the Ottoman Empire until it finally gained autonomy under the Ottoman rule. Parts of the Venetian built fortifications such as the fortress in the harbor are still present in their original state.
Heraklion Prefecture is also home to prominent Neolithic and Minoan Settlements dating back to 2000 to 1600 BC with the latter being of great interest to historians and archeologists. The most significant attractions are the archaic palaces of Knossos and Phaistos. Dating back to the Bronze Age, the Minoan civilization’s cultural and political centre, Knossos, also called the Labyrinth is an important place of tourist interest and being close to Heraklion, Knossos is listed in a tourist’s itinerary. It’s myriad of workrooms, store rooms and living areas are built in a maze like fashion, offering it the name labyrinth. Phaistos is another interesting Bronze Age Minoan settlement from 4000 BC.
As Heraklion is a port, tourists can get ferries to nearby islands such as Santorini, Rhodes and Mykonos etc. Apart from this, they can get ferries to Athens and Piraeus too. Heraklion International Airport named after the famous Greek writer and philosopher, Nikos Kazantzakis, receives tourists in large numbers during summer. The highway network connects Heraklion to other major cities of Crete while bus services are available for all major tourist destinations in Crete.
The vibrant nightlife is brought alive by the numerous bars and night clubs that remain open till the wee hours of the morning with people partying and dancing through the night. The colorful market places also attract visitors during the day. Heraklion experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry climate and clear skies in most parts except for the areas around the mountains that have a cooler climate as compared to the lowlands. However, the climate of Heraklion is milder than other areas in Greece, which makes it a pleasant place to visit.
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Photo by Kassotakis Yannis provided courtesy of Panoramio.com