Heraklion

The name Herakleion (Ηράκλειον) is derived from an ancient port of Heracleium that served as the harbour for Knossos.{{Cite Barrington|60}}{{Cite DARE|25167}} The port, bearing the same name, was named in honour of the hero Heracles (Hercules).{{Cite Stephanus|s.v.}} In antiquity, it was located about 20 stadia (approximately 3.7 kilometers) from Knossos.Stadiasmus Maris Magni §§ 348–349. Strabo also confirms the connection between the two.{{Cite Strabo|x. pp. 476, 484}}

The site of the ancient port falls within the boundaries of the modern city, near today’s port area. Although ecclesiastical records do not list it as a bishopric, a bishop named Theodoros of Heracleopolis is mentioned at the Second Council of Nicaea.Cornel. Creta Sacr. vol. i. p. 254.

The name was revived in the 19th century and was in use by locals as early as 1867.{{cite book |first=Samuel Gridley |last=Howe |title=The Cretan refugees and their American helpers |date=1868 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_TXcKAAAAIAAJ/page/n33 |publisher=Lee and Shepard |location=Boston |page=33 |via=archive.org}}

1. In antiquity: The area that would later become the city of Heraklion served as the port for the ancient city of Knossos, one of the centers of the Minoan civilization. This strategic location facilitated trade and communication across the Mediterranean. Over time, as Knossos declined, the port area grew in significance, eventually becoming a prominent urban center.

2. Rabḍ al-ḫandaq (ربض الخندق): In 824 CE, Arab exiles from al-Andalus (Iberia) who conquered Crete and founded the Emirate of Crete moved the island's capital from Gortyna to a new castle they called rabḍ al-ḫandaq ("Castle of the Moat").Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, s.v. "Iḳrīṭish".

3. Chándax (Χάνδαξ) / Chándakas (Χάνδακας): The Arabic name rabḍ al-ḫandaq was Hellenized to Χάνδαξ (Chándax) or Χάνδακας (Chándakas).

4. Candia: This name, derived from Chándax, was Latinized as Candia and adopted into other European languages: in Italian and Latin as Candia, in Spanish as Candía, in French as Candie, and in English as Candy. These names could refer to the island of Crete as a whole as well as to the city alone; the Ottoman name for the city was Kandiye.{{Cite book |last=Sezen |first=Tahir |title=Osmanlı Yer Adları |trans-title=Ottoman Place Names |year=2017 |publisher=T.C. Başbakanlık Devlet Arşivleri Genel Müdürlüğü |location=Ankara |page=410 |language=tr |isbn=978-975-19-3945-6}}

5. Megalo Kastro (Μεγάλο Κάστρο): After the Byzantine reconquest of Crete, the city was locally known as Megalo Kastro ({{lang|el|Μεγάλο Κάστρο}}, 'Big Castle' in Greek) and its inhabitants were called Kastrinoi (Καστρινοί, "castle-dwellers").{{Cite book |last=Greene |first=Molly |title=A Shared World: Christians and Muslims in the Early Modern Mediterranean |year=2000 |publisher=Princeton University Press |page=41 |isbn=978-0-691-00898-1}}

File:Knossos palace.jpg is located within the Municipality of Heraklion and has been called Europe's oldest city{{Cite journal|last1=Whitelaw|first1=Todd|last2=Morgan|first2=Catherine|date=November 2009|title=Crete|journal=Archaeological Reports|volume=55|pages=79|doi=10.1017/s0570608400001307|s2cid=231735198|issn=0570-6084}}|alt=]]

Heraklion is home to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, located in the southern periphery of the city and part of the Heraklion municipality. In Minoan times, Knossos was the largest centre of population on Crete and is considered by many to be the oldest city in Europe.Whitelaw, Todd (2000). "Beyond the palace: A century of investigation at Europe's oldest city". Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies: 223, 226.

Knossos itself had a port at the site of Heraklion (in the modern area of Poros-Katsambas{{Cite book |chapter=The Earlier Prepalatial Settlement of Poros-Katsambas: craft production and exchange at the harbour town of Knossos |first1=N. |last1=Dimopoulou |first2=D.E. |last2=Wilson |first3=P.M. |last3=Day |editor-first1=P.M. |editor-last1=Day |editor-first2=R. |editor-last2=Doonan |title=Metallurgy in the Early Bronze Age Aegean |series=Sheffield Studies in Aegean Archaeology |date=2007 |pages=84–97 |url=https://www.academia.edu/30665853 |publisher=Oxbow Books |access-date=2019-01-31 |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420182756/https://www.academia.edu/30665853 |url-status=live }} neighborhood) from the beginning of the Early Minoan period (3500 to 2100 BC).

File:Θεά των Όφεων 6393 (cropped).JPG|alt=|left]]

{{main|Heracleium}}

After the fall of the Minoans, Heraklion, as well as the rest of Crete in general, fared poorly, with very little development in the area. Only with the arrival of the Romans did some construction in the area begin, yet especially early into Byzantine times the area abounded with pirates and bandits.{{cite web |title=History of Heraklion in Crete island - Greeka.com |url=https://www.greeka.com/crete/heraklion/heraklion-history.htm |website=Greeka |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011544/https://www.greeka.com/crete/heraklion/heraklion-history.htm |url-status=live }}

Heraklion was chosen as capital in 824, with fortifications starting being built the following year, by the Arabs under Abu Hafs Umar who had been expelled from Al-Andalus by Emir Al-Hakam I and had taken over the island from the Eastern Roman Empire.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} They built a moat around the city for protection, and named the city rabḍ al-ḫandaq (ربض الخندق, "Castle of the Moat", hellenized as Χάνδαξ, Chandax). It became the capital of the Emirate of Crete ({{Circa|827}}–961). The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates who operated against Imperial (Byzantine) shipping and raided Imperial territory around the Aegean.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

{{Further|Byzantine Crete}}

In 960, Byzantine forces under the command of Nikephoros Phokas, later to become Emperor, landed in Crete and attacked the city. After a prolonged siege, the city fell in March 961. The Saracen inhabitants were slaughtered, the city looted and burned to the ground.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Soon rebuilt, the town remained under Byzantine control for the next 243 years.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

File:Città di Candia - Francesco Basilicata - 1618.jpg, 1618|251x251px]]

{{Further|Kingdom of Candia}} {{Further|Siege of Candia}}

In 1204, the city was bought by the Republic of Venice as part of a complicated political deal which involved, among other things, the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade restoring the deposed Eastern Roman Emperor Isaac II Angelus to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch of the city by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to {{convert|40|m}} thick, with seven bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. Chandax was renamed Candia and became the seat of the Duke of Candia, and the Venetian administrative district of Crete became known as "Regno di Candia" (Kingdom of Candia). The city retained the name of Candia for centuries and the same name was often used to refer to the whole island of Crete as well. To secure their rule, the Venetians began in 1212 to settle families from Venice on Crete. The coexistence of two different cultures and the stimulus of the Italian Renaissance led to a flourishing of letters and the arts in Candia and Crete in general, that is today known as the Cretan Renaissance.

{{Further|Cretan War (1645–1669)}}

During the Cretan War (1645–1669), the Ottomans besieged the city for 21 years, from 1648 to 1669, the longest siege in history up until that time. In its final phase, which lasted for 22 months, 70,000 Turks, 38,000 Cretans and slaves and 29,088 of the city's Christian defenders perished.{{Cite web |url=http://www.msc.gr/veniva/uk/main/p2.htm |title=The War for Candia |access-date=2006-08-05 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035205/http://www.msc.gr/veniva/uk/main/p2.htm |url-status=live }} The Ottoman army under an Albanian grand vizier, Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha conquered the city in 1669.

File:Τάφος Καζαντζάκη 4811 01.JPG in the Martinengo bastion|alt=|258x258px|left]]

Under the Ottomans, Kandiye (Ottoman Turkish قنديه) was the capital of Crete (Girit Eyâleti) until 1849, when Chania (Hanya) became the capital, and Kandiye became a sancak.Tahir Sezen, Osmanlı Yer Adları, Ankara 2017, T.C. Başbakanlık Devlet Arşivleri Genel Müdürlüğü Yayın No: 26 [http://devletarsivleri.gov.tr/varliklar/dosyalar/eskisiteden/yayinlar/genel-mudurluk-yayinlar/osmanli_yer_adlari.pdf#page=420 s.v., p. 410] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305221756/https://www.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/varliklar/dosyalar/eskisiteden/yayinlar/genel-mudurluk-yayinlar/osmanli_yer_adlari.pdf#page=420 |date=2023-03-05 }} In Greek, it was commonly called Megalo Castro (Μεγάλο Κάστρο 'Big Castle').

During the Ottoman period, the harbour silted up, so most shipping shifted to Chania in the west of the island.

File:Κούλες 14.jpg]]

An earthquake located off the northern coast of Crete on October 12, 1856, destroyed most of the over 3,600 homes in the city. Only 18 homes were left intact. The disaster claimed 538 victims in Heraklion.{{citation|title=Significant Earthquake Database|url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/2005|author=National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS)|publisher=National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA|doi=10.7289/V5TD9V7K|year=1972|type=Data Set|access-date=2022-06-05|archive-date=2023-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227002538/https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/2005|url-status=live}}

In 1898, the autonomous Cretan State was created, under Ottoman suzerainty, with Prince George of Greece as its High Commissioner and under international supervision. During the period of direct occupation of the island by the Great Powers (1898–1908), Candia was part of the British zone. At this time the ancient name of "Heraklion" was revived.

In 1913, with the rest of Crete, Heraklion was incorporated into the Kingdom of Greece. Heraklion was severely damaged in the bombing campaign in May 1941 during the German invasion in the Battle of Crete. The city remained under German rule until 1945. Heraklion again became capital of Crete in 1971, replacing Chania. The city, and Crete generally, became a major tourist destination from the 1980s onwards.{{cite web

|url=http://www.visit-ancient-greece.com/heraklion.html

|title=Heraklion

|access-date=2 September 2015

|publisher=visit-ancient-greece.com

|archive-date=28 April 2019

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428104701/https://www.visit-ancient-greece.com/heraklion.html

|url-status=dead

}}

{{Further|Fortifications of Heraklion}}

The oldest monument of architecture is the palace in Knossos on the outskirts of the city.

Two largest medieval churches in the city were the Dominican church of St. Peter (built between 1248 and 1253) and the San Salvatore, belonging to the Augustinian Friars. The latter one stood in Kornaros Square, but was demolished in 1970.{{cite journal |last1=Ilko |first1=Krisztina |title=Recovering the Augustinian Convent of San Salvatore in Venetian Candia |journal=Journal of Ecclesiastical History |date=2021 |volume=72 |issue=2 |pages=259–263 |doi=10.1017/S0022046920000755 |s2cid=228866606 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-ecclesiastical-history/article/recovering-the-augustinian-convent-of-san-salvatore-in-venetian-candia/B19D763642F3DEA569F25FAF35813EE0#article |access-date=7 April 2021 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121073124/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-ecclesiastical-history/article/recovering-the-augustinian-convent-of-san-salvatore-in-venetian-candia/B19D763642F3DEA569F25FAF35813EE0#article |url-status=live }}

Other monuments of architecture from Venetian times include the Saint Mark's Basilica and the Renaissance loggia next to Lions Square (1626–28).

Around the historic city center of Heraklion there are also a series of defensive walls, bastions and other fortifications which were built earlier in the Middle Ages, but were completely rebuilt by the Republic of Venice. The fortifications managed to withstand the longest siege in history for 21 years, before the city fell to the Ottomans in 1669. The Koules Fortress (Castello a Mare), the ramparts and the arsenal dominate the port area.

Many fountains of the Venetian era are preserved, such as the Bembo fountain, the Priuli fountain, Palmeti fountain, Sagredo fountain and Morosini fountain in Lions Square (1628).

Architecture from the 19th century is represented by the St Titus Cathedral, built in 1869 as the Yeni Cami ("New Mosque"), and the Agios Minas Cathedral (1862–95).

An example of modern architecture in Heraklion is the Heraklion Archaeological Museum built between 1937 and 1940 by architect Patroklos Karantinos.

Several sculptures, statues and busts commemorating significant events and figures of the city's and island's history, like El Greco, Vitsentzos Kornaros, Nikos Kazantzakis and Eleftherios Venizelos can be found around the city.

File:Knossos - North Portico 02.jpg|Knossos Palace

File:Άγιος Πέτρος των Δομηνικανών 8470.jpg|Dominican church of St. Peter

File:Βασιλική του Αγίου Μάρκου 9276.jpg|Saint Mark's basilica

File:Kreta - Iraklion - Venezianische Loggia.jpg|Venetian Loggia

File:2016-07-25 Heraklion 063.jpg|Morosini fountain in Lions Square

File:Πύλη Παντοκράτορα Ηράκλειο 3583.jpg|Venetian walls, Pantokratoras Gate

File:Sea Fortress (51759512842).jpg|Koules Fortress

File:Iraklion Agios Titos R01.jpg|Saint Titus Cathedral

File:Agios Minas Cathedral 01.jpg|Agios Minas Cathedral

File:20110927 St. Peter of Dominicans Heraklion Crete Greece Panorama.jpg

The municipality Heraklion was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units:{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg.|title=ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text|language=el|publisher=Government Gazette|access-date=2021-09-07|archive-date=2010-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718094132/http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg.|url-status=live}}

• Gorgolainis
• Heraklion
• Nea Alikarnassos
• Paliani
• Temenos

The municipality has an area of 244.613 km², the municipal unit 109.026 km².{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-21 }}

File:Historical Museum of Crete Front 2016.jpg]]

File:Amnissos - panoramio (1).jpg|alt=]]

Heraklion is an important shipping port and ferry dock. Travellers can take ferries and boats from Heraklion to destinations including Santorini, Ios Island, Paros, Mykonos, and Rhodes. There are direct ferries to Naxos, Karpathos, Kasos, Sitia, Anafi, Chalki and Diafani.{{Cite web|url=https://www.directferries.co.uk/heraklion_ferry.htm|title=Heraklion ferry, compare prices, times and book tickets|access-date=2017-09-25|archive-date=2017-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925181402/https://www.directferries.co.uk/heraklion_ferry.htm|url-status=live}} There are also several daily ferries to Piraeus, the port of Athens in mainland Greece. The port of Heraklion was built by Sir Robert McAlpine and completed in 1928.{{cite web|url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Robert_McAlpine|title=Sir Robert McAlpine|publisher=Grace's Guide|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216222535/https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Robert_McAlpine|url-status=live}}

{{wide image|Crete Iraklio1 tango7174.jpg|1000px||align-cap=center|Panoramic view of the old harbour}}

File:Nea Alikarnassos, Greece - panoramio.jpg]]

Heraklion International Airport, or Nikos Kazantzakis Airport is located about {{convert|5|km|0|abbr=off}} east of the city. The airport is named after Heraklion native Nikos Kazantzakis, a writer and a philosopher. It is the second busiest airport of Greece after Athens International Airport, first in charter flights and the 59th busiest in Europe, because of Crete being a major holiday destination with 8,066,000 passengers in 2022 (List of the busiest airports in Europe).

The airfield is shared with the 126th Combat Group of the Hellenic Air Force.

European route E75 runs through the city and connects Heraklion with the three other major cities of Crete: Agios Nikolaos, Chania, and Rethymno.

File:Αστικό λεωφορείο Ηρακλείου 9277.jpg

Urban buses serve the city, with 39 different routes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.astiko-irakleiou.gr/ |title=Iraklio urban buses |access-date=2015-02-23 |archive-date=2015-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224063554/http://astiko-irakleiou.gr/ |url-status=live }} Intercity buses connect Heraklion to many major destinations in Crete.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ktelherlas.gr/en|title=ΚΤΕΛ Ηρακλείου - Λασιθίου Κρήτης | Online Κράτηση εισιτηρίων για λεωφορεία - Δρομολόγια Λεωφορεία Κρήτης|access-date=2017-08-27|archive-date=2017-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828104241/https://www.ktelherlas.gr/en/|url-status=live}}

From 1922 to 1937, a working industrial railway connected the Koules in Heraklion to Xiropotamos for the construction of the harbor.Tzikas, Polykarpos; Konstantinos, Mamalakis; Tertipis, Dimitrios; Charitopoulos, Evangelos. «Μέσα σταθερής τροχιάς στην Κρήτη: Δίκτυα βιομηχανικών σιδηροδρόμων κατά το πρώτο μισό του 20ου αιώνα». Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Cretan Studies.

In the summer of 2007, at the Congress of Cretan emigrants held in Heraklion, two engineers, George Nathenas and Vassilis Economopoulos, recommended the development of a railway line in Crete, linking Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion. No official plans exist for implementing this idea.{{Cite web |title=No Plans for Crete Railway Project |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1166928/railway-project-in-crete-remains-on-hold/ |website=Ekathimerini |date=15 August 2021 |access-date=2023-10-10}}

Heraklion has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa in the Köppen climate classification). Summers are warm to hot and dry with clear skies. Dry hot days are often relieved by seasonal breezes. Winters are mild with moderate rain. Because Heraklion is further south than Athens, it has a warmer climate during winter but cooler during summer because of the Aegean Sea. The maximum temperature during the summer period is usually not more than 28 - 30 °C (Athens normal maximum temperature is about 5 °C higher). The minimum temperature record is -0.8 °C in the airport while in the port it has never dropped below 0 °C. Snowfalls are rare with the last significant snowfall with a measurable amount on the ground occurring in February 2004.{{Cite web |title=ΠΑΤΡΙΣ - ΑΡΧΕΙΟ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗΣ ΕΚΔΟΣΗΣ |url=https://archive.patris.gr/articles/27712/6337 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=archive.patris.gr |archive-date=2023-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525103949/https://archive.patris.gr/articles/27712/6337 |url-status=live }} Heraklion falls in 11a hardiness zone.{{cite web | url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm | title=Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα | access-date=2024-01-15 | archive-date=2023-02-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202121511/https://meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm | url-status=live }}

{{Weather box

| location = Heraklion Port 10 m a.s.l. (2007-2024)

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

|width = 70%

|Jan high C=15.7

|Feb high C=16.1

|Mar high C=17.2

|Apr high C=19.9

|May high C=23.1

|Jun high C=26.2

|Jul high C=28.3

|Aug high C=28.3

|Sep high C=26.4

|Oct high C=23.1

|Nov high C=20.8

|Dec high C=17.5

|Jan mean C= 13.1

|Feb mean C=13.5

|Mar mean C=14.6

|Apr mean C=17.2

|May mean C=20.5

|Jun mean C=24.1

|Jul mean C=26.6

|Aug mean C=26.7

|Sep mean C=24.4

|Oct mean C=20.9

|Nov mean C=18.4

|Dec mean C=15.0

|Jan low C= 10.5

|Feb low C= 10.8

|Mar low C= 11.9

|Apr low C=14.5

|May low C=17.8

|Jun low C=21.9

|Jul low C=24.9

|Aug low C=25.1

|Sep low C=22.4

|Oct low C=18.7

|Nov low C=15.9

|Dec low C= 12.5

|Jan record high C = 29.7

|Feb record high C = 29.4

|Mar record high C = 26.4

|Apr record high C = 33.5

|May record high C = 38.3

|Jun record high C = 37.2

|Jul record high C = 36.6

|Aug record high C = 38.0

|Sep record high C = 37.3

|Oct record high C = 32.8

|Nov record high C = 31.7

|Dec record high C = 29.6

|Jan record low C = 1.4

|Feb record low C = 2.4

|Mar record low C = 3.4

|Apr record low C = 9.1

|May record low C = 12.9

|Jun record low C = 15.6

|Jul record low C = 19.9

|Aug record low C = 20.7

|Sep record low C = 15.8

|Oct record low C = 11.6

|Nov record low C = 9.3

|Dec record low C = 5.0

|Jan rain mm=61.7

|Feb rain mm=49.0

|Mar rain mm=31.4

|Apr rain mm=13.0

|May rain mm=12.8

|Jun rain mm=4.1

|Jul rain mm= 0.2

|Aug rain mm= 1.6

|Sep rain mm=15.2

|Oct rain mm=43.8

|Nov rain mm=32.4

|Dec rain mm=53.4

|source 1= National Observatory of Athens Monthly Bulletins (May 2007 - Jan 2024) {{cite web | url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm | title=Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα | access-date=2024-01-15 | archive-date=2023-02-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202121511/https://meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm | url-status=live }} |source 2= Heraklion Port N.O.A station {{cite web | url=https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/heraclionport/ | title=Latest Conditions in Heraklion Port | access-date=2024-01-15 | archive-date=2024-01-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108233120/https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/heraclionport/ | url-status=live }} and World Meteorological Organization{{cite web | url=https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-heraclionport | title=World Meteorological Organization | accessdate=14 July 2023 | archive-date=20 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620125224/https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-heraclionport | url-status=live }}

}}

{{Weather box

| location = Heraklion 1955-2010 (HNMS)

| collapsed =

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

|width = 70%

| Jan record high C = 29.9

| Feb record high C = 28.8

| Mar record high C = 34.0

| Apr record high C = 37.5

| May record high C = 38.0

| Jun record high C = 41.3

| Jul record high C = 43.6

| Aug record high C = 44.5

| Sep record high C = 39.5

| Oct record high C = 37.0

| Nov record high C = 32.8

| Dec record high C = 28.5

| Jan high C = 15.3

| Feb high C = 15.5

| Mar high C = 17.0

| Apr high C = 20.1

| May high C = 23.6

| Jun high C = 27.3

| Jul high C = 28.9

| Aug high C = 28.8

| Sep high C = 26.6

| Oct high C = 23.6

| Nov high C = 20.2

| Dec high C = 17.1

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 12.1

| Feb mean C = 12.2

| Mar mean C = 13.6

| Apr mean C = 16.6

| May mean C = 20.4

| Jun mean C = 24.5

| Jul mean C = 26.4

| Aug mean C = 26.3

| Sep mean C = 23.7

| Oct mean C = 20.3

| Nov mean C = 16.8

| Dec mean C = 13.8

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 9.1

| Feb low C = 8.9

| Mar low C = 9.8

| Apr low C = 12.0

| May low C = 15.1

| Jun low C = 19.2

| Jul low C = 21.9

| Aug low C = 22.0

| Sep low C = 19.5

| Oct low C = 16.7

| Nov low C = 13.5

| Dec low C = 10.9

| year low C =

| Jan record low C = 0.0

| Feb record low C = -0.8

| Mar record low C = 0.3

| Apr record low C = 4.2

| May record low C = 6.0

| Jun record low C = 12.2

| Jul record low C = 14.5

| Aug record low C = 16.6

| Sep record low C = 12.0

| Oct record low C = 8.7

| Nov record low C = 4.2

| Dec record low C = 2.4

| Jan dew point C =6.1

| Feb dew point C =6.0

| Mar dew point C =7.1

| Apr dew point C =8.9

| May dew point C =12.1

| Jun dew point C =14.9

| Jul dew point C =16.8

| Aug dew point C =17.0

| Sep dew point C =15.6

| Oct dew point C =13.2

| Nov dew point C =10.4

| Dec dew point C =7.8

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 91.0

| Feb rain mm = 69.0

| Mar rain mm = 53.4

| Apr rain mm = 28.2

| May rain mm = 13.4

| Jun rain mm = 2.9

| Jul rain mm = 0.8

| Aug rain mm = 0.9

| Sep rain mm = 16.7

| Oct rain mm = 59.4

| Nov rain mm = 59.6

| Dec rain mm = 85.6

| Jan rain days = 16.0

| Feb rain days = 13.6

| Mar rain days = 11.4

| Apr rain days = 7.6

| May rain days = 4.6

| Jun rain days = 1.3

| Jul rain days = 0.3

| Aug rain days = 0.5

| Sep rain days = 2.8

| Oct rain days = 7.5

| Nov rain days = 10.6

| Dec rain days = 15.2

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| Jan precipitation days =10.1

| Feb precipitation days =9.1

| Mar precipitation days =6.9

| Apr precipitation days =3.4

| May precipitation days =1.9

| Jun precipitation days =0.5

| Jul precipitation days =0.1

| Aug precipitation days =0.1

| Sep precipitation days =1.3

| Oct precipitation days =4.9

| Nov precipitation days =6.0

| Dec precipitation days =8.9

| year precipitation days =

| year rain days =

| Jan humidity = 68.4

| Feb humidity = 66.4

| Mar humidity = 65.9

| Apr humidity = 62.3

| May humidity = 61.2

| Jun humidity = 57.0

| Jul humidity = 57.1

| Aug humidity = 59.1

| Sep humidity = 61.9

| Oct humidity = 65.7

| Nov humidity = 67.9

| Dec humidity = 68.3

| year humidity =

| Jan sun = 119.9

| Feb sun = 132.3

| Mar sun = 181.5

| Apr sun = 234.8

| May sun = 298.5

| Jun sun = 356.2

| Jul sun = 368.3

| Aug sun = 343.5

| Sep sun = 275.8

| Oct sun = 206.9

| Nov sun = 145.5

| Dec sun = 115.4

| source 1 = HNMS{{cite web

|url = http://www.hnms.gr/emy/en/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=Crete&poli=Heraklion

|title = Climatic Data for selected stations in Greece: Heraklion (Crete)

|access-date = 17 September 2019

|archive-date = 26 September 2020

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200926143941/http://www.hnms.gr/emy/en/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=Crete&poli=Heraklion

|url-status = live

}}{{cite web |title=Climate Atlas of Greece (for sunshine 1977-2002) |url=http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/?lang=EN |publisher=HNMS |access-date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184444/http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/?lang=EN |url-status=live }}

| source 2 = meteo-climat (extremes){{cite web

|url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-530-Heraklion.php

|title= STATION HERAKLION

|publisher = meteo-climat

|access-date = December 2, 2018}}

NOAA(precipitation days - dew point 1961-1990){{cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1961-1990: Iraklion |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/GR/16754.TXT |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=15 April 2024 |format=TXT |quote=WMO Station Number: 16754 |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214081038/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/GR/16754.TXT |url-status=live }}

| date = December 2018

| source =

}}

File:Heraklion ilmastodiagrammi.png

• University of Crete
• Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) (Former TEI)
• MBS College
• Foundation for Research & Technology - Hellas
• Nicolas Kitsikis Library
• Vikelaia Library
• 3rd High School of Heraklion
• 5th High School of Heraklion

File:Musée histoire naturelle de Crète à Héraklion.JPG]]

File:Cultural and Conference Center of Crete (Heraklion).jpg]]

File:Pagkritio.jpg]]

File:Heraklion Indoor Sports Arena interior.jpg|alt=]]

• Heraklion Archaeological Museum
• Cretaquarium
• Historical Museum of Crete
• Natural History Museum
• The Battle of Crete and National Resistance Museum
• Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
• Collection of Agia Aikaterini of Sinai
• Museum of Visual Arts

The Cultural and Conference Center of Heraklion is a centre for the performing arts.

The city is home to several sports clubs. Most notably, Heraklion hosts OFI and Ergotelis, two football clubs with earlier presence in the Greek Superleague, the top tier of the Greek football league system. Furthermore, the city is the headquarters of the Heraklion Football Clubs Association, which administers football in the entire region. Other notable sport clubs include Iraklio B.C. (basketball), Atsalenios (football) and Irodotos (football) in the suburbs of Atsalenio and Nea Alikarnassos respectively.

• Channel 4
• Creta Channel
• Kriti TV
• MyTV

File:Nikolaos Kalliakis (1645 - 1707).jpg was a significant Renaissance humanist, scholar and philosopher from Heraklion.{{cite book |author=Lathrop C. Harper |title= Catalogue / Harper (Lathrop C.) inc., New York, Issue 232|publisher= Lathrop C. Harper, Inc |year= 1886 |page=36 |oclc=11558801|quote= Calliachius (1645–1707) was born on Crete and went to Italy at an early age, where he soon became one of the outstanding teachers of Greek and Latin. }}]]

File:El Greco - Portrait of a Man - WGA10554.jpg]]

File:Cyril-Lucaris.jpg]]

File:Kazantzakis Grab.jpg' grave. I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I'm free.]]

Heraklion has been the home town of some of Greece's most significant people, including the novelist Nikos Kazantzakis (best known for Zorba the Greek), the poet and Nobel Prize winner Odysseas Elytis and the world-famous painter Domenicos Theotokopoulos (El Greco).

• Elli Alexiou (1894–1988) author
• Minás Dimákis (1913–1980) poet
• Odysseas Elytis (1911–1996) Nobel awarded poet
• Tess Fragoulis, Greek-Canadian author
• Rea Galanaki (born 1947) author
• Giritli Ali Aziz Efendi (1749–1798), author and diplomat
• Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957) author
• {{Interlanguage link|Menelaos Parlamas|el|Μενέλαος Παρλαμάς}} (1911–1997) author and scholar
• Pedro de Candia, (1485–1542) author and travel writer, recorded the Spanish Conquest of the Americas
• Stephanos Sahlikis (1330 – after 1391) poet
• Lili Zografou (1922–1998) author

• Nicholas Kalliakis (1645–1707) Greek Cretan scholar and philosopher{{cite book |author1=Rose, Hugh James |author2=Rose, Henry John |author3=Wright, Thomas |title= A new general biographical dictionary, Volume 5 |publisher= T. Fellowes |year= 1857 |page=425|oclc=309809847 |quote=CALLIACHI, (Nicholas,) a native of Candia, where he was born in 1645. He studied at Rome for ten years, at the end of which time he was made doctor of philosophy and theology. In 1666 he was invited to Venice, to take the chair of professor of the Greek and Latin languages, and of the Aristotelic philosophy; and in 1677 he was appointed professor of belles-lettres at Padua, where he died in 1707. His works on antiquities are valuable, and have been published by the marquis Poloni in the third volume of his Supplement to the Thesaurus Antiquitatum. }}
• Niccolò Comneno Papadopoli (1655–1740) lawyer, historian and librarian
• Andreas Musalus ({{Circa|1665|1721}}) Greek Cretan professor of mathematics, philosopher and architectural theorist{{cite book |title=Convegno internazionale nuove idee e nuova arte nell '700 italiano, Roma, 19–23 maggio 1975 |publisher=Accademia nazionale dei Lincei |year=1977 |page=429 |oclc= 4666566 |quote= Nicolò Duodo riuniva alcuni pensatori ai quali Andrea Musalo, oriundo greco, professore di matematica e dilettante di architettura chiariva le nuove idée nella storia dell’arte.}}
• Francesco Barozzi (1537–1604) mathematician and astronomer
• Joseph Solomon Delmedigo (1591–1655) rabbi, author, physician, mathematician and musical theorist
• Fotis Kafatos biologist, President of the European Research Council
• Spyros Kokotos (1933–present) architect
• Marcus Musurus (Markos Mousouros) (1470–1517) scholar and philosopher
• Peter of Candia also known as Antipope Alexander V: philosopher and scholar
• Joseph Sifakis (1946–present) computer scientist, co-recipient of the 2007 Turing Award
• Michael N. Katehakis (1952–present) applied mathematician and operations researcher at Rutgers University
• Gerasimos Vlachos (1607–1685), scholar
• Simone Stratigo ({{circa}} 1733–1824), Greek mathematician and an Nautical science expert, whose family was from Heraklion (Candia){{cite book |author1=Carlo Capra |author2=Franco Della Peruta |author3=Fernando Mazzocca |title= Napoleone e la repubblica italiana: 1802–1805 |publisher= Skira |year= 2002 |page=200 |isbn= 978-88-8491-415-6 |quote= Simone Stratico, nato a Zara nel 1733 da famiglia originaria di Creta (abbandonata a seguito della conquista turca del 1669)}}

• Theophanes ({{circa}} 1500–1559) painter of icons
• Michael Damaskinos (1530/35–1592/93) painter of icons
• Georgios Klontzas (1535–1608) painter
• El Greco (1541–1614) mannerist painter, sculptor and architect
• Yiannis Parmakelis (born 1932), sculptor
• Andreas Ritzos (1422–1492) painter of icons
• Aristidis Vlassis (1947–2015) painter
• Konstantinos Volanakis (1837–1907) painter

• Rika Diallina (born 1934), actress and model, Miss Hellas
• Ilya Livykou (1919–2002), actress
• Sapfo Notara (1907–1985), actress
• Yannis Smaragdis (born 1946), film director

• Rena Kyriakou (1918–1994) pianist
• Francisco Leontaritis (Francesco Londarit) (1518–1572) composer
• Giannis Markopoulos (born 1939) composer
• Myron Michailidis (born 1968) conductor
• Manolis Rasoulis (1945–2011) lyrics writer
• Notis Sfakianakis (born 1959) singer
• Lena Platonos, pianist

File:Francesco barozzi.jpg ]]

• Maria Papapetros - psychic, spiritual healer, spiritual consultant

• Kyle Hamilton (born 2001), American football player{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/notre-dame/Article/Notre-Dame-running-backs-Mick-Assaf-Micks-Mickstape-Season-2-Volume-1-143798194/|title=Notre Dame RB Mick Assaf: Mick's Mickstape Season 2 Volume 1}}
• Nikos Machlas (born 1973), footballer
• Georgios Samaras (born 1985), footballer
• Greg Massialas (born 1956), American fencer
• Michalis Karlis (born 2003), basketball player
• Giorgos Giakoumakis (born 1994), footballer

• Constantine Corniaktos (1517–1603) wine merchant and wealthiest man in the Eastern European city of Lviv{{cite book |author=I︠A︡roslav Dmytrovych Isai︠e︡vych |title=Voluntary brotherhood: confraternities of laymen in early modern Ukraine |publisher=Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press |year=2006 |page= 47|isbn=1-894865-03-0 |quote= …the Greek merchants Constantine Korniakt and Manolis Arphanes Marinetos are added. This second redaction appeared no earlier than 1589, as wealthy Greeks began to join the confraternity at a later date, once it had expanded its activities. Korniakt was actually the wealthiest man in Lviv: he traded in Eastern, Western, and local goods, collected customs duty on behalf of the king, and owned a number of villages. }}
• Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki (born 1955) business woman, lawyer and politician

• Emin Ali Bedir Khan (1851–1926), Kurdish diplomat
• Leonidas Kyrkos (1924–2011), politician
• Aristidis Stergiadis (1861–1950) High Commissioner of Smyrna
• Georgios Voulgarakis (born 1959) conservative politician
• Romilos Kedikoglou (born 1940) President of the Court of Cassation of Greece

• Maximos Margunios (1549–1602), bishop of Cyrigo (Kythira)
• Kyrillos Loukaris (1572–1637) theologian, Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria as Cyril III and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as Cyril I
• Meletius Pegas, Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria
• Theodore II (born 1954) Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa
• Peter Phillarges ({{circa}} 1339–1410) (also Pietro Di Candia, later Pope Alexander V)
• Makarios Griniezakis (born 1973) Greek Orthodox Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia
• Arsenios Kardamakis (born 1973) Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Austria and Exarch of Hungary

File:Marcus Musurus 02.jpg]]

• Maria Spiridaki (1984) fashion model and television presenter

{{More citations needed section|date=April 2017}}

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Greece}}

File:Περιφέρεια Κρήτης 8997.jpg

Heraklion is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|CYP}} Limassol, Cyprus{{cite web|url=http://www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy/twin.html|title=Limassol Twinned Cities|access-date=2013-07-29|work=Limassol (Lemesos) Municipality|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401221134/http://www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy/twin.html |archive-date=2013-04-01}}
• {{flagicon|Romania}} Constanța, Romania (1992){{cite web|url=https://www.ziuaconstanta.ro/diverse/stiri-calde/cu-ce-orase-este-infratit-municipiul-constanta-688467.html|title=Cu ce oraşe este înfrăţit municipiul Constanţa?|access-date=2019-04-07|work=Ziua de Constanța|date=7 April 2019|archive-date=2019-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408143439/https://www.ziuaconstanta.ro/diverse/stiri-calde/cu-ce-orase-este-infratit-municipiul-constanta-688467.html|url-status=live}}
• {{flagicon|UKR}} Odesa, Ukraine (1992){{cite web|url=http://www.kedke.gr/uploads/twinnedcities.pdf|title=Twinnings|access-date=2013-08-25|work=Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece|archive-date=2016-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115172503/http://www.kedke.gr/uploads/twinnedcities.pdf|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|Spain}} Toledo, Spain (2017)
• {{flagicon|Russia}} Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (2018)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Tampa, United States (2019)
• {{flagicon|Serbia}} Čukarica, Serbia (2019)
• {{flagicon|China}} Ningbo, China (2019)

File:Herklionview.jpg|View of the port from the fortress

File:Boats in the harbour - Heraklion, Crete.jpg|View of the port

File:Venetian Arsenals in Heraklion Crete.jpg|The harbour

File:Gran muralla a Herakleion2.jpg|Α part of the Venetian harbour (used as shipyards)

File:Δίσκος της Φαιστού πλευρά Α 6380.JPG|The Phaistos Disk (2nd millennium BC) in Heraklion Archaeological Museum

File:Konrad von Grünenberg - Beschreibung der Reise von Konstanz nach Jerusalem - Blatt 19v-20r.jpg|Depiction of Candia, 1487

File:Idomeneas fountain 4050559.JPG|Idomeneas fountain

File:Jesus Gate, Heraklio 7153543.JPG|Jesus Gate, part of the Fortifications of Heraklion

File:Chanioporta and Pantokratoras Gate.JPG|Chanioporta and Pantokratoras Gate

File:Bebo fountain 5142853.JPG|Bembo fountain

File:Αγία Αικατερίνη των Σιναϊτών 7392.jpg|Saint Catherine Church

File:Vue du siege de Candie en 1669.jpg|Depiction of the Siege of Candia

File:St Matthew of the Sinaites 5313056.JPG|St. Matthew of the Sinaites Byzantine church

File:Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium 2019.jpg|Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, home ground of OFI FC

File:Κούλες 15.jpg|Interior of the Fortress

File:A monk shows the Cretan Saracens where to build Chandax.jpg|A monk shows the Saracens where to build Chandax

File:Candia III.jpg|Map of Heraklion and its fortifications in 1651

File:Minoan fresco depicting a bull leaping scene, found in Knossos, 1600-1400 BC, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete (30547636456).jpg|Minoan fresco depicting a bull leaping scene, found in Knossos, 1600-1400 BC, Heraklion Archaeological Museum

• Centre for Technological Research of Crete
• European Network and Information Security Agency
• Foundation for Research & Technology - Hellas
• Lions Square
• Minoan civilization
• Siege of Candia (1648–1669)
• TEI of Crete

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Heraklion (town)}}

{{EB1911 poster|Candia}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline}}
• [http://www.heraklion.gr/en Municipality of Heraklion]
• [http://www.heraklion-crete.org/ Heraklion information]
• [http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/main_cities/heraklion Heraklion] - The Greek National Tourism Organization
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051225/http://www.heraklion.gr/en/municipality/vikelaia Vikelaia Library]
• [http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/greece/iraklion/iraklion.html Old maps of Heraklion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316102922/http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/greece/iraklion/iraklion.html |date=2022-03-16 }} - Eran Laor Cartographic Collection, The National Library of Israel, in [http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/historic_cities.html Historic Cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325051637/http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/historic_cities.html |date=2022-03-25 }}

{{Crete (island)}}

{{Kallikratis-Crete}}

{{Heraklion div}}

{{Capitals of Peripheries of Greece}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:824 establishments

Category:Greek prefectural capitals

Category:Greek regional capitals

Category:Municipalities of Crete

Category:Populated places in Heraklion (regional unit)

Category:Populated places established in the 9th century

Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece

Category:Port cities of the Aegean Sea

Category:Fortified settlements

Category:9th-century establishments in Greece