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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

Candia - page one

Candia was a minor port called Heraclium by the Romans not far from Cnossus, the ancient capital of the Minoan civilization. It was conquered by the Arabs in 826 and renamed by them with reference to a ditch (Qandiah) which protected the town (there is still a street with this name - Odos Handakos). The name was maintained by the Byzantines when they reconquered Crete in 961 and italianized in Candia by the Venetians, who extended its meaning to the whole island. Today it is known as Iraklion after Heraclium.
The Venetian fortifications included a fortress protecting the harbour and imposing walls around an area larger than the actual town. This page covers the sea fortress: the walls and other Venetian memories are covered in a separate page.

Castel da Mar (Sea Castle)

The sea fortress
The sea fortress

The fortress was built in 1523-1540 as a reaction to the corsair raids of Khair ed din.

The sea fortress
The sea fortress

Although being built for military purposes it has the proportions and the fine shape of a work of art.

The sea fortress
Winged lions of the sea fortress

Unlike other fortresses or Venetian buildings, the sea castle is still in good condition and the symbols of the Venetian rule have not been erased. This is due to the admiration for the resistance of Candia during more than twenty years of siege (1647-1669): an admiration eventually shared by the attackers themselves.

The minaret and the coat of arms of a cannon
The minaret and a cannon

The resentment against the Turkish occupation which lasted until 1897 and nominally until 1913 led to the cutting of a minaret/lighthouse built by the Turks on the ramparts of the fortress.

Old view of the sea fortress
Old view of the sea fortress

The Arsenal

The Venetians built a large arsenal where ships could be built or repaired. The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

The Arsenal
The Arsenal

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

The Arsenal
The Arsenal

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The Fountains

The Venetians built a large arsenal where ships could be built or repaired. The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Fontana Morosini
Fontana Morosini

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Fontana Morosini
Fontana Morosini

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Fontana Bembo
Fontana Bembo

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Fontana Bembo
Fontana Bembo

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Other Monuments

The Venetians built a large arsenal where ships could be built or repaired. The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Loggia
Loggia

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

S. Marco
S. Marco

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

S. Caterina
S. Caterina

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

S. Domenico
S. Domenico

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Ayios Titus
Ayios Titus

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Ottoman memories
Ottoman memories

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Walls

The Venetians built a large arsenal where ships could be built or repaired. The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Western view of the walls
Western view of the walls

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

S. Andrea Bastion
S. Andrea Bastion

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Walls
Walls between S. Andrea and Pantocrator

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Walls between Pantocrator and Betlehem
Walls between Pantocrator and Betlehem/Spearhead of Betlehem

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Winged lions
Winged lions at Pantocrator and between Pantocrator and Betlehem

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Il gesu
Porta del Gesu

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Vituri Bastion
Vituri Bastion

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Museum
Museum

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Coats of arms
Coats of arms at S. Giorgio and il Gesu

The Venetian navy was based on galeazze, ships moved by rows and armed with heavy artillery.

Venetian memories
Wnged lion between Betlehe/reliefs between Marinengo and il Gesł

Go to page two.

Introductory page on the Venetian fortresses in Crete
Grambusa (Granvousa) and Castello (Kasteli/Kissamos)
La Canea (Xania) and Souda
Rettimo (Rethimno)
Spinalonga
Sittia and Paleocastro
Castelfranco (Frangokastelo) and other castles on the southern coast

Introductory page on the Venetian fortresses

You may refresh your knowledge of the history of Venice in the Levant by reading an abstract from the History of Venice by Thomas Salmon, published in 1754. The Italian text is accompanied by an English summary.
(in the background of this page a relief of the Morosini fountain showing the abduction of Europe)