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Heraklion is the main city on the island of Crete and usually
the starting point for visitors wishing to explore the island. The
city, built on a fairly steep hillside, has a huge harbour to
accommodate ferries and cruise liners, and an international
airport. Heraklion is busy, bustling and full of hotels, fast food
outlets, shops and traffic. The main square of Plateia Venizelou is
a pedestrian mall sporting cafes and restaurants, with some
fascinating shops in the surrounding streets. Like many Greek
cities Heraklion's architecture was influenced by Venetian
occupation, and a Venetian fortress dominates the harbour. The
city's pride and joy, though, is its archaeological museum, which
contains the world's most comprehensive collection of artefacts
from the Minoan civilisation, which flourished on Crete around
1,600 BC. Heraklion is close to the major archaeological site
associated with the Minoans at Knossos.
