The Morosini Fountain is an excellent example of the architecture of the Venetian period. A favorite place of the townspeople for meetings, walks and dates.
Greece is famous for its ancient cities, which are literally saturated 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 with ancient monuments dating back to different eras and dynasties.
The Morosini Fountain is an interesting building 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 on about. Crete in the 17th century. The best craftsmen and engineers of that time worked on the project and the creation of a 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 drinking water, which came from the mountain slopes through a special aqueduct.
The hydraulic structure is an original sculptural composition in the form of an octagon, decorated with relief scenes from Greek mythology: beautiful nymphs, tritons, dolphins, sea monsters. Its grand opening took place in 1628, on the day of St. Mark (April 25). In the middle of the fountain there is a pedestal with a wide bowl supported by four lions: water is pouring from their open mouths. Huge stone statues symbolize the power of the Venetian Republic.
Once 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 building was nicknamed the "Source of the Giant". 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 changed: holes were made on it, and the water was intended for washing the hands, feet and faces of people who read the prayer.
Today, the charming composition is a significant historical monument for the whole of Greece and is under state protection. The fountain, which now performs mainly a decorative function, is invariably popular with tourists. It is surrounded by cozy cafes, taverns, restaurants and souvenir shops. Nearby are no less interesting sights - 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 the guests and local residents. However, the Morosini Fountain was turned off after a few months. And only now, in 2016, after the installation of a special water filtration system, the fountain started working again.
How to get there
From the embankment to the city center along the street. 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 for dating, tourists relax here in numerous cafes and shop in local shops.
The most important attraction in this area is, of course, Morosini Fountain. It was not originally built for decorative purposes. The fountain served as a source of water for the inhabitants of the city, which came here through a 15 km long pipeline. Both the fountain and the plumbing 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 day of Saint 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 other mythical creatures that live in the water element. In the middle of the Morosini Fountain, on an octagonal pedestal, there are four lions, from whose mouths water flows.
Initially, these lions did not exist and 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. The work of local masters, it, unfortunately, was destroyed.
During the Turkish occupation, the facade of the fountain was perforated in many places and was used for the ritual washing of the face, hands and feet before prayers. Then marble columns and a plaque dedicated to Sultan Abdul Mesit were added.
In 1900, the fountain was returned to its original appearance. Today it is decorative and very popular with both locals and tourists. Near the square there are many hotels where guests of the city can stay. A detailed list of hotels in Greece can be found here romaninvest.com/poisk-otelei-v-grecie. This will help you make your choice ahead of time.
Near 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 ruled the city met to resolve economic and social issues, and it was also used as a place where they rested after state affairs.
Heraklion is the capital of Crete, the "gate of the island". At the moment this the fifth largest city in Greece with a large international airport and seaport. Heraklion is worth visiting at least for the Archaeological Museum alone, I think this is the main attraction of Heraklion. But besides this museum, there is something to see here - so, first things first.
Attractions of Heraklon
Archaeological Museum
The archaeological museum of Heraklion presents a rich collection of objects and artifacts of the Minoan civilization. The stunning finds span from the Neolithic to the Roman period, but the most remarkable collection is from the Minoan culture. Here you will see beautiful frescoes from the excavations of the palaces of Crete: from Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and other Minoan settlements in 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 the ancient history. Believe me, this is a completely unique museum, significant not only within Greece, but, of course, within the framework of world human civilization.
Museum address: Xanthoudidou Str. 2
Venetian harbor and fortress Kules
Be sure to take a walk along the Venetian Pier to the Kules Fortress, it has been perfectly preserved. The entrance to the fortress is through a dam that closes 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 fortress of Kules was built by the Venetians in the 16th century and served as a shelter from the Turkish siege, which lasted 21 years. If you are lucky and the fortress is not closed for restoration, you will pay a little for the entrance - about 2 euros. And it is worth doing it at least for the sake of a picturesque view of the city, the island of Diya and the mountains of Psilorit, which opens from the top of the battlements of the fortress.
(in the photo of the fortress below, pay attention to what waves break against the walls from the side of the sea, and how quiet it is in the harbor; tourists' favorite entertainment is to run from these waves and take pictures of this fascinating process))
Surely you will pay attention to the remains of an old building with huge arches in front of the harbor from the side of the city. 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. It is named after a 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 again consecrated as an Orthodox church. The building is comfortably located in a quiet and peaceful area. In the chapel to the left of the entrance there is a shrine with the relics (head) of St. Titus.
Agiou Titou Sq./ 25 Avgoustou Str.
Venizelos Square with Morosini Fountain and St. Mark's Cathedral
A small but crowded and noisy square is the heart of Heraklion. Here attracts the attention of the famous Morosini Fountain
, the stone bowl of which is held by four marble lions, so the square is also called the square of lions. The fountain itself was built in 1628 not only for decorative purposes, 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, of course, is cute and pretty, but ... not very impressive) It is rather interesting from a historical point of view. And you will not pass by it if you walk in the old city.
In the photo above, an elegant vaulted gallery is visible right behind the fountain. Cathedral of Saint Mark
. If you have been to Venice, you will immediately understand that this building was built by the Venetians (only it does not look very much like a temple). It was already in 1239, the basilica was named after 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 sights in Heraklion as it could be: during the Second World War, the city was subjected to massive bombardments.RI will continue the story about the sights of Heraklion below. Now I'll digress a little on the map of the city center.
Below on Heraklion map I noted bus station- look for it in the upper right corner - it is easy to walk from it to the very center of the city. And to the Archaeological Museum - just two steps (to the southwest;)). Buses are the easiest way to travel around the cities of Crete. The seaport, where huge ferries from all over the world arrive, you also see in the upper right corner (above the bus station). The old city and the most interesting are marked with an oval in the center. Here you will find interesting architectural structures, and mnumerous restaurants, cafes and shops.
Other sights of Heraklion (rather, secondary)
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 Theotokopuli, probably known to you as El Greco. The third floor is dedicated partly to the classics 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
Basement earthquake simulator - 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 shows interactive films about nature.
Sofokli Venizelou Str. - on the very edge of the seashore.
Dominican Church of Saint Peter
The recently restored church is located very close to the harbor - to the east of it. The temple was built by Dominican monks as early as the 13th century. Unique frescoes dating back to the 15th century are located in the south chapel. Archaeological excavations are still being carried out on the territory of the temple. The building of St. Peter's Church is an architectural and historical monument of the 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 fortifications - 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 Pantokrator. But contrary to my personal expectations, these walls did not become some kind of vivid impression of Heraklion. They are worth climbing just for a good view of the Old city. If this is a strong hook in your program, don't do it.
Cathedral of Saint Mina (Minas) - Agios Minas
The cathedral is one of the largest in Greece and can accommodate up to 8 thousand people (however, the grandiose size of a Russian person will not impress;)). 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, having fallen on the roof of the cathedral on May 23, 1941, 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. Church of Saint Catherine, 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 Damaskinus, who was the first to apply the perspective and elements of the Italian Renaissance in the Orthodox icon. The heart of the modern collection are six of his works.
There are several other temples in the city, but if you are far from religious, it is unlikely that you will be interested in visiting them.
Some sites of tour operators 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 a lot of taverns and restaurants with a Greek flavor, it is a shopping center, economic and Cultural Center, as a capital should be. In fact, just for the sake of the architecture of Heraklion, I would not go to Crete. But for the sake of the palaces of the Minoan era and the Archaeological Museum - yes!
Take one, maximum two days for sightseeing in the city of Heraklion (if you do not have any special preferences).
Other cities, resorts and attractions of the island:
- Malia - vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches of Crete
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 about. Crete. Through this aqueduct, Heraklion was supplied with water. Heraklion has always had a problem of water scarcity - in the 17th century the city was supplied with brackish water from wells, as well as small fountains and water tanks that were accumulated by rainwater. It is known that in 1639 there were 1270 wells and 273 water reservoirs in the city.
To solve this problem, General Manager Francesco Morosini designed and implemented an ambitious urban water supply project - the construction of a 15-kilometer aqueduct that carried water from various sources from the northern slopes of the sacred mountain. The construction of the aqueduct 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 spring in the fountain, which, in honor of its creator, was named the Morosini Fountain. The aqueduct is made of stone and has three large arches.
The Bembo Fountain is the oldest surviving fountain in the city of Heraklion. It is located on Cornaru Square. The fountain is named after the Venetian Gianmatteo Bembo, who built it in 1588. The fountain is made of pieces of ancient marble, the facade is decorated with pilasters and columns, embossed Venetian coats of arms and a Roman statue. The headless Roman statue was brought from Ierapetra.
Fountain Morosini
The Morosini Fountain is an ancient fountain located in the historic center of Heraklion, on the island of Crete. The fountain is considered one of the most famous city attractions and is quite popular among tourists.
Another name for Morosini's fountain is the "Lion Fountain". It was built in 1628 by order of Francesco Morosini, the then governor of Crete. The base of the fountain was decorated with scenes from Greek mythology, and the top was crowned with a marble statue of the god Poseidon with a trident. This sculpture was destroyed during the occupation of the island by the Turks, but over time, the invaders restored the fountain, replacing Poseidon with four lions. Curiously enough, these marble lions are at least three hundred years older than the fountain itself.
Today, the Morosini Fountain is recognized as a historical monument and is under the auspices of the state. It is located in the center of a small, picturesque square, surrounded by old buildings and cozy cafes. This is a favorite place for walks of Heraklion residents and guests of the city.
Coordinates: 35.33919400,25.13317800
Fountain "Lion"
The Lion Fountain has another name - the Morosini Fountain - an ancient fountain located in the historical center of the city of Heraklion, on the island of Crete. The fountain is a great attraction and is in great demand among tourists.
It was built in 1628 by Francesco Morosini. At the top of the fountain is a marble statue of the god Poseidon with a trident, the base is decorated with scenes from Greek mythology.
The sculpture was destroyed during the capture of the island by the Turks, however, over time, the fountain was restored, but already replacing Poseidon with four lions.
Now the Morosini fountain is recognized as a historical monument and is under the auspices of the state, it is located in the center of a small, picturesque square, as well as ancient buildings and cozy cafes nearby. This is a great place for walking the residents of Heraklion and, of course, the guests of the city.
Coordinates: 25.75900000,35.20200000
Morosini Fountain
The Morosini Fountain is located in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. The fountain is located in the center of Venizelos Square. The governor of Crete, Francesco Morosini, after whom the fountain is named, with the help of engineers Jorge Cornere, Raffaello Monnani and Francesco Basilicata, was able to lay a water pipe to bring water to the city from the slopes of Mount Yuhtas. Thus, the fountain, opened in 1628, was built not only for decorative purposes, but also for practical purposes: fresh water flowed into it. It was the beginning of a 15 km water supply network throughout Candia.
The bowl of the fountain is supported by four seated marble lions. The lions decorating the fountain are the symbol of the Venetian Republic, which then ruled Crete. Previously, a sculpture of Poseidon with a trident was located in the bowl, but it was destroyed by an earthquake.
The pool of the fountain is decorated with relief images of figures from Greek mythology: sea gods, nymphs, dolphins and tritons.
Coordinates: 35.33702000,25.13223900