The island of Crete has a long and turbulent history of occupation, conflict and resistance. It is a history that is written across its cities and reflected in their architecture, and nowhere is this more evident than in the beautiful coastal capital of Heraklion. As the birthplace of the ancient Minoan civilisation, Crete was first occupied by the Romans and the Byzantines, then by the Arabs, the Venetians and finally the Ottomans. It was not until 1913 that it was declared an autonomous state and united with Greece. Of course, each occupation left its mark on the island and particularly

The A Self-Guided Tour of Heraklion entry appears first Travel Guide by Shuttle Direct.