Besides several museums, Heraklion contains attractions dating from the
Venetian period. These include the Basilica di San Marco and the
Loggia. The Morozini Fountain with its four lions has given its name
to the central spot of the town. The Archeological
Museum houses ancient objects
discovered at the most important archaeological sites in Crete.
Minoan art is nowhere better represented. These include vases, clay sarcophagi,
gold and ivory jewelry, frescos, miniature sculptures, stoneware, metalwork,
and seal stones. The Historical Museum
contains artifacts from more modern times, including Byzantine, Venetian, and
Turkish periods. There is an exhibition of Cretan folk art and a room dedicated
to the great writer Nikos Kazantzakis.
Visiting Crete
Crete can be accessed by air or by ferry from many
points in mainland Greece,
particularly Athens. There an
excellent bus system that connects places of interest within Crete.