Municipal Art Gallery (San Marco)

About

Cretan art inside a 13th century basilica.

The Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion is housed in the basilica of San Marco, opposite the Lions fountain. The church was built by the Venetians in 1239 and was the main church of the Venetian rulers of Crete. After the Ottoman conquest it became a mosque, and after restoration in the 20th century it found a new life as an exhibition space.

The gallery holds a collection of works by Cretan artists, and it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography. Even if the exhibition isn't your thing, it's worth stepping inside to see the three-aisled basilica with its columns and wooden roof.

Entrance is often free or cheap, and it's a pleasant break from the busy square outside.

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and its biggest city, with a busy port, the island's main airport and a lively old town inside massive Venetian walls. The Archaeological Museum and Knossos make it the centre of Minoan Crete, and the city's markets, cafes and restaurants are some of the best on the island. Around the city, the coast has long sandy beaches like Ammoudara and Karteros, and the wine villages of Archanes and Peza are a short drive south.

Anreise

In Heraklion itself, easy to reach on foot.

On the map

35.33926, 25.13359 · See on map