Landmarks & old quarters

Basilica di San Marco

Heraklion, Heraklion · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

Heraklion's Venetian basilica.

The basilica of San Marco stands on the Lions square in Heraklion, opposite the Morosini fountain. It was built in 1239 and was the main church of the Venetian rulers of Crete, the place where the dukes were buried.

After the Ottoman conquest in 1669 it was turned into a mosque, and a minaret was added. After restoration in the 20th century, the building became an exhibition space and today houses the Municipal Art Gallery.

The three-aisled basilica with its columns and wooden roof is worth a look, even if you're not interested in the exhibitions.

The basilica was badly damaged by earthquakes over the centuries and rebuilt more than once. Today it's one of the few former Catholic churches still standing in Crete. The simple interior, with rows of columns and a wooden ceiling, is cool and calm, and the changing exhibitions are often worth a look. It's right on the busiest square of the city, so it's an easy stop.

Around Heraklion

Nearest town: Heraklion, about 1 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 5 km by road

Heraklion is the heart of Minoan Crete and the island’s busiest region. Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum are the two places almost everyone visits, and they work well together on one day. In the south, the wide Messara plain holds the palace of Phaistos, the Roman ruins of Gortyna and the famous caves above the bay of Matala. More about Heraklion