Fortifications of Heraklion

Fortifications of Heraklion
Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Bethlehem Bastion
Map of Candia (Heraklion) and its fortifications in 1651
Coordinates	35°20′3.3″N 25°7′37.8″E / 35.334250°N 25.127167°E / 35.334250; 25.127167
Type	City wall
Site information
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Mostly intact
Site history
Built	c. 9th–10th centuries (Arab and Byzantine walls) 1462–16th century (Venetian walls)
Built by	Byzantine Empire Emirate of Crete Republic of Venice
Battles/wars	Siege of Candia

The fortifications of Heraklion are a series of defensive walls and other fortifications which surround the city of Heraklion (formerly Candia) in Crete, Greece. The first city walls were built in the Middle Ages, but they were completely rebuilt by the Republic of Venice. The fortifications managed to withstand the longest siege in history for 21 years, before the city fell to the Ottomans in 1669.

Heraklion's fortifications have made it one of the best fortified cities in the Mediterranean. The walls remain largely intact to this day, and they are considered to be among the best preserved Venetian fortifications in Europe.

The first fortifications in what is now Heraklion were built by the Byzantine Empire. The city was captured by Arabs in 824, and it became the capital of the Emirate of Crete. At this point, they built a wall of unbaked bricks around the city, and surrounded it by a ditch. The new capital became known as Rabdh al-Khandaq (Trench Castle).

Meanwhile, the Byzantines tried to recapture Crete from the Arabs because of its strategic importance. After several unsuccessful attempts, Nikephoros II Phokas managed to take the island in 961. The Arab fortifications were razed, and a new fort known as Rokka was constructed instead. Eventually, the settlement grew, and the Byzantines built new walls on the site of the Arab walls.

Some remains of the Byzantine walls still exist near Heraklion's harbour.

In the early 13th century, Candia (modern Heraklion) and the rest of Crete fell under the control of the Republic of Venice. Initially the Byzantine walls remained in use, and they underwent various modifications. Following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the expanding Ottoman Empire became a major threat for the Venetians. Due to this threat and the discovery of gunpowder, they decided to build new fortifications around Candia. Construction began in 1462, and the walls took over a century to be built.