Where is Heraklion?
Iraklion, the capital of Crete, stretches along the northern coast, is washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea and is considered one of the best resorts in Greece.
If you're going to Heraklion expecting to see picturesque cliffs lined with white-washed houses, goats and secluded beaches, you're in for a disappointment. The capital of Crete is a very bustling and cosmopolitan city, an industrial center and the island's largest port.
The population of Heraklion is about 120 thousand people. The national currency is euro.
History of Heraklion
The city is literally based on ancient mythology. So, according to legends, it was here that Princess Europa gave birth to Zeus son Minos, who in the future was to become the most powerful ruler of the Mediterranean. Heraklion was named after another legendary hero of myths, the strong and resourceful Heracles.
The first European civilization, the Minoan civilization, was founded in Heraklion before Christ. Like other Greek islands, Crete has changed rulers over the centuries: Saracens and pirates have ruled the island, Byzantines and Venetians have ruled it. Heraklion regained its historical name only in the 19th century, and finally reunited with Greece in 1913.
