Get a taste for the area’s history while admiring the ancient Bembo Fountain, Heraklion’s first source of running water. Follow the curves of its intricate Venetian stonework, stop by the Roman statue around the back of the fountain and take a photo of the decorative coats of arms that have adorned it for centuries. A nearby café which was once the towns pump house is a great place to stop for a drink.
Built between 1552 and 1554 under orders of the governor, Gianmatteo Bembo, the town’s first fountain had a major impact on the lives of Heraklion’s locals. The fountain was supplied by a mighty aqueduct carrying water from Mount Yiouthas.
Walk around the fountain and spot its iconic Roman sentry, standing behind the spring in the fountain’s centre. Though this soldier’s identity is unknown, he is famed for not having a head. The statue was found near the town of Ierapetra by the fountain’s designers and added to their masterpiece.
The stonework of the fountain is incredibly detailed considering the construction is verging on 500 years old. Next to the headless soldier, admire two pillars framing the Venetian coat of arms. These decorations incorporate both Gothic and Renaissance design. Notice the attention to detail in the decorations even the base of the fountain below the water is marked with flourishing flower designs.
Visit the neighbouring café for a quick drink or a snack at its outdoor tables. This popular café, housed in a hexagonal building, is a Turkish construction that once served as a sebil, or public roadside water fountain. Records say that occasionally, mountain snow was delivered to the sebil to ensure chilled refreshments.
Find the Bembo Fountain in Plateia Kornarou, just next to the Turkish Sebil.
