Imagine an era when Venetians ruled Heraklion as you browse the blend of historic designs at the Heraklion Loggia. Here, noblemen gathered in columned halls or watched theatre performances in the open-air arena. Admire the carefully carved reliefs of majestic animals and coats of arms that adorn the walls of this restored building.
Built between 1626 and 1628, the Heraklion Loggia was designed by the architect Francesco Morosini. Though it was the fourth loggia built by the Venetians during their rule over Crete, it remains the only one standing today. The building was restored with painstaking attention to detail from 1915 until soon after World War II. Today it is one of the finest standing Venetian structures on the island of Crete.
From the street, the building's rectangular façade and columned entrance is a sight worth a photo. Walk past at night to admire the construct’s arches when soft interior lighting illuminates them. Spend a moment inspecting the intricate stonework and note the simple square columns at each corner, a common feature of Venetian buildings.
Inside the loggia, admire the spacious open-air arcade. In this impressive arena, performances and events were enjoyed by the highest of the Venetian elites. The architectural styles of the building differ slightly between the ground and upper floors. Notice the Doric features of the ground floor evolve into the slightly more decorative Ionic-style arches of the upper floor. Above each entrance and around the walls, look for engravings of lions and a coat of arms.
Find the Heraklion Loggia on 25th of August Street in the city centre, next to the Armeria. The loggia is open daily and free to enter. Take care to observe that some rooms are restricted from public access as the loggia also serves as the site of the operational Heraklion town hall.
