Fortress that stands at the entrance of the port. This well-preserved fortress used to protect all Crete from enemies and pirates. The architecture of Heraklion Town is generally modern and reminds the atmosphere of a large city, but it is a good base for excursions in the area.
 A short drive from Heraklion Town, there is Knossos, the ancient Minoan site that was destroyed by the tsunami waves raised after the volcano of Santorini. Another famous Minoan site in Heraklion Crete is Phaistos, on the way from Heraklion Town to Matala, southern Crete. In the same region, there is also the ancient town of Gortyn, one of the strongest cities in ancient Crete that is open to visit today. All these antiquities show a rich cultural past and a wealthy society that gradually disappeared, due to wars or natural disasters.
 The most popular resort of Heraklion Crete is Malia, particularly famous among the British tourists for its vivid nightlife. Many other resorts are also found in the northern coasts of Heraklion Crete, including Gouves, Hersonissos and Stalis. The southern side of Heraklion Crete is more family and peaceful. The most important resorts in southern Heraklion are Matala, the former hippies destination till the 1970s, Tymbaki, Kalamaki and Lentas. The inland of Heraklion Crete is good to explore by car as there are many villages and natural spots to discover. |
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