Venetian Crete

Introduction

The island of Crete became a colony of the Republic of Venice after the Fourth Crusade in the early 13th century. The Venetians, renowned for their naval prowess and trading empire, sought to increase control over the sea routes essential to their commerce, and Crete, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, became one of their most vital possessions.

Under Venetian rule, Crete was officially known as the Realm of Candia (Regno de Càndia in Venetian), taking its name from the island’s capital (modern-day Heraklion). In Greek historiography, this period is known as the Venetocracy.

Venetian colonists, many of whom originated from the illustrious aristocratic families of Venice proper, immigrated to Crete and established there a political system that was modelled on that of their homeland. The system of governance clearly favoured the Venetians, creating serious antagonism with the old Byzantine nobility and the local Greek population. This led to numerous revolts in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Crete was an important centre of agriculture and trade for the Serenissima. In order to safeguard these interests, the Venetians developed harbours in the key cities of the island and invested heavily in defence, erecting massive fortifications at strategic points.

The economic growth sparked a vibrant cultural life, giving rise to what is now called the Cretan Renaissance. In the second half of the 16th century, Accademie, or intellectual societies, were established in the principal cities of the island. These served as centres for discussion of the arts and sciences, with a focus on introducing European culture into the Cretan society. The period benefited from a relaxed interchange between the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic rites, which fostered the development of the Cretan school of icon painting. It was also a golden age for Cretan literature.

As for architecture, the Venetians brought Gothic and Renaissance styles to Crete and employed some of their most outstanding architects here. The most notable of the latter was Michele Sanmicheli, who drafted the plans for numerous fortifications on the island, including the defence system of the city of Candia, which came to be one of the best-fortified cities in the Mediterranean at that time.

Most Venetian buildings surviving in Crete today date from the second half of the 16th and the early 17th century. While Heraklion is renowned for its Venetian walls and public buildings, the cities of Chania (La Canea) and Rethymno (Retimo) are rich in the remains of Venetian palaces. The Cretan countryside also features numerous examples of Venetian-era forts, towers, churches, fountains, and villas. Although many of these structures were later substantially altered by the Turks, their Venetian origins are usually still clearly visible.

The Venetian period in Crete came to an end in the mid-17th century. Following a prolonged siege of the city of Candia (1648–1669), Crete was ceded to the Ottoman Empire. Although Venice initially managed to retain control of three fortified islets off the island’s north coast – Spinalonga, Souda, and Gramvousa –, these were eventually surrendered to the Turks as well some decades later.

When exploring the Venetian sites in Crete, my two main sources were:

Buonsanti, M. & Galla, A. Candia Veneziana. Venetian Itineraries through Crete. A guide to the historical remains of the Venetian dominion. Heraklion: Mystis Editions.
Gerola, G. Monumenti veneti dell’isola di Creta. Volumi I-IV. Venezia, 1905-1932.

Sites

My collection includes 300 photos of 90 Venetian sites from various parts of Crete. The portfolios feature the most outstanding examples of military, public, ecclesiastical, and residential architecture.

Heraklion: Harbour | 14th-17th century
Heraklion: Old Arsenal | Leoforos Nearchou (south of the harbour) | completed in 1556
Heraklion: New Arsenal | Leoforos Nearchou (southeast of the harbour) | between 1556 & 1609
Heraklion: Zane Cistern | Leoforos Nearchou & Doukos Mpofor
Heraklion: Sabbionara Bastion | Efesou & Leoforos Ikarou | 16th century
Heraklion: Saint Francis Demi-Bastion | Leoforos Ikarou (southwestern end) | 1566
Heraklion: Saint George (Lazaretto) Gate | Leoforos Ikarou (southwestern end) | 1562-1566
Heraklion: Vitturi Bastion | Leoforos Dimokratias & Charilaou Trikoupi | 1540
Heraklion: Jesus Gate | Nikolaou Plastira & Plateia Kiprou | 1587
Heraklion: Jesus Bastion | Plateia Kiprou & George Georgiadou | 1567
Heraklion: Martinengo Bastion | Georgiou Georgiadou & Nikolaou Plastira | 1568
Heraklion: Bethlehem Bastion | Piranthou | 1575
Heraklion: Pantocrator Gate | Archiepiskopou Makariou & Leoforos 62 Martyron | 1567-1570
Heraklion: Pantocrator Bastion | Machis Kritis & Efodou | 16th century
Heraklion: Saint Andrew Bastion | Efodou & Leoforos Sofokli Venizelou | 16th century
Heraklion: Dermata (Jewish) Gate | opposite Skordylon 68-70 | 1590-1595
Heraklion: Castello a Mare (Rocca a Mare) | northeast of the harbour | 1523-1540
Heraklion: Basilica of Saint Mark | Plateia Eleftheriou Venizelou | 1239-1244; many later restorations
Heraklion: Dominican Monastery of Saints Peter & Paul | Leoforos Sofokli Venizelou & Mitsotaki Ioanni | 13th century; later additions
Heraklion: Capuchin Monastery of Saint Mary of the Crucifers | Markou Mousourou & Dikteou Androu | 14th century
Heraklion: Franciscan Monastery of Saint Francis | Heraklion Archaeological Museum | before 1242
Heraklion: Loggia | 25is Avgoustou (south end) | 1626-1628
Heraklion: Bembo Fountain | Plateia Vitsentzou Kornarou | 1552-1554; 1588
Heraklion: Sagredo Fountain | north wall of the Loggia | 1602-1604
Heraklion: Morosini Fountain | Plateia Eleftheriou Venizelou | 1626-1628
Heraklion: Priuli Fountain | Galateias Kazantzaki | 1666
Heraklion: Palazzo d’Ittar | Epimenidou 16-18 | early 16th century
Heraklion: Historical Museum of Crete | Leoforos Sofokli Venizelou 27
Heraklion: Candia Aqueduct (Pelekiti Source) | 1 km north of Archanes village | 1627-1628
Heraklion: Candia Aqueduct (Karydaki Bridge) | 3 km north of Archanes village | 1627-1628
Heraklion: Palazzo Modino | Rogdia village | first half of 15th century
Heraklion: Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Rogdia village | 13th century; second half of 16th century
Heraklion: Monastery of Saint George of Falandra | a few hundred meters west of the Phaistos archaeological site | 16th century
Chania: Harbour | 1320-1356; second half of 16th & early 17th century
Chania: Arsenal, Grand Arsenal & Docks of Moro | Akti Enoseos (west) & Defkalionos (north) | 1467-1599; 1585-1600; 1607
Chania: Sabbionara (Mocenigo) Bastion | Defkalionos | 1591
Chania: Sabbionara Gate | Defkalionos & Epimenidou | second half of 16th century
Chania: Saint Lucy Bastion | Kiprou | 1568
Chania: Saint Demetrius (Schiavo, Lando) Bastion | Skalidi & Peiraios | mid- or second half of 16th century
Chania: Saint Saviour (Gritti) Bastion | Peiraios & Plateia Talo | mid- or second half of 16th century
Chania: Revellino del Porto (Firkas Fortress) | Akti Kountourioti (north) | 1610-1629
Chania: Saint Nicholas Bastion | in the middle of the harbour jetty | late 16th or early 17th century
Chania: Lighthouse (base) | westernmost end of the harbour jetty | 1595-1601
Chania: Dominican Monastery of Saint Nicholas | Plateia 1821 | 1320; many later renovations
Chania: Dominican Convent of Saint Mary of the Miracles | next to Agiou Markou 14 | 1615
Chania: Franciscan Monastery of Saint Saviour | Theotokopoulou 76-78 | 15th to mid-17th century
Chania: Franciscan Monastery of Saint Francis | Chalidon 28 | 16th century; 1605
Chania: Capuchin Monastery | Chalidon 44 | 1611
Chania: Church of Saint Roch | Plateia 1821 & Daskalogianni | 1630
Chania: State Archives | Lithinon (north) | 1624
Chania: Rector’s Palace | Lithinon (north) | 1620s
Chania: Palazzo Renier | Moschon | 1608
Chania: Palazzo Clado | Zampeliou 39-41 | 1615-1625
Chania: Palazzo Leone | 1i Parodos Theotokopoulou 18 | 16th century
Chania: Angelou 16-18 | 1540
Chania: Antoni Gampa 43
Chania: Agioi Deka 3
Chania: Castelfranco (Frangokastello) Fortress | Frangokastello village | 1371-1374; 1593-1597; 17th century
Chania: Souda Fortress | Souda islet | after 1571
Chania: Grabusa (Gramvousa) Fortress | Imeri Gramvousa | 1579-1584
Chania: Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels of Gouverneto | Akrotiri, 3 km northeast of Koumares village | 1537; church – after 1621
Chania: Monastery of the Holy Trinity of the Zangaroli | Akrotiri, 1 km southeast of Koumares village | 1611; church – 1631
Chania: Villa Senekjana | Rodopos village | 1575
Chania: Villa Trevisan | Kokkino Metochi village | late 16th century
Rethymno: Harbour | 14th century
Rethymno: Guora Gate | Ethnikis Antistaseos (south) | 1566-1568
Rethymno: Fortezza | 1573 – c. 1590
Rethymno: Franciscan Monastery of Saint Francis | Agiou Fragkiskou 2-4 | c. 1530; late 16th or early 17th century
Rethymno: Augustinian Monastery of Saint Mary | Emmanouil Vernardou (east) | second half of 16th century; first decades of 17th century
Rethymno: Loggia | Arkadiou & Konstantinou Palaiologou | mid-16th century; 1597
Rethymno: Rimondi Fountain | Konstantinou Palaiologou (west) & Moschovitou (west) | 1626
Rethymno: Palazzo Clodio | Emmanouil Vernardou 26-30 | 1609
Rethymno: St. Kleidi 13-15 | late 16th or early 17th century
Rethymno: Arkadiou 48-50 | late 16th century
Rethymno: Arkadiou 152-156 | late 16th century
Rethymno: Arampatzoglou 50 | late 16th or early 17th century
Rethymno: Tsouderon 12
Rethymno: Nikiforou Foka 66-68
Rethymno: Radamanthyos 25
Rethymno: Arkadi Monastery | 4 km south of Amnatos village | 1562-1587; late 16th century
Rethymno: West Tower | Maroulas village, west of the main road | 15th or 16th century
Rethymno: East Tower | Maroulas village, east of the main road | 15th or 16th century
Rethymno: Venetian houses | Maroulas village, various locations | 15th to 17th century
Rethymno: Lion Fountain | Spili village | 16th century
Lasithi: Spinalonga Fortress | Spinalonga island | 1579-1584; late 16th & 17th century
Lasithi: Kales Fortress | Ierapetra marina | 13th century; 1620s
Lasithi: Villa De Mezzo | Etia village | late 15th century
Lasithi: Zeno Tower | Voila village
Lasithi: Church of Saint Pantaleon | Voila village | 16th century
Lasithi: Church of Saints George & John | Voila village | 15th century