Heraklion Venetian Port — Attraction in Municipality of Heraklion

Well this was a day trip and a half. It was booked as a sunset tour out to Dia island. And miranda one of our hosts was outstanding. Providing history on the island and how the Greeks would hide out there during battles and storms as it sheltered ships etc. History on the island including the goat like creature that is an important symbol for the crete.

The island we visited is called island dias. An uninhabited island since 2010 as it has become a protected island and is forbidden to spend the night there and it is home to a protected goat think it is called chichi or chiri or something. It a kind of goat descendant from antelope and Is the crete sacred animal so they gave it the whole damn island. And the cove we were in has been a safe harbour for ships going back over 4000 years to viking times. When tides were high they used to sail all the ships out there and hide from the current as their is no tide interference there. No running water as 13 miles from mainland. Is also home to a rare black hawk I think he said and they can survive off getting water from rocks and plant leaves and can even survive off salty sea water for a certain amount of time. Just a little bit of Greek history...

Many positive points, but also some drawbacks to consider if you don't want to spoil your experience.

On the bright side:

The breathtaking view.

Koules Fortress: The fortifications are impressive, and the museum inside is well worth a visit.

Strolling along the pier, particularly during sunset or when the wind whips up and the waves crash against the rocks.

History enthusiasts can also visit the ruins of the old Venetian city.

However, there are some downsides to be aware of:

The traffic in the area can be chaotic, and pedestrians must be very careful with cars.

The area is full of taverns and restaurants that, despite countless laudatory articles, do not live up to expectations. The prices are high, portions are small, and the food quality leaves much to be desired. Additionally, late-night or early-morning strolls may reveal supply trucks unloading tons of frozen seafood (fish, squid, crustaceans, etc.), which are then passed off as...

We really enjoy a stroll around castles and during our last visit to Crete the Fort was undergoing major works so we were delighted that on this visit it was open. Entrance is €10 pp which is very reasonable. The interior is in very good order but I think a little too finished and at times felt like a modern version of an old structure .... however it is still interesting but somewhat lacking in substance and really would benefit from some displays, as apart from some information boards & a few cannons plus a few other items it us quite sparce. Then upstairs & outdoors, great views over the port & old town. It's easy to see why there were many sieges of this Fort over the...