Heraklion or Iraklion (Greek: Ηράκλειο, Irákleio, IPA: [iˈɾaklio̞]; Venetian: Candia), is the largest city and capital of Crete. It is also the fourth largest city in Greece. Its name is also spelled Herakleion, a transliteration of the ancient Greek and Katharevousa name, Ἡράκλειον, or Iraklio, among other variants. For centuries it was known as Candia, a Venetian adaptation of the earlier Greek name Χάνδαξ or Χάνδακας, which in turn came from the Arabic rabḍ al-ḫandaq. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was called Kandiye. In the local vernacular, it is often called Κάστρο (Kástro, "castle") and its inhabitants Καστρινοί (Kastrinoí, "castle dwellers").

Heraklion is the capital of Heraklion Prefecture, with an international airport named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. The ruins of Knossos, which were excavated and restored by Arthur Evans, are nearby.

History
Heraklion is close to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, which in Minoan times was the largest centre of population on Crete. This Bronze Age palace and human settlement has yielded significant archaeological finds that have given insights to the Minoan civilisation. It is likely that there was a port at Heraklion as long ago as 2000 BC, although no archaeological recovery has been made of the port itself.

Founding
The present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens who had been expelled from Al-Andalus by Emir Al-Hakam I and had taken over the island from the Byzantine Empire. They built a moat around the city for protection, and named the city ربض الخندق rabḍ al-ḫandaq 'Castle of the Moat'. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates who operated against Byzantine shipping and raided Byzantine territory around the Aegaean.

Byzantine Era
In 961, the Byzantines, under the command of Nikephoros Phokas, later to become Byzantine Emperor, landed in Crete and attacked the city. After a prolonged siege, the city fell. The Saracen inhabitants were slaughtered, the city looted and burned to the ground. Soon rebuilt, the town of Chandax remained under Byzantine control for the next 243 years.

Venetian Era

In 1204, the city was bought by the Republic of Venice as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade restoring the deposed Byzantine emperor Isaac II Angelus to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40 m thick, with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. Chandax was renamed to Candia in Italian and became the seat of the Duke of Candia. As a result, the Venetian administrative district of Crete became known as "Regno di Candia" (Kingdom of Candia).

The city retained the name of Candia for centuries and the same name was often used to refer to the whole island of Crete as well. To secure their rule, Venetians began in 1212 to resettle families from Venice on Crete. The coexistence of two different cultures and the influence of Italian Renaissance lead to a flourishing of letters and the arts in Candia and Crete in general, that is today known as the Cretan Renaissance.

Ottoman Era
After the Venetians came the Ottoman Empire. During the Cretan War (1645–1669), the Ottomans besieged the city for 22 years, from 1648 to 1669, the second-longest siege in history. In its final phase, which lasted for 22 months, 70,000 Turks, 38,000 Cretans and slaves and 29,088 of the city's Christian defenders perished. Under the Ottomans, the city was known officially as Kandiye (again also applied to the whole island of Crete) but informally in Greek as Megalo Kastro ("Big Castle"). During the Ottoman period, the harbour silted up, so most shipping shifted to Hania in the north of the island.

Modern Era
In 1898 the autonomous Cretan State was created, under Ottoman suzerainty, with Prince George of Greece as its High Commissioner and under international supervision. During the period of direct occupation of the island by the Great Powers (1898-1908), Candia was part of the British zone. At this time the city was renamed "Heraklion", after the Roman port of Heracleum ("Heracles' city"), whose exact location is unknown.

With the rest of Crete, Heraklion was incorporated into the Kingdom of Greece in 1913. The biggest monument of the city is the Venetian medieval fortress Rocca al Mare (also known as Koules, Turkish for "tower") located at the port.

Source
Text: Wikipedia

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Heraklion Municipality - More photos and more info

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Malia Tropical Beach in Heraklion, north Crete

Amnisos or Amnissos Beach by Karteros area, Heraklion Crete

Vathi Beach, Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Gournia Beach, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Aposelemis Beach in Heraklion, north Crete

Dreros Beach, Plaka, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Gournes Beach by Heraklion Crete

Milatos Beach, Mirambelo east Crete

Vlichadia Beach, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Karavostasi Beach, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Fodele Beach in Heraklion, Central Crete

Anissaras Beaches in Heraklion, north Crete

Amoudara Beach, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Psaromoura beach in Agia Pelagia, Heraklion, Crete

Chersonisos or Hersonissos Beach in Heraklion, north Crete

Perama in Geropotamos Rethimno, Central Crete

Lentas Crete holidays coastal village

Tris Ekklisies Village in South Crete, Heraklion

Tsoutsouros in Heraklion, South Central Crete

Gouves in Heraklion, Central Crete

Chersonisos in Heraklion, Central Crete

Adele village, Rethimno, Central Crete

Moires or Mires, south Crete. Messara

Arkalochori in Heraklion, Central Crete

Sissi in Malia, Heraklion, Central Crete

Panormo Village and Beach, Rethimno, Central Crete

Kali Limenes Village in South Crete, Heraklion

Analipsi village in Heraklion, Central Crete

Iraklio: Crete’s beating heart

Adelianos Kambos, Rethimno, Central Crete

Mintris gorge in Tsoutsouros Crete

Selinari gorge in Heraklion Crete

Aposelemis gorge in Heraklion Crete

Karteros or Astrakiano gorge in Heraklion Crete

Agios Fanourios gorge in Venerato

Kotsifou Gorge in Plakias, south Crete

Ambelos and Rosa Gorge in Gonies

Rouvas Gorge or Agios Nikolaos Gorge, Zaros

Astritsi gorge or Agios Ioannis in Heraklion Crete

Petres Gorge in Rethimno

Arvi Gorge in south Crete Heraklion

Tripiti gorge in Lentas south Crete. Lendas area

Spiliotissa gorge in Choudetsi

Skaloti Gorge in Fragokastelo, South Crete

Kounaviano gorge in Heraklion Crete

Monastiraki minoan settlement archaeological site in south Crete

Cemetery in Fourni, Archanes

Juchtas Psili Korfi archaeological site in Archanes on Crete, Heraklion

Mansion of Niros in Gouves, archaeological site

Anemospilia archaeological site in Archanes

Malia minoan Palace archaeological site in Central Crete

Agia Triada archaeological site in Crete

Tylisos or Tylissos archaeological site on Crete, Heraklion

Sklavokampos archaeological site in Tilisos

STEGA: The Archaeology of Houses and Households in Ancient Crete

Aqueduct Morozini in Archanes

Kamilari vaulted tomb archaeological site in south Crete

Gortys – A City for the Ages

The Hermitages of Agios Efthimios and of Agios Methodios in Zaros - Nivritos

Smari Acropolis in Kastelli Heraklion

Paleontological Museum of Rethymno

El Greco Museum in Fodele, Heraklion

Folklore Museum in Agios Nikolaos, East Crete Lasithi

Cretan Ethnology Museum in Vori, Timbaki Crete

Archaeological Museum of Chania

The War Museum in Askifou

Folklore Museum in Agios Georgios, Lassithi Plataeu

Hamezi or Chamezi in Sitia, Folklore museum - East Crete

Toplou Museum in Palekastro

Asomatos Museum in Asomatos, Plakias, Rethimno

The Archaeological Museum of Rethymno

Natural History Museum of Gergeri, Rouvas Municipality, Crete

Ecclesiastical Museum in Rethymno

The War Museum of Crete in Chania

Nikos Kazantzakis Museum in Heraklion Crete