Heraklion was built by the Arabs in the 9th century. At that time it was called Handakas. In Middle Ages, the Venetians walled the city for 5 kilometres. In a small square in the centre of town, there's a beautiful marble fountain named after in honour of the Venetian general Morosini. There are also a number of Venetian houses.
The pride of the city is the rich Archaeological Museum. Here are collected all the most important exhibits of Minoan culture: ceramics, stone carvings, carved seals, sculpture, gold jewellery, metalwork, beautiful frescoes from palaces and wealthy mansions, as well as a unique stone sarcophagus from the Agia Triada.
The city's Historical Museum presents exhibits from the Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish periods and historical artefacts from the Agia Triada. Venetian and Turkish periods and historical documents of the modern history of Crete. Here Crete's local folk costumes, woven items, wood carvings, embroideries and other arts and crafts.
