The Port of Heraklion

The Venetian port took its final form in the 16th or 17th century. Since then its entrance has been dominated by the formidable sea fortress commonly known by the Greek form of its Turkish name Kule ("tower"), which shows the significance of the area in terms of defence.

In the south and the west there were shipyards (Arsenali), where the Venetians built and equipped ships for war and trade purposes. The harbour had to be linked with the town, which was achieved mainly through two gates, the Porta del Molo (Harbour Gate) and the Gate of Neoria (Shipyard Gate), neither of which has been preserved.