Heraklion story
The story begins in the city early years the Minoan civilization, when this land was ruled by
King Minos, and he was named in honor of the great hero of Greek mythology - Heracles. In 824 AD, after the island of Crete was conquered by the Arabs, has become a reliable Heraklion fortified fort, with deep ditches dug, called "Candia", and held there for 140 years. In 961, the Byzantines came here and within eight months of siege to the city, until finally he broke through the defense of Muslims and did not take the fortress. Treasures and jewels found in the "Candia" were taken in Byzantium, and the city destroyed. After 250 years, and the fall of Byzantium, the island passed into the possession of the Venetian Republic, and Heraklion was restored and given a new name - "Candia". In the period from 1204 to 1669, the city developed and flourished as the cultural capital of the Mediterranean. During this period there was born and grew up a talented artist and painter of the Middle Ages - El Greco 
During those years of peace that "Candia", existed on the shores of the Aegean Sea, there were built many fine buildings, squares, monuments and temples. The most magnificent structure in those years was a protective wall, which the people, "Candia" created over a century. In some places, the wall thickness of several tens of meters in length and was more than four miles. For its construction to involve all able-bodied population of the city, from 14 to 60 years. By the authorities every citizen should have every year for one week, to participate actively in the construction of the wall. The peaceful existence of the "Candia" lasted until 1645, while the Turkish navy ships did not move to the city. Siege lasted 28 months, during which the Ottomans had lost more than 100 thousand soldiers, while the Venetians lost amounted to only 29 000. However, the fall of 1669, the command of the defense of the island, led by Francesco Morosini, decided to surrender, "Candia" Turkish troops, followed by the evacuation of civilians.
