Heraklion Prefecture
Encyclopedia
Heraklion is one of the four regional units of Crete
. The capital is the city of Heraklion
.
to the east. Farmlands are situated in the central and the northern parts, at the coast and in valleys. The mountains dominate the rest of the regional unit, notably the south. The main mountains are parts of Ida or Idi Mountains to the west and Asterousia
in the south. The regional unit includes the island of Dia
to the north.
Except for the mountains which receive mild to cool winters unlike northern Greece, the warm to hot Mediterranean climate dominates the regional unit.
and Minoan
settlements, most notably the ancient palace complexes of Knossos
and Phaistos
. While both archaeological sites evince Neolithic habitation, it is the rich finds of Minoan civilisation, which flourished approximately 2000 to 1600 BC, that command the greatest scholarly attention.
Important ancient cities are:
was created in 1915, after Crete joined with the rest of Greece. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Heraklion was created out of the former prefecture Heraklion. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece
.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. The capital is the city of Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
.
Geography
The regional unit of Heraklion borders on the regional units of Rethymno to the west and LasithiLasithi
Lasithi is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete, to the east of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli. The mountains include the Dikte to the west and the Sitia Mountains to the east...
to the east. Farmlands are situated in the central and the northern parts, at the coast and in valleys. The mountains dominate the rest of the regional unit, notably the south. The main mountains are parts of Ida or Idi Mountains to the west and Asterousia
Asterousia
Asterousia is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archanes-Asterousia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,303 . The seat of the municipality was in Pyrgos. Other villages include...
in the south. The regional unit includes the island of Dia
Dia, Greece
Dia , also pronounced locally as Ntia , is an island off the northern coast of the Greek island of Crete. The island is approximately 7 nautical miles north of Heraklion. Dia is administered from Gouves in Heraklion, by the municipality of Elias.-Islet morphology:The islet looks like a giant lizard...
to the north.
Except for the mountains which receive mild to cool winters unlike northern Greece, the warm to hot Mediterranean climate dominates the regional unit.
Ancient history
Within the Heraklion regional unit's boundaries are a number of significant NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
and Minoan
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
settlements, most notably the ancient palace complexes of Knossos
Knossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
and Phaistos
Phaistos
Phaistos , also transliterated as Phaestos, Festos and Phaestus is an ancient city on the island of Crete. Phaistos was located in the south-central portion of the island, about 5.6 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. It was inhabited from about 4000 BC. A palace, dating from the Middle Bronze...
. While both archaeological sites evince Neolithic habitation, it is the rich finds of Minoan civilisation, which flourished approximately 2000 to 1600 BC, that command the greatest scholarly attention.
Important ancient cities are:
- KnossosKnossosKnossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
- PhaistosPhaistosPhaistos , also transliterated as Phaestos, Festos and Phaestus is an ancient city on the island of Crete. Phaistos was located in the south-central portion of the island, about 5.6 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. It was inhabited from about 4000 BC. A palace, dating from the Middle Bronze...
- Gortys
- TylissosTylissosTylisos is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Malevizi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,941 in 2001. It is an ancient Minoan peak sanctuary and town...
Administration
The regional unit Heraklion is subdivided into 8 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):- Archanes-Asterousia (2)
- FaistosFaistosFaistos is a municipality in Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Moires. It is named after the ancient city Phaistos, located in the municipality.-Municipality:...
(7) - GortynGortynGortyn, Gortys or Gortyna is a municipality and an archaeological site on the Mediterranean island of Crete, 45 km away from the modern capital Heraklion. The seat of the municipality is the village Agioi Deka...
a (4) - HeraklionHeraklionHeraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
(Irakleio, 1) - Hersonissos (Chersonisos, 8)
- MaleviziMaleviziMalevizi is a municipality in Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Gazi.-Municipality:The municipality Malevizi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal...
(5) - Minoa PediadaMinoa PediadaMinoa Pediada is a municipality in Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Evangelismos.-Municipality:...
(6) - ViannosViannosViannos is a municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Population 6,463 . The seat of the municipality is in Ano Viannos....
(3)
Prefecture
The Heraklion prefecturePrefectures of Greece
During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and then again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures were the country's main administrative unit...
was created in 1915, after Crete joined with the rest of Greece. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Heraklion was created out of the former prefecture Heraklion. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Archanes-Asterousia | Archanes Archanes Archanes is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archanes-Asterousia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,548 . It is also the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan settlement in... |
Peza |
| Asterousia Asterousia Asterousia is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archanes-Asterousia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,303 . The seat of the municipality was in Pyrgos. Other villages include... |
||
| Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis (municipality) Nikos Kazantzakis is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archanes-Asterousia, of which it is a municipal unit. It was named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Population 7,171... |
||
| Faistos Faistos Faistos is a municipality in Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Moires. It is named after the ancient city Phaistos, located in the municipality.-Municipality:... |
Zaros Zaros Zaros is a village and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Faistos, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,370 . Zaros village, at an altitude of 340 metres, is a village with a lake and... |
Moires |
| Moires Moires Moires is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Faistos, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 10,857 .... |
||
| Tympaki Tympaki Tympaki is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Faistos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located on the south coast, between Agia Galini and Matala. Population 10,000... |
||
| Gortyn Gortyn Gortyn, Gortys or Gortyna is a municipality and an archaeological site on the Mediterranean island of Crete, 45 km away from the modern capital Heraklion. The seat of the municipality is the village Agioi Deka... a |
Gortyn Gortyn Gortyn, Gortys or Gortyna is a municipality and an archaeological site on the Mediterranean island of Crete, 45 km away from the modern capital Heraklion. The seat of the municipality is the village Agioi Deka... a |
Agioi Deka |
| Agia Varvara Agia Varvara, Heraklion Agia Varvara is a village and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortyn, of which it is a municipal unit... |
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| Kofinas Kofinas Kofinas is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortyn, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,338 . The seat of the municipality was in Asimi.... |
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| Rouvas Rouvas Rouvas is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortyn, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,324 . The seat of the municipality was in Gergeri.... |
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| Heraklion Heraklion Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece.... (Irakleio) |
Heraklion Heraklion Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece.... |
Heraklion |
| Gorgolainis Gorgolainis Gorgolainis is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Heraklion, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,171 . The seat of the municipality was in Agios Myronas. Another village within the... |
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| Nea Alikarnassos Nea Alikarnassos Nea Alikarnassos is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Heraklion, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 12,542 . It is located on the north coast of the island and is served by the Nikos... |
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| Paliani Paliani Paliani is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Heraklion, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,404 . The seat of the municipality was in Venerato... |
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| Temenos Temenos, Greece Temenos is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Heraklion, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,218 . The seat of the municipality was in Profitis Ilias.... |
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| Hersonissos (Chersonisos) |
Hersonissos | Gournes |
| Episkopi Episkopi, Heraklion Episkopi is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Hersonissos, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,533 .... |
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| Gouves Gouves, Greece Goúves is a town and former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Hersonissos, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies a few kilometers East of Heraklion.... |
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| Malia Malia (city) Malia is a coastal town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Hersonissos, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies 34 km east of Heraklion, the Cretan capital city. The town was the... |
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| Malevizi Malevizi Malevizi is a municipality in Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Gazi.-Municipality:The municipality Malevizi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal... |
Gazi Gazi, Crete Gazi , Crete, is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit of Crete in Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Malevizi, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies 6 km west of Heraklion, on the north coast of Crete... |
Gazi |
| Krousonas Krousonas Krousonas is a village and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Malevizi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,059 .... |
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| Tylisos Tylissos Tylisos is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Malevizi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,941 in 2001. It is an ancient Minoan peak sanctuary and town... |
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| Minoa Pediada Minoa Pediada Minoa Pediada is a municipality in Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Evangelismos.-Municipality:... |
Arkalochori Arkalochori Arkalochori is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Minoa Pediada, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies on the western edge of the Minoa Pediada plain, west of the Lasithi plateau, in... |
Evangelismos |
| Thrapsano Thrapsano Thrapsano is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Minoa Pediada, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,616 .... |
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| Kasteli Kasteli Kastelli is a village and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Minoa Pediada, of which it is a municipal unit... |
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| Viannos Viannos Viannos is a municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Population 6,463 . The seat of the municipality is in Ano Viannos.... |
Viannos Viannos Viannos is a municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Population 6,463 . The seat of the municipality is in Ano Viannos.... |
Ano Viannos |
Provinces
- Province of Pyrgiotissa - Vori
- Province of Kenourgio - Mires
- Province of Malevizio - Agios Myron
- Province of TemenosTemenosTemenos is a piece of land cut off and assigned as an official domain, especially to kings and chiefs, or a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god, a sanctuary, holy grove or holy precinct: The Pythian race-course is called a temenos, the sacred valley of the Nile is the ...
- Heraklion - Province of Pediada - Kasteli
- Province of Monofatsio - Pyrgos
- Province of ViannosViannosViannos is a municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Population 6,463 . The seat of the municipality is in Ano Viannos....
- Pefkos
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Transport
- GR-90Greek National Road 90Greek National Road 90 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Kissamos, Chania, Rethymnon, Heraclion, Aghios Nikolaos and Sitia....
/E65European route E65European route E 65 is a north-south Class-A European route that begins in Malmö, Sweden and ends in Chaniá, Greece. The road is about in length.-Itinerary:* Sweden** E 65: Malmö – Ystad* Baltic sea, ferry Ystad-Świnoujście* Poland... - GR-97Greek National Road 97Greek National Road 97 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Rethimno with Ierapetra and Sitia....
- GR-99Greek National Road 99Greek National Road 99 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Heraklio with Greek National Road 97 about west of Timbaki....
Persons
- El GrecoEl GrecoEl Greco was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" was a nickname, a reference to his ethnic Greek origin, and the artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος .El Greco was born on Crete, which was at...
(medieval CastilianSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
nickname meaning "the GreekGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
"), by which Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος Domênikos Theotokópoulos, is best known. (Born 1541, Fodele, HeraklionHeraklionHeraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
and died on April 7, 1614, Toledo, SpainToledo, SpainToledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
), a world-famous painterPaintingPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, sculptorSculptureSculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and architectArchitectAn architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the... - Nikos KazantzakisNikos KazantzakisNikos Kazantzakis was a Greek writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel Zorba the Greek, considered his magnum opus...
was born in the village Varvaro (renamed to Myrtia in 1965) The municipal unitNikos Kazantzakis (municipality)Nikos Kazantzakis is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archanes-Asterousia, of which it is a municipal unit. It was named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Population 7,171...
in which Myrtia is located, was named after him.
Communications
The following television channels serve the prefecture:- Creta ChannelCreta ChannelCreta Channel is a TV channel broadcast to the majority of Crete. Its programming is split between TV shopping and entertainment and cultural content....
- Kriti TVKriti TVCrete TV is a Greek television station, based in Heraklion in ANT1 Group...