Venetian Koules Fortress, Heraklion: At the wave-battered harbor of Chandax

Although the siege of Candia by the Ottomans was the longest in history (1645-1669), the fortress’s greatest adversary was none other than the forces of nature.

From the very beginning, the omens were not favourable for the Venetians, who saw the original fortress destroyed by an earthquake in 1303. Despite extensive repairs, they were eventually forced to demolish it in order to construct a new one, sinking entire shiploads of stone, so as to create embankments for its construction during 1523-1540. Even so, constant maintenance was required due to damage from the relentless waves, a painstaking process continued throughout the Ottoman rule.

Nevertheless, as far as the visitor is concerned, its past trials did nothing to diminish the grandeur of the Koules fortress, which still stands proudly as if by some miracle – an eternal symbol of the Cretan harbour, with the marble winged lions of the Venetian Republic adorning its three gates.