- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 1523 · 16th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Commissioned by
- Republic of Venice
- Architect
- Michele Sanmicheli
- Coordinates
- 35.3446°, 25.1369°
History
A sea castle had stood at the harbour mouth of Candia, as the Venetians called Heraklion, since the Middle Ages, and it was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1303. Between 1523 and 1540 the Republic of Venice built a new fortress on the site, the Rocca a Mare, designed to withstand artillery; its design is attributed to Michele Sanmicheli. The fort was a key part of the defence during the Ottoman siege of Candia in 1648–1669, one of the longest in history. After taking the city the Turks called it Su Kulesi, the "water tower", from which the present name Koules derives. The fortress was thoroughly restored in the 21st century.
What to see
The fortress stands at the end of the breakwater, and reliefs of the lion of St Mark, the emblem of Venice, can be seen on its walls. Inside, the vaulted halls of the former storerooms and barracks hold an exhibition on the fort's history. The roof terrace looks out over the harbour, the Venetian arsenals and the city.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q603920
Popularity: articles about this site in 20 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).