Access. Facilitiestovisitors

Transkript

1 InfoPackHeraklion

2 Crete Crete(Greek:Κρήτη,Kríti['kriti];AncientGreek:Κρήτη,Krtē)isthelargestandmostpopulousof thegreekislands,andthefifth-largestislandinthemediterraneansea.creteandanumberof surroundingislandsandisletsconstitutetheregionofcrete),oneofthe13top-leveladministrativeunitsofgreece.thecapitalandthelargestcityisheraklion.asof2011,theregionhada populationof623,065. CreteformsasignificantpartoftheeconomyandculturalheritageofGreece,whileretainingits ownlocalculturaltraits(suchasitsownpoetryandmusic).itwasoncethecentreoftheminoan civilization(c BC),whichiscurrentlyregardedastheearliestrecordedcivilizationin Europe.HeraklionisthelargestcityandcapitalofCrete.Theprincipalcitiesare: Heraklion(IraklionorCandia)(173,993inhabitants) Chania(Haniá)(108,642inhabitants) Rethymno(34,300inhabitants) Ierapetra(23,707inhabitants) AgiosNikolaos(19,462inhabitants) Sitia(14,338inhabitants) Heraclion Iraklion(GR:Ηράκλειον-alsotransliteratedasHeraklionorHerakleion)isthelargesturban centreincrete,thecapitaloftheregionandtheeconomiccentreoftheisland.thefirsteuropean civilisation,theminoancivilisation,flourishedonthisland5000yearsago.currentlythe populationofthemunicipalityofheraklionisapproximately people.itisaverydynamic andcosmopolitantown,particularlyduringthesummerperiodwhenthousandsofvisitorscan beseenshoppinginthemarketorvisitingthemuseumsandotherplacesofinterest.duringthe last20yearsthecityhasmadealsoaremarkableprogressintheacademicandtechnological fields. HeraklionliesalongtheNorthcoastoftheisland,havingtothewestatabout80km thetownof Rethymnonandat135km thecityofhania.totheeastisthetownofagiosnikolaos(60km)and thetownofsitia(130km).

3 Access TheHeraklionairport(HER),namedaftertheCretanwriterNikosKazantzakis,isoneofthebiggestinGreeceandreceivesapproximately15% ofthetotaltouristtraficofgreece.heraklion's airportisabout5km eastofthecity.majorcar-rentalcompanieshavedesksattheairport.taxiand publicbusareavailablefortransferfrom/toiraklion. Iraklionalsoreceivesalotofvisitorsbyboat.Therearedailyferrytripstoandfrom Peiraeus (Athens'port),andmanyweeklyonestoandfrom otherislandsandtownsingreece.theterminal atheraklionportiswithinwalkingdistancefrom thetown'scenterandthereisplentyoftaxisto takevisitorstotheirdestinations. TheCreteintraregionalBusterminalisalsolocatedclosetotheport. Facilitiestovisitors Herakliontoday,asamoderntown,hasextensivefacilitiesthatcaterforalneedsofitsvisitors. Thereisalotofhotelsrangingfrom Luxuryclasstosmalrent-a-room andyouthhostelsoperatingalyearround.mostofthem arelocatedintheoldtown. Travelbureausoferingexcursionsandspecialevents,carhirecompaniesandothertourist relatedagenciesarealsoclosetotheoldtown'scenterandtheport. Asfarasentertainmentgoestheoptionsarealmostunlimited.Herakliotesareapeoplethat enjoygoingoutalot,eitherforlunch,dinner,acofeeoradrink,oralofthem -theweather,of course,helpsalottothis.sothereisplentyofrestaurants,familytaverns,luxurycafé-snack bars,traditionalcofeeshops(kafeneia),musichalswithtraditionalcretanorbouzouki(rebeticasongs),discos,smalpubsandmusicbars,eitherindoorsoroutdoors,openthroughoutthe yearandfrequentedbyvisitorsandlocalsalike. Heraklion,beingthebusinesscenterofthearea,hasplentyofstoresselingclothes,shoes,jeweleryetc.Storesareopeninthemorning(9a.m.to2p.m.)andintheevening(5p.m.to9p.m.) withtheexceptionoftheeveningsofmonday,wednesdayandsaturday.

4 CulturalLife Heraklion'slonghistoryandcosmopolitancharacterisreflectedtoitsrichculturallifethroughout theyear.awealthofculturaleventsfrom music& dancerecitalstotheatricalperformances,to lectures,toartexhibitionsandmuchmorearehostedinthemanyprivateorpublicplacesthatthe cityofers. ImportantVenuesoftheCity ComingtoHeraklionforthefirsttime,thevisitornowadaysmaybesomewhatsurprisedbythe changesthataretakingplaceincrete'scapitalcity;heraklioniscelebratingitsrichhistoryand movingonwardstoafuturefulofpotential. Where,atonetime,thenumberofcarsinthecitycentrewouldhavemadewalkingdificult,you wilnow findlargecity-centrespacesclearedoftrafic.youcanenjoywalkinginoneofthemost historicalyandsocialyfascinatingcitiesfacingthemediterranean,onstreetsfreefrom trafic noiseandrush.thecityhasopenedupinsomanyways,makingthecityaplaceofdiscovery. Thesechangesbringaharmonytoo;betweenthetraditionalywarm,consideratepeopleofHeraklion,andthefinebuildingsthatsurroundus,theopenpublicspacesandviewsovertheocean. Manylandmarksteltheirstoryaboutthecityandtheislandthatgavebirthtogods,torebelion, andtoaplacethatinspireseveryonewhofeelsthespiritofcrete. Herakliontodayislivingbetweenthefastmovingcurrentsofregenerationandadeepdesireto maintainlinkswithapast.boththesestrandsdefineitscharacter.inthelasthundredyears alone,wehaveseenhugechanges,whichcanbequiteeasilyfolowed,inbuildingsandstreets thatreflectthechangingfortunesofcrete.the oldtown'areasofthecity,establishedfrom mediaevaltimes,now ofervisitorssomefantasticwalksintheheartofthecity.

5 Koulesandharbour IfyoubeginawalkaroundHeraklion,startingatthefishingharbourclosetotheRoccaalMare,but isnow knownbyitsturkishname,koules.ithasamixedhistory;forcenturiesitwasusedasprotectionagainstinvaders,aswerethegreatcitywalsandditches.theseareamongthelongestcity walsineurope. Withitshugedarkhalwaysandcels,thefortresswasalsoaprisontomanyCretanrebelsand thosewhobroketherulesimposedbysuccessiveoccupiersofcrete.koulesisbuiltontwotiers andofersacommandingview ofheraklionfrom thebatlements.nowadays,theharbouritselfis hometobrightlycolouredfishingboatsandbusytavernasselingfreshfish. Lookingbacktowardsthecityyouwilseethestrongarcheswhichhousedboatsunderrepairand wereusedasanarsenalforstoringgunsandgunpowder.thegreatestthreattothevenetian strongholdofheraklion,orcandia,asitwasnamed,wasthoughttocomefrom theseawardside ofthecity,andindeed,manynavalskirmisheswerefoughtofthiscoast.theview northward takesintheuninhabitedislandofdia,whereevidenceofancientminoansetlement(approx BC)wasfoundbythediver,JacquesCousteau.Boattripscanbebookedfrom travel shopsthroughoutcentralheraklion,ascanexcursionstovariousplacesofinterest. 25thofAugustStreet Thecarfree25AugustSt.isdirectlyoppositetheOldHarbourandextendstoLionSquare.It takesitsnamefrom amassacreof martyrs'whichoccurredin1898.thisinvolvedthekilingof manycretansand,crucialy,britishinthisarea,bytheturks,finalyforcingthe GreatPowers' (Britain,FranceandRussia)torecognizeCrete'sstruggle.Theseeventsledeventualytothe declarationofacretanstateand,finaly,unificationwithgreecein1913.oldandmodernbuildingscompeteforspacenow onthestreetnamedtoremember25thaugust. Walkinguptheshorthil,andpassingtheshopsandtouristofices,wereachSt.Titus'Cathedral,animpressivesight.SaintTitus,afelow travelerofsaintpaul,preachedthegospelincrete duringromanruleandwasmartyredingortyn,wherea7thcenturybasilicastandsinhis memory.hischurchinheraklionwasbuiltduringthesecondbyzantineperiod,whenitfirst servedasthecity'scathedral.duringvenetianrule,ithousedtheseatofthecatholicarchbishopandwasrenovatedin1466,onlytoberuinedinafirein1544.

6 DuringtheTurkishOccupationitservedasamosqueandcaledVizierTzami,whenaminaretwas added,now gone.thepresent-daystructureistheresultoffurtherrenovationsafteritsalmost entiredestructionbyastrongearthquakein1856,andlaterworkwhichfolowedin1922.theskul ofsttituswastransferredherefrom Venicein1956andhassincebeenkeptinthechurch.Ifthe cathedralisopenwhenyouvisit,itiswelworthgoingin. AlitlefurtherandyoudiscovertheVenetianarchitectureoftheLoggiawhichfunctionedasaclub forthenobilitytogatherandrelax.theloggiaisawonderfulexampleofvenetianbuilding unmistakeablewithitssemi-circulararches,itwasbuiltinthe16thcenturyandwaslocatedinthepiazza deisignori(square ofthe Administrative Authorities).Today,the Loggia,decorated with sculpturedcoatofarms,trophiesandmetopes,housespartofthetown-halofheraklion.the LoggiawasawardedtheEuropaNostrafirstprizein1987forthebestrenovatedandpreserved Europeanmonumentoftheyear. St.Mark'sBasilica,almostnextdoor,isnow themunicipalartgaleryandoftenhosttoartand craftsexhibitions,almostalwaysopentovisit.builtin1239inthepiazzadelebiade(squareof Blades),itwasatonetimetheCathedralofCrete.TheBasilicabelongedtothereigningDuke, eventualybecominghisburialplace. InMay2006,theBasilicawashosttotheFirstInternationalConferenceonEthicsandPolitics,featuringspeakersfrom alovertheworld.youwilwelcomeitscool,dignifiedinteriorandmaybegin tofeelthegreatageofthiscityinitsvenerablewals. Liondaria,orLionSquare ThisistheheartofHeraklionwheretouristsandlocalssharethesmalspacearoundthefountain,exchangingglancesandperhapsafew words.businessandpleasurecombinehere,andit istheplacetomeetforwhateverpurposeornopurpose.togivesomebackground,itmightalso becaledthemorosinifountainor,liondariaingreekor,moreproperly,plateiaeleftheriou Venizelou,afterVenizelos,Crete'sgreatestmanofstate.Thedecoratedfountainiscomposedof eightcisternsanddecoratedwithstonerelief,depictingfiguresofgreekmythology,nymphs, Tritons,seamonstersanddolphins,whilethemainbasinissupportedbyfoursitinglionsbalancingacircularbowlontheirheads.ItwasleftbyFrancescoMorosini,theItaliangovernorwhohad itbuilttocommemoratevenetiansuccessinbringingmuchneededwater,throughabriliantly executedviaductsystem from MountYouchtas,tothecentreofthecity.Morosiniwasstilin chargewhentheturkscapturedthecity.nowadaysitisalwaysinteresting,thehubaroundwhich Heraklionrevolves. Noneedtobehungryhere.Thebougatsas,orvanilacream pies,aregreatforbreakfast,and thereareplentyofomelete,crepeandsouvlakiplacesaround.youwilalwaysbegivenwater whenyousittoordersomething,andmightwelbecharmedintositingforquiteawhileinanyof theseworthwhileestablishments.onthefarsideofthesquare,youmightprefertherenewed HandakosStreet,now closedtotrafic.handakos,abusythoroughfaresinceantiquity,isan atractiveplacetowalk,shoporrest.

7 TheMarket WalkslowlythroughtheAgora,theMarketStreetthatrunsalongsideashoppingboulevardcaled 1866,afteraCretanuprising. From toptobotom,withsomeshadedsidewaysexits,thisoldmarketstreetisstilaplacefor Herakliotes'tocomeeverydaytofindsocks,shirts,herbs,fishandfreshmeat.It'sagoodplace tofindthymehoney,raki(thecretanclearspirit)from amongshopsselingeverythingfrom selectionsofcretanmusictothefinestcheese.thismarkethasalonghistory,alwaysaplaceto meetandmakeplans.walktheside-streetsandyouwilsmelgoodcretanfoodandfeelthebuzz aroundyou. CafésheredonotdistinguishmuchbetweenGreeksandforeigners,neitherdotheinexpensive eatinghousesthatservegoodfoodtoalwhoenter.therearesometouristtraps,butalare friendlyandofergoodquality.atthetopend,atthelastturn,findthefishmarketandsomegreat litlefishouzeries(smalerandlessformalthanataverna)thatfilupatnightandprovideexcelent, simple,seafood. PlateiaKornarou PlateiaKornarou liesatthetopofthemarket,withalovelyvenetianfountainofitsown,the BemboFountain,probablytheoldest,anditbearssomeverygooddecoration,althoughithas ceasedtofount.thebembofountainwasbuiltin1588byvenetianarchitectzuannebembo.itis decoratedwithcolumns,venetianfamilycoats-of-armsandaheadlessmalestatue,broughthere from Ierapetra.Atonetime,peoplebelievedthatthestatuehadsupernaturalpowersand,every May,religiousritualswereorganisedinitshonour.Theatmospherickafeneioalongsideit,stil servinggreekcofeeandaperitifsfrom anantiquestonepavilionatitscentre,isagreatremind- erofcrete'sturkish past.the Plateia itselfisnamed aftervitsenzoskornaros(1553 to approx.1614),composeroftheepicpoem Erotokritos,whichisregularlyperformedaround Crete,andstilevokesprideineveryCretanheart.From here,itisclosetoagiosminascathedral or,intheoppositedirection,freedom Square.

8 AgiosMinasCathedral Youwilfindplentyoflifearoundthewidespaceinfrontofthecathedral,dedicatedtothePatron SaintofHeraklionandoneofGreece'slargestchurches,completedinacruciform shapewith twintowers.thechurchsufereddamageinthebatlesforthecityandneededthirtyyearstobe rebuilt.in1896itwasinauguratedwithlavishcelebrations. Theplateiaalsocontainsawonderfulcolectionofreligiousiconpaintings,housedinsidethe strongwalsofthemucholderchurchofagiosminas,andthebasilicaofagiaekaterini,(saint Katherine)builtin1555andthesiteofarenownedschoolofRenaissancepaintersandwritersin the16thand17thcenturies.insidethechurchcanbeseentheworkofmikaildamaskinosamong otherrepresentativesofthecretanschool.theplateia(square)heretakesitsnamefrom this church,ratherthanthegreatcathedral. PlateiaEleftherias,orFreedomSquare ThespaciousPlateiaEleftheriasisworthexploring,builtinacrescentshapealongsidethe ArchaeologicalMuseum andclosetoheraklion'smunicipalbuildingsandthemainforeignconsulates.apartfrom breathingspace,itoferstheshadedparkofgeorgiades,afineplacetorest thefeetandwatchthebusiestintersectioninheraklion.ontheseawardsideofthesquareisthe entrancetost.george'sgate,usedfrom Venetiantimesasapassagebetweenthecityandits port,theentranceisdownstonesteps,leadingtoanatmosphericdome-roofedchamberandthe lowerexit.thepassagemaystilbeaccessedandisoftenthevenueforartexhibitions.itisal ththatremainsnow ofanimportantmediaevalentrancetothecity.

9 ArchaeologicalMuseum(Wewilvisitthisvenuetogether) TheworldfamousHeraklionArchaeologicalMuseum wasbuiltbetween1937and1940onasite thathadbeenoccupiedduringthevenetianperiodbyanimposingcatholicmonasteryofst. Francis,whichwasdestroyedbytheearthquakeof1856.TheMuseum housesarchaeological findsfrom alovercrete.prideofplacegoestothetreasuresoftheearliesteuropeancivilization, theminoan,whichcanherebeadmiredinalitshistoricalcontinuity. YoumayleavePlateiaEleftheriasbylookingtotheleftofthecinema,caledAstoria,toashopping streetcaleddaidalou,namedafterdaidalos,theteacherofikaroswhoflew tooclosetothesunin hisefortstoleavecrete.itisachicshoppingstreetthatborders,ontheright,aninterestingold sectionknownaskorai,theplaceforsmartherakliotestogoatnight,withsomeveryinteresting café'sandbarsandanight-timepartyatmosphere.atthefarendofdaidalou,youreturnheraklion'sfamouslionsquare. AmmoudaraBeach AmmoudaraBeach-ΑμμουδάραofHeraklion-veryclosetothewestofthecapital.Assuchitis averydevelopedbeachwithresortsandhotelsalalongit.thereareunsightlyfactoriesinthe west,soifyouareconcernedaboutpeaceandquietandprivacy,don'tchoosethisbeach. Thereareacoupleofpointsofaccesstothebeach,plentyofaccommodation,rooms,afew domatiaandlotsofrestaurants.thelargecarrefoursupermarketishereinammoudara. Αµµουδάραmeans'bigsand'inGreekanditisa7km longsandybeach.itiseasilyaccessedby localbusservicesfrom thecity.someofthemostexcitingolympicsoccermatchesofthewere playedhereasheraklionwasanolympiccity,andthesoccerstadium ishere. YoucanreachAmmoudarabybusno6whicharrivesevery15minutes.

10 PracticalTips Arival Theteamsfrom Italyand CaboVerdearearriving innikoskazantzakisairport.weknow thetimeofyourarrival,andwewil cometocolectyouandgetyoutothehotel.theteam from Brazil wilarrivebyboatthesametimeasthegreekteam,sowewil reachtogetheratthehotel. Hotel ThehotelyouarestayingiscaledIraklioHotel(htp:/ the sea.featuringroomswithfreewi-fi,spaciousloungewithbarand a24-hourfrontdesk,iraklionhotelisamodern,familyrunhotel centralylocatedinheraklion.hoteliraklionofersair-conditioned roomsequippedwithsatelitetv,refrigeratorandhairdryer.suites alsoincludescales.24-hourroom serviceisalsoprovided.iraklion Hotelisjust5minutesfrom theportand10minutesfrom theairport. TheArchaeologicalSiteofKnossosabstains2.5km from thehotel. ContactandAddress Kalokairinou& Delimarkoustr.128 HeraklionCrete PostCode Tel

11 What'stheweatherlikeinJuneinCrete JunecontinuesthewarmingtrendthatstartedinCretanspringand bringsabouttheisland ssignaturesummersun.thesemonthsare virtualyrainfreeandthemiddayhotnessismitigatedbycoolwinds thatdroptemperaturesintheevenings.thesewindscomefrom the mountainsidesandcanlastthroughoutthesummer,maintaininga comfortableafternoonclimate,perfectforrelaxingafteradayon thebeach.theaveragetemperatureforthismonthis24degrees. Sobebringlightclotheswithyouandofcourseaswimmingsuit, youaregoingtoneeditforourexcursioninmatala,onwednesday 28th. CreditCards&Curency AlmajorCreditCardsaswelasEuro-chequesarerecognizedand acceptedinmosthotels,shops,travelandcarrentalagenciesand restaurantsincrete.stickersinthefrontwindowswiladviseyouas towhichcardsareacceptable. ThecurrencyinGreece,likemostoftheEuropeancountriesisthe Euro( ),whichcomesin7diferentbanknotesof500,200,100,50, 20,10and5euroand8diferentcoins;2and1euro,50,20,10,5,2 and1cent.theeuroreplacedthegreekdrachmain2002.eurois pronouncedas"evro"(easinegg)ingreek. GreekFoodandWines TheGreekcuisinehasalargevarietyofdishes:diferentkindsof starters,alsoknownasmezedes,folowedbymaindishes,usualy eithermeatorfishwithchips.becauseofthelargevarietythe Greekkitchenisprobablythemostappropriateforvegetarians. Dessertsand sweetsare a diferentissue,butdefinitelyworth trying.youshouldalsotastethewinesofcreteandotherareasof Greece.Youmayaskforabotleofwineoracarafeofhousewine (c(cheaper).readmoreaboutgreekfoodandthecretewines. TsikoudiaorRaki AloverGreece,andmuchfurtherafield,afire-watercaledrakiis producedfrom thegrapeskinsandmustleftoverfrom wineproduction.

12 Toknow Crete,youalmostcertainlywilbecomeacquaintedwith thisfinespirit.increteitiscaledtsíkoudiaτσικουδια ThisisacleargrapespiritproducedbymanyagriculturalcooperativesandfamiliesaloverKriti.Thisisthecrystalcleardrinkmany visitorsareofereduponarrivaltoahouse,ahotelandevenina shop,ascretanhospitalitysuggeststhateveryvisitorbeofered thisheart-stoppingandheart-warmingdrinkuponarrival,orafter dinner. TsikoudiaismadebydistilationYouwilbeoferedtsíkoudiabythe roadside,intavernas,inhomesandshopsandhotelsaloverkriti. Mantinades "Ότικαινα χειο Κρητικόςμελόγια δεντο λέει,μεμαντινάδες χαίρεται,μεμαντινάδεςκλαίει!" A Cretandoesnotsayinplainwordswhathefeels,withmantinadesheweepsorwithlaughterhepeals! Mantinades(pluralofmantinada)arethemostcommonform offolk songandarewidespreadacrosscrete.thecretanmantinadaisa 15-sylablerhymingcoupletinCretandialect.Eachmantinadais completeinitselfinspiteofitsshortlength,likealimerick.there arehoweversomemantinadesusedtoanswerothers,inwhichcase theirmeaningiscomplementary. ThemantinadaistheuniquewayinwhichyoungandoldinCrete canexpresstheirmanyandvariedemotions:sorrow,joy,hope, desire,love,anger,revenge,nostalgia.thousandsofmantinades havebeencomposedandarestilbeingimprovisedoneveryfacet ofhumanlife.mostaretodowithloveandromance,butthereare alsosatiric,didactic,teasingcoupletsorversesonexile,engagement,marriage,everydaylifeandofcoursedeathandlosingloved ones. Mantinadesaretoldatfestivalsaccompaniedbythelyre,orontheir ownincompany,atthecafe,ineverydayconversation.mostarenot writendowneveninanotebook,andevenfewerarepublished. Manyaretoldandforgoten,butthebestarelearntofbyheartand passedonbywordofmouth.

13 Religion ReligionofCrete.Religionisanimportantinfluencetoo,asdemonstratedbytheirstrictadherencetoreligiousholidaysandfestivals. 95% ofthepopulationofcretearebaptisedintothegreekorthodoxfaith.thechurchplaysamajorroleinthelivesofmostcretans. Costsduringtheprojectseminar Asyouarealinformedinourprivateconversations,almaincosts arecoveredbytheprojectandbyus.thatmeansthatthecostsof transportationfrom andtotheairportorporttothehotel,therooms ofthehotelfrom Sunday25thofJunetoSaturday1stofJuly,the costsforfoodandtransportationfrom Monday26thtoFriday30th arefulycovered. Important contacts ofthe Greek Partners from ActionSynergy Incaseofemergencyorifyouwantanyadditionalinformation,you cancontactthemembersofthegreekpartnersintheirphones Alexandros Dominikos Kostas

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