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Heraklion

File:Heraklion_Montage_L.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Heraklion

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Also known as Heraclion, Iraklion, Irakleion, Candia

Heraklion, Herakleion ( ; , , , not to be mistaken with Heracleion, Egypt) or Iraklion, is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece, and the largest city in the Greek islands, with a municipal population of 179,302 (2021) and 211,370 in its wider metropolitan area, according to the 2011 census. The greater area of Heraklion has been continuously inhabited since at least 7000 BCE, making it one of the oldest inhabited regions in Europe. It is also home to the ancient Knossos Palace, a m

AI overview

Heraklion is the largest city in the Greek islands and the capital of Crete, serving as an important administrative and population center in Greece. The region has been continuously inhabited since at least 7000 BCE and is home to the ancient Knossos Palace, making it one of Europe's oldest inhabited areas with significant historical importance.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Greek Dimos.alt
Heraklion montage. Clicking on an image in the picture causes the browser to load the appropriate article, if it exists. rect 12 11 987 437 Panoramic view of the city of Heraklion rect 12 450 520 853 Venetian fortress of Koules/Castello rect 532 450 987 853 Agios Minas Cathedral rect 13 867 987 1202 Harbor of Heraklion
Greek Dimos.caption_skyline
Clockwise from top: Panoramic view of the city of Heraklion and the Sea of Crete, Agios Minas Cathedral, Night view of the Harbor of Heraklion, and Venetian fortress of Koules/Castello.
Greek Dimos.elevation_min
0
Greek Dimos.elevation_max
33
Greek Dimos.periph
Crete
Greek Dimos.periphunit
Heraklion
Greek Dimos.pop_municipality
179302
Greek Dimos.area_municipality
244.6
Greek Dimos.pop_municunit
156842
Greek Dimos.area_municunit
109.0
Greek Dimos.population_urban
211,370
Greek Dimos.mayor
Alexis Kalokairinos
Greek Dimos.since
2023
Greek Dimos.demonym
Heraklian, Heraclian
Greek Dimos.population_as_of
2021
Greek Dimos.postal_code
70x xx, 71x xx, 720 xx
Greek Dimos.area_code
281
Greek Dimos.licence
HK, HP, HZ

via Wikipedia infobox

~30 min read

Encyclopedic overview

47 sections
Contents
  • Etymology
  • Other names
  • History
  • Minoan era
  • Antiquity
  • Emirate of Crete
  • Byzantine era
  • Venetian era
  • Ottoman era
  • Modern era
  • Architecture, urban sculpture and fortifications
  • Municipality
  • Neighborhoods
  • Suburbs
  • Transportation
  • Port
  • Airport
  • Highway network
  • Public transit
  • Railway
  • Climate
  • Educational and Research Institutions
  • Culture
  • Museums
  • Arts
  • Sports
  • Local TV stations
  • Notable people
  • Literature
  • Scientists and academia
  • Painting and sculpture
  • Film industry
  • Music
  • Spirituality
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Politics and law
  • Clergy
  • Fashion
  • International relations
  • Consulates
  • Twin towns and sister cities
  • Location
  • Gallery
  • See also
  • References
  • External links

Heraklion, Herakleion ( ; , , , not to be mistaken with Heracleion, Egypt) or Iraklion, is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece, and the largest city in the Greek islands, with a municipal population of 179,302 (2021) and 211,370 in its wider metropolitan area, according to the 2011 census. The greater area of Heraklion has been continuously inhabited since at least 7000 BCE, making it one of the oldest inhabited regions in Europe. It is also home to the ancient Knossos Palace, a major center of the Minoan civilization dating back to approximately 2000-1350 BCE, often considered Europe's oldest city. The palace is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece, second only to the Parthenon in terms of visitor numbers.

Heraklion was Europe's fastest growing tourism destination for 2017, according to Euromonitor, with an 11.2% growth in international arrivals. According to the ranking, Heraklion was ranked as the 20th most visited region in Europe, as the 66th area on the planet and as the 2nd in Greece for the year 2017, with 3.2 million visitors and the 19th in Europe for 2018, with 3.4 million visitors.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Heraklion” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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