Hersonissos City Crete

Hersonissos is considered the capital of the nightlife in Crete. It is located twenty kilometers east from the capital Heraklion and is much loved by those who prefer an "eventful" holiday where you sleep during the day and from the afternoon as well as enjoy the beach, parties for all tastes begin and continue until dawn. But Hersonissos is not only casino and noises, it also offers families or couples a wide choice of things to visit from the historical point of view, beautiful beaches where you can relax and enjoy the Cretan sun, fun water parks for the little ones, do trekking in the gorges of Avdou and discover the beautiful villages in the surroundings.

In the past, Hersonissos was a simple fishing village that over time has transformed into a charming seaside town where nothing is missing. West of the coastal road are most of the nightclubs, accommodation facilities ranging from large hotels, hotels, apartments and an impressive choice of bars, tavernas, cafes and shops. A city with an old part and a new one, all connected by intertwined streets that offer everything and more '. Still to the west, protected by Capo Sarandaris in the Limanakia peninsula spared from the wind, there are the quieter beaches, suitable for families and not very crowded. On the contrary, the eastern part has a long coastline with the most famous and even more chaotic beaches.

Inhabited since the Minoan period and important for its natural port which is located on the eastern slope of the hill of Kastri where today there are traces of the settlements of Kastro and Anisaras, in the classical period it was a completely independent city but not with a fort power. In the Hellenistic period, the port of Lyttos became one of the most powerful cities of Crete in perennial struggle with the city of Knossos, beginning to give splendor to Hersonissos and minting its own coin which as identification had the symbol of a boat. With the Roman domination it took even more power by dominating Lyttos dominating until the early Christian era while, during the dictatorship of the Ottomans, the port became the main point where to supply the Cretan rebels and then transform itself as a thriving commercial place for the export of local products which were mainly oil and carob.

Let's start with the historical part and the Paleochristian Basilica just above the gulf on the Kastri hill. Considered one of the largest in the whole island of Crete, its dating dates back to the 5th century. With oriental architectural influences it is composed of three naves and a floor decorated with magnificent mosaics. Traces of the mighty walls that surrounded the city are still visible around the hill.

The tourist port, built on the remains of the Roman port where you can admire some submerged finds. On the road there is also a pyramid-shaped Roman fountain with mosaics depicting fishing scenes.

Two kilometers east of the bay, with its beautiful lighthouse, is the chapel of Agia Paraskevi built under an excavated rock dated 1870. A small jewel which in 1930 was enlarged on the east side due to the increase of the congregation. Unfortunately, a bad fire in 1994 destroyed the church together and almost all its icons. A wooden construction carved out of the stone with images of the Archangel Michael, Pantocrator (God Almighty) and Saint Paraskevi. It is celebrated on July 26th.

The Lychnostatis Museum is a private collection by Yiorgos Markakis, professor of ophthalmology, writer and lecturer who over the course of thirty years has collected objects and testimonies to make known the Cretan popular cultural heritage. The Museum includes a peasant house and a middle-class house, a chapel, a windmill, an oil mill, a press, a distillery of Raki the famous Greek alcoholic drink, various workshops, a beautiful garden with native fruit plants and a theater. outdoors where artistic and cultural events are organized.

The Aquaword Aquarium, the natural history museum where marine animals and reptiles rescued or among pets no longer desired are hosted. A natural habitat created in the smallest detail to safeguard endangered species and introduce people to these splendid specimens.

From the port of Hersonissos, excursions to the island of Dia leave every day, a beautiful uninhabited oasis as well as a small paradise in the sea. Protected area has high cliffs that reach up to 50 meters and four delightful small bays on the southern coast. At its port in the bay of Agios Georgios, there are the finds of a Minoan settlement as well as the only tavern on the islet. Its surface is 12 square kilometers and is part of the Natura 2000 project. The island of Dia is very important because there are endangered species such as the albinary snail, the wild rabbit, the Erhard's lizard and the queen's hawk. Given the position, all the beaches are sheltered from the wind and have a sandy coast with rocks scattered here and there, no shade but a crystalline sea with changing colors. Mythology tells that one day Zeus looking at his homeland from Olympus Crete, saw the Cretans hunt the goats kri kri daughters of the nymph Amalthea who was' his nurse and angry for the gesture threw 'a bolt into the sea that was transformed' into a monstrous lizard. Poseidon the God of the sea convinced his brother not to kill all the Cretans by making them eat by the beast, so that Zeus took two pieces of bread, threw them into the sea and when the big lizard ran to eat them, he threw another lightning bolt petrifying the monster and giving life to the island of Dia. According to another story, however, Dia was the first place where Theseus hid together with Ariadne when they fled from Crete after the killing of the Minotaur.

The main beach is located on the west side behind the port. Long and wide, it has a coastline of slightly fine and slightly coarse sand, perfect for the little ones. The sea is clean and blue, however, for most of its length it hosts a coral reef of stones and soft corals so when the sea is slightly rough you do not have the right visibility to see where you are putting your feet, better get some rock shoes. Snorkelers, on the other hand, will have a lot of fun with these conditions. In the western part of the beach, however, the seabed is sandy and shallow. Behind you will find shops, taverns, clubs and beach bars.

Star Beach one of the most famous and stormed in Crete. Enclosed in a bay bordered by rocks and well protected from the winds, it is of soft golden sand bathed by crystal clear and blue waters with a gently sloping seabed. Equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas especially in high season it is super crowded and you will always find something to do with the great offer of water sports ranging from motorcycles, to banna to paragliding. The whole coast is served by mini markets, taverns, restaurants, cafes and bars. In the evening a part of the Star Beach comes alive with great parties that last until the first light of dawn together with international DJs and the legendary foam parties.

Finally the beach of Sarandaris to the west from the port. Calm waters because the position protects them from the winds that can be reached on foot from the town. In the extreme west, more than a beach, there is a rocky area where there is the pretty chapel of San Giorgio Sarandaris, which, via a staircase, will take you to the rocks where there are umbrellas and sunbeds. This part is the playground for snorkelers. At the base of the Cape there is a wonderful sandy beach with a blue sea with a gently sloping seabed. It can be reached via steep stairs carved into the cliff. A small cave in the northern part right inside the white cliff shaped by the waters to be explored.

Let's say that here you will find truly any type of entertainment, suitable for all ages, pockets and energies. Most of the clubs are located on the coastal road and a couple right next to the beach. In Hersonissos sometimes it is not possible to understand when it is day or night the only recognizable thing is the intensity of the light that marks the time. To get an idea of the clubs, consult the article dedicated to nightlife.

If you land in Heraklion, take the north-west direction, about twenty kilometers and you are there. If you arrive from Chania, move north-east in a couple of hours you will arrive at your destination. However, remember that Hersonissos is on the north east coast.

A lively, bubbly, crowded and noisy place that will give you unforgettable holidays. Even just for a day visit it is worth it, you will see the goliardic face of Crete where excesses are allowed and normality is almost a strange thing.