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Monument · Heraclião, Creta
Muralhas venezianas e bastião Martinengo
The 16th-century Venetian walls that encircle central Heraclião, over 4 km long with seven bastions. The tomb of the writer Nikos Kazantzakis is on the Martinengo bastion.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Muralhas venezianas e bastião Martinengo
Heraclião is one of the few cities in Europe that still has a complete ring of walls. The Venetians began the work in 1462 and took more than a century to finish it, designed by the military architects Michele Sanmicheli and Giulio Savorgnan. The result is over 4 km long, with seven bastions and several gates, two of them still standing: the gate of Chania to the west, and the porta Nova (Kainouria Porta) to the south.
These walls withstood the siege of Cândia from 1648 to 1669, when the city resisted the Ottomans for 21 years before surrendering. Today the top has become a promenade: you can walk long stretches, with views of the city on one side and the mountains on the other.
The highest point is the bastion Martinengo on the south side. Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba, o Grego and A Última Tentação de Cristo, who died in 1957, is buried there. Because the Church considered him heretical, he was not buried in a cemetery and was interred in the wall. The grave is a simple slab with a wooden cross and the phrase he chose: Não espero nada. Não temo nada. Sou livre.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One hour for the tomb and the southern stretch of the wall; two to three hours for the full circuit.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the heat drops and the light falls on the city and the mountains. Early morning is also good. Avoid midday in summer, because the top of the wall has no shade.
How to get there
The bastion Martinengo is about a 15-minute walk south of the praça dos Leões, following rua Evans and going up the ramp by the porta Nova. You can start the walk along the wall at any gate.
Tip
Combine Kazantzakis's tomb with a visit to the Museu Histórico de Creta, which has a room dedicated to the writer with the study from his house in France. Bring water: the top of the wall is exposed to the sun.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Muralhas venezianas e bastião Martinengo
Where is the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis?
On top of the Martinengo bastion, on the southern stretch of the Venetian walls of Heraclião. Entry is free and the site is open-air.
Can you walk on top of the walls of Heraclião?
Yes, in several stretches. The path on top is wide and circles much of the center, with access via gates and ramps.
What does the phrase on Kazantzakis's tomb say?
I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free. He chose the phrase as his epitaph.