Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Museum · Heraclião, Creta
Museu Histórico de Creta
Museum that tells the history of Crete from the Byzantine era to the 20th century, with the only paintings by El Greco on the island, the model of Venetian Cândia and the room of Nikos Kazantzakis.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Museu Histórico de Creta
The Historical Museum of Crete continues where the Archaeological Museum leaves off: it covers the island from the early Christian centuries up to the 20th century. It was founded in 1953 by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies and occupies a 1903 neoclassical house on the seafront, with a modern annex.
On the ground floor, a 4 by 4 metre model shows Cândia, 17th‑century Venetian Heracliion, at its height, before the Ottoman siege. Nearby are the two paintings by El Greco, born in Crete: View of Mount Sinai and the Baptism of Christ, his only works on the island. There are rooms of sculpture, pottery, coins and Byzantine and post‑Byzantine art, with icons of the Cretan school.
On the upper floors, modern history: the 19th‑century revolts, union with Greece in 1913 and the Battle of Crete in 1941, with photos and objects from the German occupation. The Nikos Kazantzakis room reconstructs the writer’s study from his house in Antibes, France, with the library and manuscripts. The top floor houses an ethnographic collection, with looms, costumes and a reconstructed Cretan country house.
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
From an hour and a half to two hours.
Best time
Around midday as a break from the heat, or when it rains. The museum is not very crowded for most of the year. Check winter opening days and times before you go.
How to get there
It is on avenida Sofokli Venizelou, on the seafront, about a 10‑minute walk from the old port and the Koules fortress, heading west. From praça dos Leões it’s about a 10‑minute walk downhill toward the sea.
Tip
Visit after the tomb of Kazantzakis, on the Martinengo bastion: the writer’s room makes more sense then. The Cândia model helps you understand the walls and the harbour before walking them.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museu Histórico de Creta
Are there works by El Greco in Crete?
Yes — two, in the Museu Histórico de Creta: View of Mount Sinai and the Baptism of Christ. El Greco was born in Crete during the Venetian period, before moving to Venice and Toledo.
What does the museum have related to Nikos Kazantzakis?
A room with the study and library from his house in Antibes, France, as well as manuscripts, first editions and personal belongings.
Does the Museu Histórico duplicate the Museu Arqueológico?
No. The Museu Arqueológico covers Antiquity; the Museu Histórico begins in the early Christian centuries and goes up to the 20th century.