Saint Mark Basilica

The Basilica of Saint Mark is one of the most important Venetian buildings-monuments in Heraklion. Today it houses the city’s Municipal Art Gallery. The Venetians, wishing to consolidate their dominance over their new colony (Heraklion) and to express their gratitude and love for their mother country, built a church in the city’s centre dedicated to Saint Mark, patron saint of Venice. The Basilica managed to survive various earthquakes which afflicted Heraklion over the centuries with only minor repairs. During the Turkish rule it was converted into a mosque, the Defterdar Mosque, named after Defterdar Ahmet Pasha, the head of the financial department. The Ottomans demolished the bell-tower of the basilica and raised a minaret in its place, which in its turn was taken down by the residents of Heraklion after the liberation of the island in their attempt to erase the unpleasant reminders and symbols of the Turkish occupation.

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In and/or around Saint Mark Basilica: (within a radius of 50 Km)

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Agios Titos Cathedral Iraklion Old Town at 0.1km(NE) from Saint Mark Basilica Agia Ekaterini Church And Exhibition Iraklion at 0.2km(SW) from Saint Mark Basilica Archaeological Museum Of Herakleion Heraklion city at 0.3km(E) from Saint Mark Basilica Historical Museum Of Crete Iraklion town at 0.3km(NW) from Saint Mark Basilica Agios Minas Cathedral Iraklion Old Town at 0.3km(SW) from Saint Mark Basilica Full Listing...(131) 1 / 27

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› Area: Temenos Area (Iraklion, Arhanes)