A relic surviving from the Venetian colonisation of Crete between the 13th to 17th centuries, the Venetian Loggia in Heraklion was, and still is, the city’s centre of governance and social life. With grand pillars, intricate carvings and stately windows, it is considered the most elegant Venetian building in the whole of Crete. Masterfully combining the Ionic and Doric styles, the Venetian Loggia features stern Doric arches on the arcading of its ground floor, which opens to a small central courtyard. Above the arches are reliefs of the nobility’s coat-of-arms and behind the arches lies a beautiful marble floor. The second floor is built in the Ionic style, with decorative carvings adorning the pillars and base of the roof.

The loggia was an integral building to the Venetian society and its colonies. It was the meeting place of noblemen and community leaders to discuss all of the city’s important affairs such as economics, politics and governance. They also used the loggia as a venue to let loose and relax away from public scrutiny. Today, the Venetian Loggia in Heraklion has been renovated and repurposed as the city’s Town Hall, allowing it to resume its role as the social and political centre of the city.