St. Mark's Cathedral
Heraklion, island of Crete, Greece
Description:
St. Mark's Cathedral is a building of an ancient Catholic church, now used as an Art Museum. The former cathedral is located in the historical center of the city of Heraklion, on the island of Crete.
St. Mark’s Cathedral was built in 1239 after the conquest of Heraklion by the Venetians. The building has a heavy and rich history: during the Venetian rule, the temple served as the main Cathedral of the island of Crete, from its steps decrees of dukes were announced and various decrees were voiced. However, in 1303 the cathedral was completely destroyed by an earthquake and restored only a hundred years later. During Muslim rule, St. Mark’s Cathedral was turned into a mosque, and the Turks added a minaret to its architectural ensemble. Only in 1956 the temple returned its original appearance.
The Cathedral of St. Mark does not belong to the Catholic Church, but the former name has survived. Now in this majestic building is the Art Museum, which exhibits samples of Byzantine medieval painting.
St. Mark's Cathedral is one of the most famous sights of Heraklion and the island of Crete. The walls and columns of the cathedral are literally imbued with the spirit of antiquity, which attracts the bulk of tourists.