By Nicolas Bard

Loggia is the building where the Municipality of Heraklion is housed today. It is located on August 25th, just north of the Lion Square, in the center of the city, as explains the episode of “where there is Greece”. At the time of the Venetian occupation the building was a gathering area of ​​nobles and nobles, where they were discussing various economic, commercial and political issues that concerned Heraklion. Today it is one of the most impressive Venetian monuments in the city and is on Instagram as one of the most photographed parts of Heraklion, with downloads from various angles. The reason, after all, obvious …

The Loggia building It is opposite the equally historic Morosini fountain and together give another color to the modern urban landscape. This is an excellent example of Palladian architecture, rectangular shape, with 28m dimensions. on 11m. It is a two -storey building with Doric columns on the ground floor and Ionic columns on the first floor. On the ground floor we find a diazoma, which is decorated with triglyphs and embossed performances, while on the west side there are seven arches, with the central being used as an entrance. It is often reported that the building “mimics” Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza.

The Loggia of Heraklion was built around 1628 by Francis Morosini. It was the main building of the city, where meetings of political and other prominent citizens took place during the Venetian occupation, and it also operated as a noble club. After the city’s fall by the Turks, the building was converted into the headquarters of the senior economic official, Tefterdaris and its Grammar of Door, and was united with the adjacent armor, in which the Venetian weapons was kept. Then the band was named Tsapenes or Tsepanes, and part of the toxation was built. The years that followed the building was neglected, and suffered great damage to the powerful earthquake of 1856, which literally leveled the city of Heraklion and caused about 2,500 deaths.

Following a decision by the Cretan state, renovation work began in 1900, but remained unfinished because the building was considered unsafe. In 1904 it was considered ready -made and the first floor demolition began, despite the intense reactions of the Archaeological Service. The demolition was in a hurry, ordered to take place within 48 hours, and the removable material was not kept. The following year, and specifically on October 5, 1905, he was handed over to the Municipality for housing his services. A decade later, in 1915, his restoration officially began, curated by Maximilian Ongaro, who was a supervisor of the Venice artistic monuments.

With the end of World War II And while the building had suffered new damage to the ground floor, rebuilding work began again, which was completed in 1980, when it took its present form. Indeed, in 1987 he was distinguished with the first Europa Nostra prize as the best restored and preserved European monument of the year! Today it hosts the town hall of the city of Heraklion, administrative and financial services, as well as a hall for the meetings of the City Council. From 1628 until today, Loggia was an integral part of the city and was always at the heart of the developments, and despite the great damage it suffered, it was restored and eventually found its place in the modern city of Heraklion. Visitors to the city crossing August 25th always make a stop to admire this special architecture, which “carries” much of the rich history of Heraklion and reflects light, beauty and elegance.