Where is. Heraklion Location and appearance of the Morosini Fountain

The Morosini Fountain is an excellent example of the architecture of the Venetian period. A favorite place of the townspeople for meetings, walks and dates.

Greece is famous for its ancient cities, which are literally saturated with the unique events of the past. One of these cities is Heraklion, the capital of the island of Crete, shrouded in legends and popular throughout the world with ancient monuments dating back to different eras and dynasties.

The Morosini Fountain is an interesting building located in the center of Lviv Square, which is located in the historical part of the city of Heraklion. It is considered the starting point of many routes: excursions to the Morosini Fountain are included in the mandatory program of a planned trip to Crete.

The Morosini Fountain bears the name of its founder, Francesco Morosini, a valiant military leader and governor who ruled on about. Crete in the 17th century. The best craftsmen and engineers of that time worked on the project and the creation of a majestic structure. They managed to bring a fresh water supply system 15 kilometers long to the source. In fact, it was a water supply system that supplied the city with clean drinking water, which came from the mountain slopes through a special aqueduct.

The hydrotechnical structure is an original sculptural composition in the shape of an octopus, decorated with relief scenes from Greek mythology: beautiful nymphs, tritons, dolphins, sea monsters. Its grand opening took place in 1628, on the day of St. Mark (April 25). In the middle of the fountain there is a pedestal with a wide bowl supported by four lions: water is pouring from their open mouths. Huge stone sculptures symbolize the power of the Venetian Republic.

Once the central figure of the fountain was a statue of the ancient Greek god and ruler of the seas Poseidon with a trident, for which the building was nicknamed the "Source of the Giant". According to legend, the marble statue was destroyed during an earthquake, but there is another opinion that it was destroyed during the capture of the island by the Turks. During the Turkish occupation, the appearance of the fountain underwent changes: holes were made on it, and the water was intended for washing the hands, feet and faces of the people who read the prayer.

Today, the charming composition is a significant historical monument for the whole of Greece and is under state protection. The fountain, which now performs mainly a decorative function, is invariably popular with tourists. It is surrounded by cozy cafes, taverns, restaurants and souvenir shops. Nearby are no less interesting sights - the Venetian Loggia and the Church of St. Mark.

Helpful information

In 2004, during the Olympic Games in Greece, the restored fountain worked to the delight of guests and local residents. However, the Morosini Fountain was turned off after a few months. And only now, in 2016, after the installation of a special water filtration system, the fountain started working again.

How to get there

From the embankment to the city center along the street. August 25th, past the Cathedral of St. Titus, to Venizelos Square, in the center of which there is a fountain.

We got to the Morosini Fountain by accident. Resting on the island of Crete, I had a chance to walk around the center of Heraklion for several days in search of something like that. Because, by and large, I can’t call Heraklion a particularly interesting city. But if you study it on your own, walking around the center and walking along the narrow streets of the old parts of the city, then it is really possible to dig up really good sights.

Where is

The Morosini Fountain is located in the center of the Greek city of Heraklion, located on the island of Crete and is its capital. Since we came across the attraction by accident and on our own, just in case, the reference points for the search are the State Art Gallery and Theotokopoulos Park.

Address

Pl. El. Venizelou, Iraklio 712 02, Greece

Where to park

When arriving in the center of Heraklion by car, including the Morosini Fountain, you need to keep in mind that most of the streets are not designed for driving. Therefore, it is better to park somewhere away from the city center and walk most of the way. The distances between the main attractions in the capital are not so great, so it was quite realistic for us to walk most of them on foot. Only one circumstance prevented us from doing this - it was very hot, so it was hard to move around the completely concreted city in the heat.

General impressions

The Morosini Fountain is practically the only significant object of this type in Heraklion. Therefore, we decided for ourselves, based on the result, that it was definitely worth coming here. We read and studied information about the Fountain after visiting it, so I had to get my impressions after returning from Greece.

I was very surprised that the Fountain was named not in honor of the architect or engineer who created or designed it, but in honor of the then current mayor of the city, who originally owned the idea of ​​​​creating a water supply center for the whole area on this site. The fountain was created more for practical purposes than for beauty. Although, in my opinion, the Morosini Fountain looks great and gives the impression of a truly beautiful and harmonious structure.

At first glance, it becomes clear that the attraction is a monument from the time of the domination of the Venetians on the Greek islands. The Italian luxury of the Baroque style did not leave indifferent even my friend, who was not particularly versed in art.

Fontan's design is a complex structure. The pool of the fountain is made of several volumetric bowls, which depict scenes from Greek mythology. For me, as for a person versed in this area, it was interesting to consider them in detail. Most contained scenes involving sea gods, nymphs, dolphins and newts. Lions were placed on large bowls. They sit and hold one large bowl on their heads and backs.

It is surprising that now the Morosini Fountain is both a landmark, an architectural monument, and an active fountain.

Advantages and disadvantages

We really liked Fontan's performance and construction. I especially liked to study the plots from Greek mythology depicted on the bowls. Another plus was the fact that there are many different cafes in the area. And since our pastime at the Fountain fell precisely for lunch, we decided not to pass by and chose one of the establishments next to the attraction.

It was immediately clear that we were not the only ones who fell in love with this view. Around us sat a lot of locals who also dined in these places.

The only drawback for us was that we couldn't drive up to the Morosini Fountain, and we had to walk for a long time under the scorching sun.

The Morosini Marble Fountain is an iconic landmark of Heraklion, the main city of Crete. Evidence of the flourishing of the Republic of Venice now adorns the city, and in the old days it was the most important element in the supply of fresh water.

The picturesque building is popular with locals, it attracts the Morosini Fountain and numerous vacationers and travelers visiting Crete.

Location and appearance of the Morosini Fountain

The described object is located in the central part of Heraklion, on Lviv Square. The name marks the symbol of Venice - a sitting predator, the use of images of these proud animals in the design of the Morosini Fountain is symbolic and more than appropriate.

The pool of the fountain is surrounded by a low rim in the shape of a regular circle; a circular stepped pedestal protrudes from the water. The fencing of the upper pool, which receives water jets from the lion's mouths, is made like a flower of eight petals when viewed from above. The sides are decorated with superbly executed bas-reliefs on mythological subjects.

The central octagonal support ends with a platform with four lions, on whose backs a large bowl rests. Water pours out in streams from the mouths of animals and from roses on the sides of a round vessel. There is evidence that originally a majestic statue of the sea deity Poseidon towered in the center of the bowl.

The destruction of this monumental detail of the Morosini Fountain is attributed either to an earthquake or to the Turkish conquerors of Crete, who did not accept pagan symbols. Many sources call Morosini's fountain an imitation and almost a copy of the Venetian fountain, allegedly available in St. Mark's Square. However, there has never been such a structure there, and it could hardly be with a known shortage of fresh water.

The pool at the base of the structure consists of eight round baths, united in a single wavy enclosure. Marble sides are decorated with convex stone carvings depicting mythological scenes. Dolphins and nymphs, fish and monsters on the bas-reliefs are far from the real events that took place in the confrontation between the Venetians defending Crete and the attacking Ottoman Turks.

Meanwhile, the siege of Heraklion entered world military history as an example of an unprecedented duration and stamina of defense. The Turks could not overcome the resistance of the defenders of the city for 20 years. A large role in this unprecedented resistance was played by the presence of a drinking water supply system, an integral element of which was the building in question.

Morosini Fountain, its history and builder

The Morosini Fountain served as the receiving reservoir for the aqueduct built by the prudent Governor of Crete. Water from mountain springs was transferred through the aqueduct to the underground storage through the Morosini fountain. Heraklion, due to support from the sea and the provision of drinking water, resisted the Ottoman invaders much longer than the rest of the settlements of the island, but was eventually left to the Turks.

The invaders did not destroy the wonderful building, but used it according to their own concepts and customs. The Turks made several holes in the frame of the pool, which ensured the free flow of water into the outer bowl. Here, ablutions were performed, prescribed by Islam before prayers.

Strict execution of the information plate brings to the arriving tourists the basic data about the visited object. The initiator of the construction of the fountain as part of the water supply system, Francesco Morosini, was a noble Venetian aristocrat and military leader, in the last period of his activity he was elected Doge of the Venetian Republic.

For great merits, his sculpture and pictorial portraits are placed in the Doge's Palace - the center of power in Venice, which is now a museum. Of the almost 500 years of Venetian administration of the island of Crete, the last decades were led by Morosini, a prominent statesman and military leader of the republic.

In addition to a significant contribution to the development of the urban economy of Heraklion and its unparalleled defense, Morosini is also known for other good deeds. Through his efforts, the priceless relics of St. Titus, evacuated to Venice before the Turkish occupation, were saved from desecration by Muslims. He also saved another relic of the Cathedral of St. Titus - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.

The name of Morosini is associated with the construction of not only a water supply system and a fountain, but also many other structures. One of them - the Venetian Loggia is located near the Morosini fountain. A notable building with a gallery under the portal on columns can be seen from the benches placed near the fountain.

The review simply provides some information about the object, without agitating for its indispensable visit. It is simply impossible to bypass the Morosini Fountain while staying in Heraklion for at least a few hours, and not a single tourist will regret this visit. Pictures against the backdrop of a fountain with such a rich and heroic history will be remembered for a long time.