Koules - Castello a Mare (Castle of the Sea)

Crete - Heraklion

When you go at Crete and stay at Heraklion, you must visit the Castle at Koules. All my years I’ve been there for my studies, I visited this place almost every week. I just can’t get enough of this place. You see, I grew up near the sea, that’s why I fell in love with Koules.

Some people aren’t very font of this place and don’t appreciate it, some others are there almost every day for exercise. However, in my opinion this is a great place to take a deep breath and relax.

Some History Lessons

The fort is located at the entrance of the Venetian harbor in order to protect the port of Heraklion from the invasions and landings of other conquerors.

Its walls are up to 8.7m thick at some places, and it has three entrances. The fort has two stories, with a total of 26 rooms, which were originally used as barracks, a prison, storage rooms, a water reservoir, a church, a mill and a bakery.

If you follow the road (2.5 km) a lighthouse tower is located on the northern part of the fort.

The castle is open to public from 8:00 to 18:00 every day and if you show your student ID the entrance is free.

The Best View in Town

Around the fort, the view is absolutely amazing! You can see the small island of Dia, the mountains, the port and the endless blue of the sea.

Even if the place is the same, the view changes each season and each hour, the people and the colours are different each time. For me, the best hour to go there is in the afternoon when the sun sets behind the mountains and the sky is colourful and clear.

Watching these photos it brings back memories and lovely times. I would like to visit Heraklion again soon and I highly recomend you go there too!