Bembo Fountain and Kornarou Square

Kornarou Square, or Plateia Kornarou, lies in the southern old town of Heraklion in Crete, Greece, at the southern end of the Odos 1866 market street. It is a small, lively square named after the Cornaro family of Venetian nobles and is known for the Bembo Fountain, built in 1588 under the Venetian administrator Zuanne Bembo. The fountain is an unusual composition: the Venetian structure incorporates a Roman headless statue of a toga-clad figure taken from the ancient site of Ierapetra, set in a niche with carved columns and a decorated pediment. Beside it stands a small Ottoman fountain, a reminder of the period after 1669, and the combination shows the layers of Heraklion's history within a few metres. Cafes with outdoor tables line the square, and old buildings and shops surround it, so it works as a coffee stop after the market. Visitors typically spend about fifteen minutes looking at the fountain and reading the plaque, longer if they sit down to drink. The best photo angle is from the cafe side, where the Venetian niche and the Ottoman fountain appear together. The square is open at all times, and entry is free. It is calm in the morning and gets busier from late afternoon, when walkers from the market street and local residents gather, with the most relaxed atmosphere in the early evening. Lions Square is about five minutes on foot to the north via the market street, and the cathedral of Agios Minas is also within a short walk, so the square fits easily into an old-town route.