Martinengo Bastion and Venetian Walls Walk, Heraklion
A flat urban ramble along the 16th-century Venetian ramparts to the Martinengo Bastion and the grave of Nikos Kazantzakis.
The Venetian walls of Heraklion, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, run for about 3 km around the old city. This easy walk follows the ramparts to the Martinengo Bastion, the highest point, where the writer Nikos Kazantzakis is buried under a plain wooden cross reading 'I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free'. Views reach Mount Juktas and the Aegean.
| Distance | 4 km |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Trailhead | On foot from Lions Square |
| Best season | April to June and September to October |
| Address | Heraklion, Crete, Greece |
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Heraklion
- Trail type
- loop
- Terrain
- paved paths and stone ramps
What to bring
water, hat
Location
Heraklion, Crete, Greece
35.3318, 25.1384 View on map
Highlights
- A flat urban ramble along the 16th-century Venetian ramparts to the Martinengo Bastion and the grave of Nikos Kazantzakis.
Tips for visiting
- Visit at sunset when the walls glow and the heat has dropped
When to visit
April to June and September to October
Accessibility
Check access on arrival; cobbled or uneven ground is common around Heraklion.