Venetian Fortress Rocca a Mare

Here we have spent the most interesting part of our day! It is a very beautiful and extravagant fortress. For me this is a place where I would definitely come one more time in the future as it is very beautiful. For EU people that has no more than 25 years the entrance is free as for all the museums in Greece as I understood it!

It's absolutely breathtaking. So mystical and powerful as a structure and an experience. When the sun rises up seemingly directly over it at midday and one is standing on the battlements at the top it's easy to imagine what the original Cretans must have felt as they took up cannons to defend what is now Heraklion. Standing there looking out at the sea through the openings on the sides and hearing the howling wind and heavy surf, the sounds of yelling invaders, determined Cretans, cannons firing, just filled themselves in. It really was magical just being there. And the exhibits. Very detailed history of the Cretan War and the history of the fortress and surrounds from then until now. Including restoration efforts. Beautiful exhibits of pottery and other cargo from recovered ships, original gigantic anchors and other artifacts. It's really something to see if you're an ancient history buff and especially Bronze Age. And at just 10 euros, it's a bargain!

A very nicely renovated and maintained fortress. Built during the Venetian Republic, the construction was completed in 1540, and then in 1669 it came under Ottoman control. The terrace offers a fantastic view of the sea and the city of Heraklion. It can be reached by walking for about 10 minutes from the city center. The entrance fee is 10 Euro/person, free for those under 25. I recommend it to everyone!

It is undoubtedly a historic place. The staff could be friendlier. When buying tickets and entering, I did not feel welcome. In my opinion, the 10 euro entrance fee is not justified. The information boards could also be made a little more interesting.

Worth the trip and one of the best places to learn about the Battle of Crete. There is an entry fee that seems reasonable, and the place does actually take a while to explore. On the ground floor there is the main exhibition and on the top you see the walled structure with views towards the city and the sea. There is a nice coffee area there as well for a break.

The Venetian fortress Rocca a Mare is definitely interesting, even though you can get through it rather quickly. A big plus: EU citizens under 25 get free entry. From the walls you also have a nice view of the harbor and the city. Overall, worth a visit, 4 stars.

Good for a short visit. There's a decent amount of stuff to see and information about the island's history. You can go at the top of it where you can enjoy the views of the surrounding area and stop for a drink if you wish. The entry fee is €10, which is probably the maximum amount that would make sense for this. Would recommend.

Nice place to visit, great views from the top. For EU citizens born 2000 or later free entrance. In case you order something in the cafeteria on top, ask and check your receipts! We took two slush drinks (colored ice, see the picture), and were told it cost 10€, no receipt provided. When I checked my card transactions next day, they actually charged 13€ instead of 10! For that reason 4 stars only.