Venetian Lion's Fountain (Mor'shini Fountain)

The Morosini Lion’s Fountain, known locally as the Lions Fountain, stands in Eleftheriou Venizelou Square in the centre of Heraklion, close to the Cathedral of Agios Minas and the old Venetian loggia. It was completed in 1628 under Francesco Morosini, the Venetian governor of Crete, and it solved a real problem. Heraklion, then called Candia, lacked enough drinking water, so a long aqueduct was built to bring fresh water from the slopes of Mount Juktas, roughly fifteen kilometres to the south, and the fountain was the public outlet.

The monument is a large stone basin supported by four lions that are carved in the round, each spouting water. The basin is decorated with reliefs of sea creatures and mythological figures, such as tritons and nereids, in a Renaissance style that shows how Venetian art reached Crete. A statue of Neptune once crowned the centre, but it is now missing, and the fountain has been restored in part. The lions are the most memorable feature and give the surrounding square its popular name.

Heraklion was then a prosperous port, part of the maritime empire of Venice for more than four centuries. When the Ottomans captured the city in 1669 after a long siege, the fountain stayed in the square. It lost its everyday function once piped water reached the houses.

Today the square is the social centre of the city. Cafes, restaurants and shops surround it, and benches under the trees are used by locals meeting friends. Pedestrian streets lead away in every direction, toward the Venetian harbour and the Koules fortress, and also toward the Cathedral and the old market streets. The fountain is a natural meeting point and a starting reference for exploring the Old Town.

It is free to see and always open. The best light for photos is in the morning, and the square becomes lively in the evening when people stroll. Take a moment to look closely at the carving, because the weathered lions and the details of the basin show centuries of use. A short walk takes you to the nearby Archaeological Museum, one of the most important collections of Minoan material in the world.