From 1205 to 1669, the modern Greek island of Crete was known as the Kingdom of Candia, a strategic colony of the Republic of Venice. Fortresses and harbors in present day Crete witness that time of conflicts between Venice and the Ottomans for the dominion on the Mediterranean sea. An example of Venetian military architecture is on the islands of Gramvousa (Agria and Imeri), located North-west of the town of Kissamos, where the ruins of a Venetian castle (1579) still dominate the area.

The main door, also nowadays entrance to the fortress , is easily reachable after a 30 minute-long climb-up from the shores of Imeri Gramvousa bay

Turquoise waters of Gramvousa bay: a dark-green agave forest decorates the surrounding hills

On the North side, Agria Gramvousa island as seen from inside the fortress of Imeri Gramvousa island

On the East side, clear waters between Gramvousa islands and Gramvousa peninsula

On the South side, defense walls of the Venetian fortress, Pontikonisi island in the back

Agria Gramvousa island as seen from the land surrounding the fortress

The tiny harbor of Gramvousa bay

Ruins of the Venetian church inside the fortress

This is the first episode of the upcoming reportage Crete:Kingdom of Candia. Click each picture to open it full size. Upcoming episodes:

2. Gramvousa ochre and turquoise online from Wed 31.08.2022 10AM

3. Solo sliders online from Fri 02.09.2022 10AM

4. Go West: Falassarna shores of Crete online from Sun 04.09.2022 9AM

5. Balos lagoon, a royal beauty online from Wed 07.09.2022 10AM

6. Balos, all the colors of water online from Fri 09.09.2022 10AM

7. Visitors (or not) in the Mediterranean Sea online from Sun 11.09.2022 9AM

8. The only good nation is Imagination online from Wed 14.09.2022 10AM

9. Postcards from Chania online from Fri 16.09.2022 10AM

10. Wet rocks online from Sun 18.09.2022 9AM

11. Rethymno: the Fortezza online from Wed 21.09.2022 10AM

12. Between two words online from Fri 23.09.2022 10AM

13. A lucky underwater encounter online from Sun 25.09.2022 9AM

14. A trip to Spinalonga online from Wed 28.09.2022 10AM

15. The last leper colony online from Fri 30.09.2022 10AM

16. Blue Crete online from Sun 02.10.2022 9AM

17. These are the Minoans! online from Wed 05.10.2022 10AM

18. A 5000 year-long time travel online from Fri 07.10.2022 10AM

19. Messier in Crete online from Sun 9.10.2022 9AM

20. Crete from dawn ‘til dusk online from Wed 12.10.2022 10AM