Loggia, Heraklion

Loggia is situated in the center of Heraklion, nearby St Marcus Basilica and the Lions fountain. It is a very elegant building, one of the most picturesque monuments of Venetian architecture on Crete. The Loggia that survived till our days was built in 1626-28 by Francesco Morosini, the same man who built the Lion fountain. It was the last (fourth) Loggia built in Heraklion during the Venetian years on Crete. It was meant to be a public building for the aristocrats, Lords and Shires to confer and reach decisions on financial and commercial matters. Additionally, it was a place they used for their entertainment. Its architecture combines dexterously the Dorian style - on the ground floor - and the Ionian style - on the first floor. Morphologically, it seems to imitate the Basilica of Palladio in Vicenza.

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