This location is #30 on our Best Travel Destinations In Greece & Greek Islands Map!
The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, located in Heraklion, Crete, is a monumental fortress that stands as a testament to medieval architecture. Spanning approximately 4.5 acres, the palace is a massive rectangular structure with walls reaching up to 26 feet thick in some areas, designed to withstand sieges. Its imposing exterior features four corner towers, each about 50 feet tall, and a central courtyard measuring roughly 160 by 130 feet, surrounded by arcaded walkways. The interior includes grand halls, such as the main reception hall, which stretches nearly 100 feet in length, adorned with arched ceilings and stone columns. The palace’s robust limestone construction, with walls up to 10 feet high in some interior spaces, reflects its dual role as both a defensive stronghold and a luxurious residence for the Knights of St. John.
Historically, the Palace of the Grand Master was constructed in the 14th century by the Knights Hospitaller, a medieval Catholic military order, to serve as their administrative and residential headquarters on Rhodes, not Heraklion (likely a confusion with the island’s main city). Built on the site of an earlier Byzantine fortress, it was completed around 1346 and became a symbol of the Knights’ power during their rule over the Dodecanese Islands. The palace endured multiple sieges, including a significant Ottoman assault in 1480, where its fortifications held firm. However, in 1522, after a prolonged siege, the Knights surrendered to the Ottomans, who repurposed the palace for storage and administrative use. In the 19th century, a catastrophic explosion of stored gunpowder severely damaged the structure, reducing much of it to rubble until its restoration in the 20th century.
Interesting facts about the palace include its intricate mosaic floors, some of which date back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, relocated from other sites to embellish the restored interiors. These mosaics, covering areas up to 600 square feet, depict mythological scenes and geometric patterns. The palace also housed a prison in its lower levels, with cells measuring about 10 by 10 feet, where captives were held during the Knights’ rule. During World War II, the palace served as a military headquarters, adding to its layered history. Today, it functions as a museum, showcasing medieval artifacts and offering views from its ramparts, which extend over 1,300 feet, providing a glimpse into its strategic dominance over the surrounding landscape.
