Municipal theaters in Iraklion.
THEATRES

Theatrical Station

In the coastal street of Heraklion port there were two big warehouses. The Eastern one was given to the Municipality of Heraklion for the creation of a small theatrical station. This warehouse is made of stone with tile roof, an area of 680 sq.m., and shape almost rectangle. The project of its constuction, that began in 1986, allowed the conservation of the exterior style of the building. After the end of the construction in 1989, a lot of plays and cultural events (concerts, speeches and meetings) have been performed here.

 

Oasis ("Nikos Kazantzakis" Open Theatre)

Oasis is the part of the ditch of the new Venetian fortification that corresponds to the Rampant of Jesus. East of the entry of Oasis is the Cyprus square, roughly 600m from the centre of the city. For the first time, Oasis functioned as a small theatre during the 2nd world war when enough pines were cut. Then, up to 1963, a lot of assemblies took place here, mainly political. In 1963, the first serious effort of exploitation of Oasis as summer theatre, which was maintained up to 1976. In 1976 the theatre was created with the form that it has today. It became a modern open theatrical space of 1200 seats with all the necessary comforts.

 

"Manos Hatzidakis" Open Theatre

Behind the "N.Kazantzakis open theatre", in the low square of the Gate of Jesus, was made after the proposal of Manos Hatzidakis and the design of Dionysis Fotopoulos, the Small Open Theatre, that recently named after the famous composer. It is constructed in a way so that is not caused damage in the Venetian Walls, that have been characterized as preservable monuments. In the "Manos Hatzidakis open theatre" (400 - 450 seats), as in "N.Kazantzakis open theatre" a lot of important events took place during the Heraklion Summer Festival.

 

The Municipal building of Androgeo street

The Municipal building of Androgeo street is a modern construction that was finished in 1992. It is a building with five floors and two basements The building is behind the Municipal Gallery (the basilica of St Mark). In the ground floor of the building the Youth centre is housed. At the same place, computers are available to young people for free internet access. In the 2nd floor, a room of multiple uses has been created, equipped with the most modern devices, suitable for lectures, seminars, cinema and other type of events. Finally in the remaining floors of the building various Services of the Municipality of Heraklion are accomodated.

 

 

St.George's Gate

The gate of St. George was devoted to the military saint of the same name that was depicted in relief on his horse, above the central part of the entrance. The Venetian entrance - gate was located at the place where the bust of the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis is found. The same gate was also known as Gate of Lazareto (which is the gate that was leading to the area of quarantine) or Gate of Maroula (which was leading to the homonymous suburb). It was one of the three land gates of the Venetian fortification with both military and non military use. Through this gate people and merchandise were circulating from the town and to the town from the eastern suburbs. Today the place, suitably equipped, is used for exhibitions and other cultural events.