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JOURNAL "SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CULTURE, TRADITIONS"...... Volume 1a/2019

THE CONTRIBUTION OF CULTURE TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF DOI: 10.26341/issn.2241-4002-2019-1a-6

Stylianos Stratantonakis Economist, Master in Sustainable Development, Harokopio University [email protected]

Roido Mitoula Professor, Harokopio University of Athens [email protected]

Helen Theodoropoulou Professor, Harokopio University of Athens [email protected]

Panagiotis Kaldis Professor University of Western [email protected]

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to highlight the brand name of the Municipality of Heraklion through the use of its cultural heritage. As a first step an attempt was made to provide a complete description of the cultural heritage of the Municipality, through the recording of the material and intangible cultural elements. Subsequently an inquiry was made about the economic impacts of cultural tourism in the region and the signs, which are reflected by this type of tourism. In order to achieve these objectives, a bibliographic research was carried out and a questionnaire was distributed to three hundred (300) residents from the Municipality of Heraklion. For the summarization, the classification and the presentation of the primary data, the descriptive statistics methods were used. Specifically, in this paper, the percentages corresponding to the respondents’ answers to each question individually through tables and diagrams are presented, resulting in some conclusions. As it seems the overwhelming majority of the people that took part in inquiry, thinks that The County of Heraklion has a very important cultural heritage. In regard with the direction that the cultural tourism must develop in the region, it is to take place in the organization of cultural events throughout the year, the creation of modern and traditional hospitality facilities, better promotion of the region as a tourist attraction, cultural education programs and the pursuit of attraction of cultural tourism. Finally five (5) cultural routes were proposed, including all the important monuments and museums of the Municipality of Heraklion.

Keywords: Brand name of Heraklion, Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, cultural tourism, Municipality of Heraklion

Introduction Culture is a factor that can lead to the improvement of the economic and social conditions of a place. It also promotes sustainable local development, which is also a key pillar. Local authorities and institutions can promote the protection and enhancement of the culture of a site

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by implementing appropriate policies and actions (Simeon et al, 20l4). One of these actions could be the use of cultural routes. In view of this, the cultural reserve of the prefecture of Heraklion was investigated, with the ultimate aim of proposing cultural routes for their promotion. The prefecture of Heraklion is a place where cultural expression has passed through various stages over the years and has quite flourished, giving it a unique cultural identity. The particular cultural elements of today should be preserved and promoted as a whole, and the objective of promoting cultural tourism can contribute to this direction. This county has a large number of ancient monuments, many of which are of worldwide range. Within its borders there are ancient palaces and villas, archaeological sites, ancient temples, Byzantine and Venetian monasteries and churches, aqueducts and common structures that have been preserved to this day. At the same time, there are more recent monuments and museums, and also a rich natural environment. In the context of a comprehensive study and acquaintance with the cultural stock, the sites of cultural interest of the Regional Unity of Heraklion were catalogued and four cultural routes have been proposed, highlighting the vast majority of the cultural interests of the region. The survey focuses on the wider county rather than the city of Heraklion, as the aim is to propose solutions for decentralization and dispersal of tourist activity outside the urban environment, which may be quite burdensome during the peak tourist season. Besides, this is also the purpose of cultural tourism, that is, its dispersion in time and place.

1. Description of the Research Area The Regional Unity of Heraklion belongs to the Region of . It boasts the Cretan Sea in the north and the in the south. It has 7 rivers inside its borders which are , Giofyros, Gazanos, Karteros, Aposelemis, Anapodaris and .The first 4 flow into the northern coasts of the Regional Unity of Heraklion, while Anapodaris and Geropotamos flow into the south. In the Regional Unity of Heraklion there are also some smaller islands near its north and south coast. The island of is in the north and Papadoplakas and Traphonisi are in the south. The area is mostly flat, containing several low hills and valleys in the countryside. It is separated in the middle, in two parts, where the most mountainous ones are in the north, while the south consists mainly of plains, with the largest one which is called Mesara. At the same time, it is situated between the two largest mountain ranges of Crete, Idi in the west and Dikti in the east, which extend to the Regional Units of and Lassithi respectively. The largest production of agricultural goods in the region is located in the lowland areas around Heraklion, Mesara and Kastelli.Olive, olive oil, grapes, cereals, raisins, fruit and vegetables are produced. South of the county, in the main coastal areas, such as Arvi and Malia, bananas are produced. In addition, in the areas of and at the foot of the Dikti mountain range, there is a large production of dittany. Tourism is also a key factor in the economy of the county. Areas such as , , Malia, and receive a very large number of tourists every year due to their archaeological interest. At the same time, the tourist accommodation, located in coastal areas, such as Amoudara and Kokkini Hani in Heraklion, , Gouves, Gournes, southern Matala, Stalis and Agia Pelagia is a tourist attraction especially during the summer season. The value of the geopolitical position of the Regional Unity of Heraklion is great and is directly related to the geopolitical position of the island of Crete. Crete was always considered as a crossroads of three continents and a valuable commercial and strategic point in the Eastern Mediterranean. Throughout the , almost all of the most important administrative, financial and strategic centres of the island were located in the area of Heraklion, which shows the value of its position. As a result, it has brought together a significant number

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of archaeological sites and monuments and is able to support the development of cultural tourism. The table 1 below shows air travel arrivals in recent years from 2013 to 2017 at the city of Heraklion. As it turns out, the number of arrivals tends to go up throughout the year, which proves implicitly that traffic to the site is not directly related to offshore summer tourism, but it tends to diffuse over time. Subsequently 8 cultural routes which emerged from the research and show almost the whole of the cultural reserve of the Prefecture of Heraklion are proposed .It should be noted that as regards the way the cultural routes were selected and designed, the geographic location of the archaeological sites of monuments and museums in the Prefecture was taken into account as well as the ease of travel from place to place.

Table 1. Air travel arrivals in recent years from 2013 to 2017 at the city of Heraklion. Source: SETE

Figure 1. Regional Unity of Heraklion

Πηγή: (www.google.gr, 2018)

2. 1st Cultural Route The first cultural route that is proposed concerns the archaeological monuments located in the southwestern part of Heraklion Regional District (see. Figure 2). The total time estimated to be required to move and navigate the route is approximately 5 hours and 53 minutes, by car. Visitors should have been provided with information on the weather in the area because the majority of the monuments are outdoors. Most visits are preferred during the summer months, where the weather is good and it is easy to get around and browse. - 82 -

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The starting point of the route is the village of Vorizia as the road from this point is smoother. The distance from there to the Varsamonero Monastery (1st stop) is estimated at 2.3 km, and it takes 6 minutes for it to circulate. The visit to the monastery lasts 35 minutes. The Varsamonero Monastery is located between the villages of Vorizia and . It was built in the early years of the Venetian occupation, and in the Middle Ages it was an important religious and artistic center. Today, only the templeis preserved, which consists of two aisles. The first aisle to the north, according to historical sources, is the oldest and is dedicated to Theotokos Odigitria, while the second one to the south is dedicated to Ioannis Prodromos. These two aisles are connected with a cross-section, which is dedicated to Agios Fanourios. In the monastery there are remarkable frescoes and hagiographies that highlight the technique of the time. Continuing the way backwards, it ends up again in the village of Vorizia. Then by taking the Provincial Road of Agia Varvara at 4 km distance and in 8 minutes’ time there is the Vrondisi Monastery (2nd stop). There the visitor needs to stay for about 45 minutes. The Vrondisi Monastery was a chapel of the Varsamonero Monastery. According to historical sources its existence dates from 1400 AD, while it flourished particularly in the 16th century especially after the decline of the Varsamonero Monastery. The art of painting flourished in the monastery, while the great hagiographer Michael Damaskinos lived there. Next to the entrance of the monastery a monumental fountain of the 15th century is preserved that includes relief images of Adam and Eve in Paradise and God, while at the bottom there are the four rivers of Eden, which end up with mounted hydrants, where water sprang from. The central temple consists of two aisles, dedicated to Saint Anthony and Apostle Thomas. The bell tower is an independent building of Venetian architecture. Many wall paintings and hagiographies of the time are still preserved. It is noted that the monastery still operates until today. Afterwards, there is the archaeological site of (3rd stop). The archaeological site of Gortyna is 22.1 km from the Vrondisi Monastery and 35 minutes are required to reach the distance through the Provincial Street of . The tour takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, including the Roman section. The archaeological site of Gortyn is within walking distance of the village of Agii Deka, Messara .Gortyna was an ancient city which enjoyed great prosperity during the Minoan and Roman times. Remains and archaeological monuments from both periods are located in the area. The most important are the Conservatory, the Temple of Saint Titus, the Platan of Zeus and Europe, the Gortyn Hall, the Pretorio, the House of the Roman ruler of Crete, the Sanctuary of the Pythian and the Holy Egyptian Deities. The route continues to the Minoan palace of Festos (4th stop), 15 km away from the archaeological site of Gortyn. The visitor needs 15 minutes to reach the distance using the Heraklion - Phaistos Provincial Road. The estimated time of stay there is 50 minutes. The palace of Phaistos is a short distance from the archaeological site of Gortyn. In the palace the visitor has the opportunity to visit the palace of the second most important city during the Minoan era.It includes several residences, workshops, theatres and religious sanctuaries. A number of ancient frescoes and relics are also preserved, while the section of the Great Mother Temple, that is preserved on the south side of the palace, is quite impressive. Then follows the archaeological site of Agia Triada (5th stop) at a distance of 4.2 km, which takes 6 minutes by car, taking the Provincial Road of - Phaistos. The visitor spends about 45 to 50 minutes on his visit to the site. The archaeological site of the Holy Trinity is believed to have been the residence of the King of Phaistos during the summer months. The villa features two building blocks that are joined together to form an "L", and although it does not have the size of the palaces of Phaistos and Knossos, it is characterized by palatial architecture. Sacred halls, "polygamy", warehouses, workshops, rooms with lights, rooftops, upstairs staircases, galleries, balconies, courtyards, paved streets and several residences. Several important Minoan findings, such as ceramic and stone heirlooms, the record of the , three stone vases with reliefs, the vendor vase and the rhythm of the boxers, - 83 -

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the clay statue of a Minoan deity in a cradle, have been discovered in the archaeological site. The most important is the sarcophagus of the Holy Trinity. Continuing on the same road, in the southwest, at a distance of 11,7 km, there is the beach of (6th stop), while the distance is reached in 18 minutes. At the southern part of the beach, in particular at Pitsidia beach, 1.5 km away one can find the archaeological site of Kommos. The visitor's stay in the place lasts 40 minutes. This settlement flourished during the Middle and Late Minoan period, while there are elements of habitation up to the Roman period. It includes spaces such as warehouses, ship keeping spaces, a temple, a prytaneion, a yard with four altars, an amphitheatrical design building and a sanctuary. Also impressive are the olive oil production areas, where they demonstrate the craftsmanship of the Minoan culture in olive oil production. The visitor has the opportunity to see in these areas stones that functioned as olive presses, troughs and vases for the placement of the oil. The route is completed by reaching the ancient city of Levine (7th stop). From the beach of Kommos, taking the Gortyna - Matala Provincial Road and continuing to the south to the provincial streets of Platanos - Harakas and Plouras – Agios Kyrillos, there is the ancient city of Levena. The distance is estimated at 35.6 km, and 1 hour is required for its propagation. The stay time is 30 minutes. The archaeological site of Levine is located in the south of near the village of Lendas. The name of the city came from the Phoenician latch, which means lion and is due to the west cape, which looked like a lion's head. It was a harbour of ancient Gortyna, and it became particularly prominent in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, especially after the construction of the sanctuary of Asklepios in the 4th c. BC, which survives to this day.

3. 2nd Cultural Route The second proposed cultural route is located in the northwestern part of Heraklion Regional Unity (see. Figure 3). As far as the distance and the duration of the route are concerned, it is estimated that it takes about 3 hours. Travels are mainly done by car. The visitor should be aware of the weather, as moving and touring these monuments is easier with nice weather. The starting point of the route is the village of Kera, Hersonissos and specifically the Monastery of Panagia Kera (1st stop). Starting the route from the village of Kera in the Municipality of Hersonissos, you can visit the monastery of Panagia Kera. The visitor usually stays there for about half an hour. The temple of the Monastery of Our Lady of Kera is dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin, while its construction is considered to be related to the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary of Kardiotissa, the creation of Saint Lazarus. Its existence dates back to 1333, and was used as a base of revolutionaries in the events of 1866. From the monastery only the katholikon, which consists of the holy step and two western splints, is preserved. The temple has many Byzantine architectural elements. Continuing and taking the Neapolis - Hersonissos Provincial Road, at a distance of 2.7 km, which takes about five minutes, is the village of Krasi, Hersonissos. This is where the old aqueduct "Megali Vryssi" (2nd stop) is. The visit usually lasts from twenty minutes to one hour (if the visitor sits in the traditional café, under the ancient plane tree opposite the aqueduct). The "Megali Vryssi" aqueduct has been in existence since 1890. It is a sample of high architecture and still operates until today. Behind it, there is a small square that many intellectuals used to visit. From Krasi, the Minoan Palace of Malia (3rd stop) is at a distance of 13.5 km, following a course through Pavlos Melas Street and then through the Old Provincial Road of Heraklion - Agios Nikolaos. The journey takes 20 minutes, while in the archaeological area, the visitor stays for 50 minutes. The palace of Malia is the third largest in the . In fact, according to historical sources, there were two palaces in the area. The first began to be built in 1900 BC and the second one in 1650 BC. However, today the visitor interfaces with the ruins - 84 -

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of the second. It features rich features of Minoan architecture. The central entrance is located to the west, while it is visible that it has many rooms, which are allocated to warehouses, halls, auditoriums, workshops and residences, connected by paved corridors and courtyards. Also noteworthy is the presence of Loggia in space. A little further north of the palace is the necropolis of Chryssolakos and the sanctuary of the peak of Prophet Elias. The route continues to the Menelaos Parlamas Rural Museum (4th stop), located just outside Hersonissos. The distance is about 19.5 km and is made by returning to the Old Provincial Road of Heraklion - Agios Nikolaos, going east and then turning to the New District Road Heraklion - Agios Nikolaos for Hersonissos. The travel time is estimated at 20 minutes, while the stay time is approximately 1 hour. The Menelaos Parlamas Rural Museum was founded in 1988 by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies. It has collections from the 19th and 20th centuries that concern everyday life, work, entertainment and the arts. In 2011 it was upgraded, with the financing of the Operational Program of Crete, and some new sections were added , which included the works from Theano Metaxaki – Kanakaki’s collection of weft. Today it is called The Menelaos Paramas Rural Museum & The Theano Metaxa-Kanakaki Weft Collection. The building is two-storey. It includes the ground floor, consisting of the reception area, a traditional wine press, the factory area, three wardrobe rooms and two outdoor yards. On the first floor there is a weaving room and a patio, while on the second one, there is a lecture hall. The museum provides easy access to people with physical disabilities. The Minoan Mansion Nirou Hani (5th stop) is the ending point of the route. It is 15.5 km from the previous stop, so the visitor can arrive within 22 minutes. The visit to the villa lasts 35 minutes. The Minoan Mansion Nirou Hani is located in the coastal settlement of Kokkini Hani. Its construction dates back to the 16th century B.C. It is probable that it belonged to a supreme administrative sanctuary, as evidenced by the discovery of many holy heirlooms in space. It is a two-storey building of geometric design, which includes forty rooms such as warehouses, sanctuaries, residences, corridors and two courtyards.

4. 3rd Cultural Route The third cultural route that is proposed extends from the center of the prefecture to the city of Heraklion (see. Figure 4). The journey takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes, and it takes place mainly by car. It is essential that weather information is considered prior to the visit, as most of the monuments are outdoors, as well as on hillsides. It is best to be actualised when the weather is good to avoid the danger. The starting point of the route is the village of Galatas. The visitor stays in the area for about half an hour. The palace of Galatas (1st stop) is situated on a rocky hill and occupies an area of approximately 4,500 sq. Meters. According to the historical sources, the construction of the palace began during the Middle Minoan period (1700 - 1650 BC) and it was completed during the Neapolitan period (1650 - 1600 BC). In fact, by the end of its completion, the decline began and it was gradually abandoned. Particularly impressive is the large outbreak enclosed by and as it is located in the center of the palace, it has led many researchers believe that it is a Mycenaean design. The visitor then takes the provincial road of Agies Paraskies - Kastamonitsa and after 21 minutes, having traversed 11,5 km, arrives at Myrtia, where the Museum (2nd stop) is located. The tour takes 45 minutes. The Museum of Nikos Kazantzakis is located in Myrtia, the village of this great intellectual figure and was founded by George Anemogiannis in 1983. The building where it is housed belongs to the Anemogiannis family, who were both friends and relatives with the Kazantzakis family. It includes more than 50,000 exhibits, including publications, articles, studies, letters, audio documents, personal items, holograms - autographs, artworks, videos, photos, letters and press releases. The museum today is divided into three buildings. The first one, consisting of two floors, is the exhibition. The second one - 85 -

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houses the administrative functions of the museum, while the third one houses Polyochoros, as well as a small shop, a playground and a cafeteria. The Minoan Villa of Vathypetrou (3rd stop) is located 8.9 km away from the Patsides – Vathypetrou Provincial Road. It takes about 40 minutes to one hour, includingthe visit to the exhibition. The Minoan Villa of Vathypetrou began to be built in 1580 BC and only the western wing was completed. It is a building that has several rooms, and in some places there are also floors. There is a sanctuary, a paved hall with four pillars of square shape, workshops and a warehouse with sixteen pots. There is a grape press on the south, while there is an olive press in the western courtyard. In the mansion today, there is a report of the findings found there during the excavations, such as the famous decorated pseudostomous amphora for the transport of olive oil. The Ano Curriculum (4th stop) is at 3.8 km distance from the villa, where you can reach the provincial road Patsides – Vathypetrou in 7 minutes. The visit lasts 20 minutes. The Ano Archanes Curriculum is located in the Patitiri area of the homonymous town. It began to be built in 1901, following the studies carried out in 1899 by Salibero, belonging to the team of the High Commissioner of Crete, Prince George. It functioned normally until World War II, while it hosted the war wounded from the Panagiotis Municipal Hospital of Heraklion.It was also used by the Germans as a division, where they planned the business for the battle of Viannos. It is a building of neoclassicism, which is evidenced by the intense symmetry of its sections. The plan of the basement and the ground floor is in "P" shape, while the floor is particularly meticulous. The entrance has projections ending in a pediment. From the Curriculum, someone can walk 300 meters in 4 minutes to the “Turkogytonia” of Archanes, where the Minoan palace is located. The time required for the visit is about 45 minutes. In the Minoan Palace of Archanes (5th stop) there are the ruins of the last palace. It dates back to the Neo-Palatial Period, while before that two more were built on the same spot. It has many similarities to the design of the palace of Knossos, while local Mycenaean additions are observed.Many of its walls that survive are of great thickness and prove the existence of buildings with upper floors. Its main entrance is in the northeastern part, while at the same place there is an altar. There is a water tank in the north. There are living quarters and workshops in the west. There is a room of the archive in the southwest side, where ceramic heirlooms and signs of are found, while in the southwest there is an impressive theatrical space. The last stop of the route is The Sacred Cave of Eiletyia (6th stop), 17.2 km through the Patsides - Vathypetrou Provincial Road. Transition time is about 23 minutes. The time of the tour is about 20 minutes. The holy cave of Eyiletia was discovered in 1885 by Ioannis Hatzidakis. It was devoted to Eyiletia, which was the goddess of birth according to the Minoans. Outside the cave there is a small square with altars, which has been named by experts "Square of the altars". Around the cave there are ruins of residences of the 14th - 13th century BC. The cave has a length of 62.3 m and its width is 12 m, while access to the cave is made from an eastern entrance. Inside, there is a small room and a rectangular enclosure that functions as an altar.

5. 4th Cultural Route The 4th cultural route which is proposed, is located in the northwestern part of Heraklion Regional Unity (see Figure 5). The total time of the trip is 5 hours and 5 minutes, and it takes place mainly by car. It is necessary for the visitor to have been informed about the weather conditions in the area, as there are monuments located outdoors. The starting point of the route is The Museum of Traditional Instruments of Research and Documentation "Thyrathen" in the village of Krousonas (1st stop). It takes 40 minutes. The name "Thyrathen" is of Byzantine origin, as this term was understood as the classical Byzantine music education. The exhibition of the museum is housed in a traditional renovated building, - 86 -

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which also serves as a center of research and development of musical tradition. It also maintains cooperation with many educational institutions from all over , so that educational visits are carried out. Αfterwards there is a tour of the village of Tylisos, at The House A΄of Tylissos (2nd stop). Taking the provincial road of Korfes - Krousonas, in 22 minutes one can reach the house A΄ of Tylissos, which is 9.9 km away from the museum. The visit takes about 30 minutes. It is part of a Minoan settlement. It was built between the 16th and the 15th century BC. In the southern part there is a room with a multi window, a cache and a clearing tank. North there are the warehouses. There, obvious additions of other buildings from the Late Minoan period (15th - 14th century BC), as well as from the , are evident in the house. The next stop is at Τhe Church of Panagia in the Village of Fodele (3rd stop). Someone can reach the temple by driving 28.2 km. It can be reached through the Tylissos - Anogia Provincial Road, turning northwest on the North Axis Road and continuing on the provincial road of Rethymnon. The stay here is 30 minutes. The temple is located in the north of the village of Fodele and is dedicated to the Presentation of Virgin Mary. It is the eastern part of an older triple temple, while it is obvious that its construction was made by using building materials possibly coming from it. It has a special reputation due to its many frescoes, highlighting the coexistence of Byzantine and local techniques. The older ones were made during the 11th century, and they are located on the western side. Northern images of whole saints and martyrs, such as St. Constantine and Saint Helen, are located in the north. There is the representation of Deesis to the south, while the pessoes are decorated with pictures of military saints. The temple includes a northern and a southern arched arch depicted in the recesses of five witnesses, celebrated on November 25 and December 13. The Archaeological Collection of (4th stop) is located in Gazi and is 21.1 km away from the previous stop. Starting from Fodele and taking the North Road Axis east to Heraklion, within 23 minutes one can see the museum in the square of the town hall in Gazi. The visit takes about 50 minutes. The Archaeological Collection of Malevizi exhibits findings from Cretan history from 6000 BC until the 2nd century AD such as tools, heirlooms, vases and various other objects, related to everyday life, religion, art, work and the death of the ancient. The majority of the findings were donations from the collections of the Metaxas family. The museum consists of seven sections. The first section includes literary objects from the Neolithic to the Minoan period.The second one contains ceramic objects, such as vases from all the historical phases of the island. In the third unit there are clay exhibits such as statues and other heirlooms from the Minoan to the Roman period. The fourth has marble sculptures from the Roman period. The fifth section consists of exhibits from the wider area of the Municipality of Malevizi and specifically from the villages of Kavrohori, Kroussonas and Gazi, while the Minoan sarcophagus of Tylissos is particularly impressive. The sixth one refers to metallurgy. Here, various items such as spears, arrows and jewellery, from all phases of Cretan history are exhibited. Finally, in the seventh unit there are mainly precious jewels from the Minoan and later years. Continuing on the same road, turning to Papanastasiou Avenue and then heading east, taking a course south, through Knossos Avenue, travelling 12.3 km, the Minoan Palace of Knossos (5th stop) is located in 16 minutes’ time. The tour takes about 1 hour. The palace of Knossos is the largest in the Minoan period, occupying an area of 20,000 sq.m. Its design is attributed to a combination of many separate building blocks. According to research, the first block began to be built in 2000 BC. The site was also inhabited during the Mycenaean and Roman periods. Particularly prominent in the palace is the importance of Minoan architecture from the multitude of building materials used, the frescoes found in the various rooms and its corridors, the construction, the use of beams to support the walls, the luminescence and the water supply and drainage network. On the west side there are the Holy Treasures, the - 87 -

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Subterranean crypts and the Trireme Sanctuary, while the throne room is of great importance, with the alabaster throne framed by the desks and the clearing tank.In the southern part there is the South Propylon and the Corridor of the Procession. Also important is the Queen's Palace with the famous Dolphin Fresco, the Double Pelecs Hall and the Zatriki Corridor, which are preserved in good condition. Finally, there is the Little Palace, the Royal Palace, the South House, the Holy Sepulcher, the Hostel and the House of the Holy Step, while the Roman Villa of is also considered important.

Figure 2. Map of the 1st Cultural Route Figure 3. Map of the 2nd Cultural Route

Figure 4. Map of 3rd Cultural Route Figure 5. Map of the 4th Cultural Route

6. Research In order to record the existing traffic at the points proposed on the cultural routes, a survey was conducted using a closed-type questionnaire, which was given to residents and visitors of the Prefecture of Heraklion. There were 300 questionnaires, which were analysed in SPSS 20. Next, the results of the survey are presented with graphs depending on how the answers are depicted. 22% of the people who took part in the survey visit the Prefecture for business purposes, 41% visit family or friends, 31% of the participants come to the Prefecture for tourist purposes and 6% for other reasons (see. Chart 1) 30% of the respondents would surely recommend the Prefecture of Heraklion as a destination, 64% would simply suggest it and 6% probably would not suggest it (see Graph 2). Regarding the reasons why the Prefecture of Heraklion should be proposed as a destination, 32% responded because of natural beauty, 45% cultural heritage, 16% would propose the Prefecture due to economic prices and 7% as an alternative tourist destination (see. graph 3). - 88 -

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Regarding which monuments the respondents know, 36% know about the Minoan palace of Knossos, 31% are familiar with the Venetian fortress of Koules, 20% know about the Archaeological site of Gortyna, 5% the Minoan mansion Nirou Hani and 8% know about the Archaeological site of Kommos (see Graph 4). 86% of the respondents said they had visited a monument in the Prefecture of Heraklion, while 14% had not. At the same time, most of them replied that they have visited the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Archaeological Site of Gortyn, the Venetian Fortress of Koules, the Venetian Walls of Heraklion and the Minoan palace of Phaistos (see Graph 5). 27% of those who have not visited archaeological sites, they answered that they did not care, 15% were not familiar with it and 58% did not have the chance to visit them (see Graph 6). 29% of those surveyed responded that in their free time they are engaged in sports, 30% go for walks, 2% choose to visit archaeological sites and museums, 36% prefer to travel and 3% do something else (see Graph 7). 95% of the respondents believe that the Heraklion Prefecture has a significant cultural heritage, while 5% think it does not have one (see Chart 8). Regarding the category of tourism that is possible for the Prefecture of Heraklion, the data that emerged are that 4% of the surveyed, consider domestic tourism (Greek tourists), 10% choose foreign tourism (tourists outside Greece), 7% responded seasonal tourism, 18% mass tourism, 58% tourism all year round, and 3% selected alternative tourism (see Graph 9). Then about the category of cultural tourism that is possible for the Prefecture of Heraklion, 22% responded to folk tourism, 67% to archaeological tourism, 3% to religious tourism and 8% to gastronomic tourism (see. Graph 10). Regarding which direction for tourism development should be followed by the Prefecture of Heraklion, 8% suggested the organization of cultural events throughout the year, 31% the creation of traditional hospitality facilities (stone, wooden buildings), 18% responded the best promotion of the tourist product, 5% said it needed a cultural education program and 38% indicated the effort to attract cultural tourism (escapes, combination with winter tourism in mountainous areas of the Prefecture) (see Chart 12). 66% of the respondents said they were satisfied with the work of the governing bodies regarding the visibility of the Prefecture of Heraklion as a tourist destination. 34% is not satisfied (see Chart 11).

Graph 1. Reasons for visiting the Prefecture Graph 2. Selection of Heraklion Prefecture of Heraklion as Destination

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Graph 3. Reasons for promoting the Prefecture Graph 4. What monuments are known of Heraklion as a destination

Graph 5. Visits to monuments in the prefecture Graph 6. Reasons for not visiting of Heraklion monuments

Graph 7. Leisure time activities Graph 8. Availability of cultural heritage in Heraklion Prefecture

Graph 9. Tourism category for Heraklion Graph 10. Category of cultural tourism Prefecture for Heraklion Prefecture

Graph 11. Satisfaction with the local authorities Graph 12. Tourism development direction regarding the projection of the for Heraklion Prefecture Prefecture of Heraklion as a destination

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Conclusions It is clear that the region of Heraklion has the largest percentage of cultural tourism in the Region of Crete, as it has the most important archaeological sites. The survey found that most of the participants had visited a county memorial (86%). Several are the ones who choose to visit the rest of the prefecture, but are only able to visit, since in some areas access is difficult and there are no suitable hotel units available. Thus, tourists choose to stay in Heraklion and the surrounding areas, which are more equipped. The cultural routes proposed in this paper are based entirely on points of cultural interest, as emerged from the research that was conducted. As 31% of the visitors choose the Heraklion Prefecture for tourist purposes, visitors should have adequate information about the places they will visit. It is also good to get to know the wider area to form a more global picture and to be completely satisfied. Regarding the leisure time of the visitors, they choose more to travel, walk around the area and engage in sports. Of course, the Prefecture of Heraklion can primarily support archaeological tourism, due to the large number of archaeological monuments and museums. The majority of the visits, seem to take place to monuments such as the Minoan palace of Knossos and the Venetian fortress of Koules. Other places that most visitors choose are the Minoan palace of Phaistos, the archaeological site of Gortys and the Venetian walls. The cultural routes were selected, regarding all the above-mentioned monuments. The main archaeological sites and major museums were proposed, as they are the culmination of the cultural interest. At the same time, the cultural routes have added several ancient, medieval and newer monuments, as well as museums that are less well-known, but very important and worthwhile to emerge.

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