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    This is the heart of Heraklion where tourists and locals share the small space
    around the fountain, exchanging glances and perhaps a few words. Business and
    pleasure combine here, and it is the place to meet for whatever purpose or no
    purpose. To give some background, it might also be called the Morosini Fountain
    or, Liondaria in Greek or, more properly, Plateia Eleftheriou Venizelou, after
    Venizelos, Crete's greatest man of state. The decorated fountain is composed of
    eight cisterns and decorated with stone relief, depicting figures of Greek
    mythology, Nymphs, Tritons, sea monsters and dolphins, while the main basin is
    supported by four sitting lions balancing a circular bowl on their heads. It was left
    by Francesco Morosini, the Italian governor who had it built to commemorate
    Venetian success in bringing much needed water, through a brilliantly executed
    viaduct system from Mount Youchtas, to the centre of the city. Morosini was still
    in charge when the Turks captured the city. Nowadays it is always interesting, the
    hub around which Heraklion revolves.
"The Lions"  Morosini Fountain
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