Saint Mark's Basilica - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Saint Mark's Basilica - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Basilica of Saint Mark (, ), also known as Hagios Markos (), is a former Roman Catholic church in the center of the city of Heraklion, Crete, in the Eleftheriou Venizelou Square. It was built during the Venetian rule of the island in 1239, primarily used by the local lords and officials of the island. After the Ottoman conquest of Crete in 1669, it was converted into a mosque with the name Defterdar Ahmet Pasha Mosque (, ), and remained so until 1915. The building was restored after 1956 and ever since functions as a public art gallery. It is one of the few Roman Catholic churches still standing in Cretan cities and towns. Architecturally-wise it is a three-aisled basilica church with an elevated central nave. It has a portico in its entrance in the western façade. Read more on Wikipedia
Source: en.wikipedia.org