After years of remaining closed, the Saint George Gate is being returned to the city and its people. From Saturday, December 20, the historic gate will once again function as a pedestrian passage, reconnecting Ikarou Avenue with Eleftherias Square through the Venetian Walls of Heraklion.
The gate will be open seven days a week, with security and supervision, operating daily from 08:00 to 22:00.
The reopening forms part of the Cultural Development Programme Agreement (PSPA) for the protection, utilisation, and promotion of Heraklion’s Venetian fortifications and arsenals, implemented in cooperation between the Municipality of Heraklion, the Ministry of Culture, and the Region of Crete.
Bringing the Walls Back Into Everyday Life
This initiative continues the Municipal Authority’s stated commitment to integrate the Venetian Walls into the city’s daily rhythm. As Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos has repeatedly underlined, the goal is for the walls to function not as distant monuments, but as living parts of Heraklion, with their gates serving as practical, welcoming passages for residents and visitors alike.
Opening Event and Public Programme
The official reopening event will take place on Saturday, December 20, at 11:00, and will be open to the public. The programme includes:
- official greetings
- a presentation by Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos on the PSPA framework and the actions already implemented on the Venetian Walls
- The inauguration of a photography exhibition marking 100 years of OFI, highlighting the historic relationship between the club and the Venetian Walls
The exhibition features archival photographs showing OFI’s early years, when training sessions and sporting events took place in the ditches and open areas around the walls. It is organised in collaboration with OFI Amateur Sports Club and will run until January 31, 2026.
Final Preparations
On Friday, December 19, Mayor Kalokairinos visited the site to inspect the final preparations, accompanied by:
- Deputy Mayor for Development Planning & Digital Transformation, Tasos Tsatsakis
- Deputy Mayor for Culture Rena Papadaki–Skalidaki
- members of the OFI Amateur administration, including
- General Secretary Dimitris Apostolakis
- Board member Menandros Pantelidis
- General Director and Head of Communication Giorgos Kortsidakis
The visit confirmed that the Saint George Gate is ready to reopen as a safe, supervised urban passage, restoring a historic connection that has long been missing from the city’s daily routes.
The reopening of Saint George Gate is a small but meaningful step —one that reconnects neighbourhoods, history, and movement—quietly reinforcing the idea that Heraklion’s walls are not only to be admired but also walked through and lived with.
