Eleftherias Square and the statue of the Unknown Soldier

This large shaded square carries a name deeply connected to history with a capital H. You are standing in Eleftherias Square — quite literally, Liberty Square. Today, it’s a lively meeting place where locals gather throughout the day, surrounded by cafés, traffic, and the constant rhythm of the city. But over the centuries, this space has played many different roles. During the Venetian period, it served as a military ground known as Campo Marzio, or Piazza d’Armi. And there’s more hidden here than first meets the eye. The square was once closely connected to the nearby Saint George Gate, which linked the fortified city to the eastern districts through a vaulted passage running beneath the walls. It was also known as the Lazaretto Gate, named after Saint Lazarus, protector of lepers, because the road beyond led to a hospital outside the city walls dedicated to contagious diseases. Today, only an underground staircase remains — you may even have used it to reach the city centre — but the original gate was far more monumental, decorated with lions and a relief showing Saint George on horseback. If you continue a little farther toward the impressive fortifications, you’ll also spot a small defensive bastion dedicated to Eleftherios Venizelos, one of the key figures of modern Greece. Through his reforms, his role in expanding the country, and his diplomatic influence in the pursuit of peace, Venizelos remains especially important in Crete. And perhaps his first name sounds familiar: Eleftherios comes from the same Greek root as Eleftherias, meaning “free” or “liberated.” A fitting name for a man so closely associated with freedom. Now, back in the centre of the square, take a look at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Unveiled in 1928, in the years following the First World War, it honours those who gave their lives for liberty. The statue depicts a soldier standing watch, almost as if he were still guarding the city today. And don’t miss the reliefs at the base — they tell a distinctly Cretan story. You’ll see local fighters battling Ottoman forces, a mother sending her son off to war, and an iconic regional tower. On this square, the theme of freedom truly appears everywhere you look.