From El Greco To Zorba

Crete, and specifically Heraklion, is the birthplace of many important people. From this place came glowing personalities in the field of letters and arts, whose work was appreciated in Greece and abroad.

Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco), one of the most important world figures in the history of art, was born in Chandakas (today's Heraklion) in Venetian-occupied Crete, to wealthy parents. in 1545. Without knowing much about his teachers and his artistic apprenticeship, there is no doubt that he had the opportunity to study Byzantine painting in his hometown and become acquainted with Western art. Then left for Italy where he studied with important Renaissance teachers. Undoubtedly he was one of the greatest figures of world art. He lived and worked most of his life in Spain, hence the nickname El Greco (The Greek), by which he is also known. He died there in 1614.

Nikos Kazantzakis was born in Myrtia, Heraklion in 1883 and died in Germany in 1957. Novelist, poet, playwright, journalist, philosopher and politician. One of the great chapters of modern Greek literature, with a huge volume, but also a wide range of work. His work is "Life and State of Alexis Zorba", which was transferred to the cinema and became a great global success and made many tourists come to Greece. His tomb is in a special place in the city of Heraklion and is always a destination for many visitors. hotels heraklion  Nikos Kazantzakis is the most translated contemporary Greek writer.

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