Walkways, gates, tunnels, and hidden squares tucked into the Venetian Walls of Heraklion are being brought back to life. Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos, accompanied by Deputy Mayors Giorgos Sisamakis (Infrastructure & Sustainable Mobility) and Rena Papadaki-Skalidi (Culture), recently inspected several of these sites, alongside key members of the city's technical team.

They stopped by the Makasi tunnel, where work is underway to create a Permanent Exhibition of National Resistance Memorabilia. This historic passage will soon connect Plastira Avenue with the Walls’ moat, right between the city’s Parks Department and the children’s playground.

The tour continued to the northern square of the Pantokrator Gate, tucked behind the old Perdikogiannis factory. This route will link Archbishop Makarios Avenue with Efodou Street, offering residents a direct path to a new outdoor play, fitness, and leisure area.

They also walked through the military tunnel and Mikis Theodorakis Open-Air Theatre at the Bethlehem Bastion, which connects Plastira Avenue with the Heraklion National Sports Centre (Stadium of Eleftheria).
Another military tunnel nearby leads to the Zacharias Bantouvas Calisthenics Park in Kommeno Benteni, passing through the Bethlehem Bastion municipal cinema.

The group visited the Gate of Saint George, which connects Eleftherias Square with Ikarou Avenue. Restoration work is scheduled to begin here soon.
They also inspected the Jesus Gate, linking Makarios Avenue with Cyprus Square.

Finally, they returned to the Sampaniara Gate, where restoration by the Municipality and the Heraklion Ephorate of Antiquities has now been completed. The gate will soon reopen to the public, offering a new pedestrian route between Efesou Street (near the old bus terminal) and Doukos Bochor Street, near the 6th Gymnasium.

According to the city's plans, these passageways through the Venetian Walls will be open with security, encouraging both locals and visitors to explore Heraklion on foot — and to get closer to this incredible architectural treasure.

These routes offer more than just shortcuts. They bring new life to the historic core of the city and reconnect Heraklion with its layered past. A priceless asset that, once fully revealed, will redefine the urban experience and strengthen the city’s cultural identity.