Within the Venetian outer walls of ancient Candia, the old Jewish quarter is found right beside the seafront. Four synagogues once stood in this district; its perimeter today is delimited by Venizelou, Makariou, and Giamalki streets. The last, still active at the start of the Second World War, was bombed. The Hotel Xenia has been built upon its ruins.

Several neighboring Venetianhouses were inhabited by Jews, as was the building housing the Historical Museum. Two sculptures in its Heraldic collection depict two crowned lions brandishing sabers. They once belonged to the powerful Sephardic Saltiel and Franco families.

Israeli tourists stopping over in Heraklion were attacked in 2025 by a large crowd exploiting the conflict that arose between Hamas and Israel following the pogrom of 7 October.