The fortress at the north-west end of the harbour, which retains the Turkish name Firka (barracks), was built to protect the entrance to the harbour. A chain from Firkas to the base of the lighthouse closed the harbor in case of a siege. In the fortress was the headquarters of the Military Commander of the city. Internally, the space was configured into barracks and warehouses of war material. In the doorway of the first floor there is the inscription “ALOYSIUS BRACADEUS PROVISOR CYDONIAE M.DCXX”.
The buildings of the west wing are arranged on two floors with vaulted rooms. In about the middle of the courtyard there is a large tank that collected the water from the roofs. During the years of the Turkish occupation and until relatively recently, Firkas was used as a barracks, but also as a prison. On December 1, 1913, in an official ceremony, the Greek flag of the Union of Crete with Greece was raised in the corner turret – watchtower of the fortress. Present were the then King of Greece Constantine, Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, admiral Kountouriotis, the surviving fighters – chieftains of the Cretan Revolutions and crowds of people.
This anniversary is commemorated every year with the organization of a similar official ceremony and the Greek flag is symbolically hung again on the mast of the fortress.
