The city was regained by the Byzantine Empire in 961 A.D. after many unsuccessful attempts. After the Crusaders occupied Constantinople in 1204, they gave Crete to Boniface of Monferrat who sold the island to Venice for one thousand pieces of silver. Under Venetian rule the arts flourished and Candia, as the Venetians renamed it, became a centre of learning.

Many scholars and artists took refuge in Candia after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Venetians began construction of the city walls in 1462, which were completed more than a century later.