Gazi

Gazi (Greek: Γάζι), Crete, is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion regional unit of Crete in Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Malevizi, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies 6 km west of Heraklion, on the north coast of Crete. With 8,018 inhabitants (2001 census), it was the seat of the municipality of Gazi (Δήμος Γαζίου), which comprised several nearby villages with a total population of 13,581 and an area of 95.8 km². Villages of Gazi municipal unit, by community: Fodele is claimed as the birthplace of El Greco, but this is disputed. The ruins of a Venetian castle are at Palaiokastro ("Old Castle"). Agia Pelagia is a seaside resort village.