Theotokopoulos Park is located in the heart of the city, opposite the Venetian town hall .  Today, the Park hosts many works of sculpture, such as Manolis Tzompanaki’s "Dancer", representing a woman dancing (1994). The Park was created in 1943, after the demolition of the Duke's Palace.

The Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was the residence of the Grand Duke, the Supreme Commander of Crete. It was built by the Venetians in the center of the city, in block 33, where Theotokopoulos Park is today.

It was a two-story building with a large verandah and a series of vaulted spaces on the ground floor. The decoration was the same as that of the Palace of Venice, while there were columns and arched windows.