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- Town of Chania
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Chania Town
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Chania is the capital of the Prefecture of
the same name and the second biggest town in Crete, with a population of
60.000 inhabitants.
It is the administrative, economical,
communications and commercial center of the Prefecture.
Access
Chania
has daily sea connection with Piraeus via ferry boats. The bay of Suda that
serves as the port of Chania, is the biggest and safest bay in the East
Mediterranean.
The airport of Chania is located at Sternes, in Akrotiri, 14 km east of the
town. Chania is connected by air to Athens but there are also several
charter flights from all over Europe during the summer. At the airport are
car rentals and taxis for all parts of the island.
History
Chania
is built on the site of the ancient city of Kydonia. This site was
inhabited from Neolithic times and through all phases of the Minoan Period.
Kydonia developed into a very important center of the Minoan civilization
and it was famous for its pottery workshops.
During
the Roman period Kydonia was an important city. Kydonia was destroyed in 828
AD by the Saracene pirates. During the Byzantine period Chania ceased to be
an important city.
When the Venetians came they settled in Kastelli, the hill which commands
the harbor, and they fortified it. They built there their cathedral, Santa
Maria, as well as a palace, theatre and houses for their nobility. The city
flourished as an economical and intellectual center. The fear of a Turkish
invasion forced the Venetians to enclose the entire town with a wall and a
moat.
In 1645 the Turks occupied Chania after a two months siege. In 1850 they
transferred the capital of the island there.
With the liberation of Crete from the Turks, in 1897, Chania became the
capital of the autonomous Cretan State. In 1913, along with the rest of
Crete, it was united with the rest of the Greek State.
Chania was the birth place of one of the greatest
statesman of the new Hellenic Republic, Eleftherios Venizelos.
.
Venizelos'
influence on the history of Greece was paramount, from his participation to
the talks with the Ottomans that resulted to granting Crete independence in
1897, to the final union of Crete with Greece in 1913.
Sights
Chania
is one of the nicest towns in Crete, with wonderful houses, parks and squares
and a well designed town-plan.
Chania Public Market
The Public Market is an
impressive building, in the town center, built at the beginning of the present
century (1911). There are a lot of grocery stores, butchers' shops, a fish
market, vegetable shops and souvenir ahops.
The Public Gardens, next to the Market, are ideal for those in search of
shade and tranquillity.
Northeast of the gardens is the beautiful neighborhood of Chalepa where
the residences of Prince George and Eleftherios Venizelos were.
The old city has preserved to a great extent the distinctive atmosphere and
charm of the Venetian and Turkish periods. Entire Venetian, Turkish and Jewish
quarters are saved, with well preserved buildings in the narrow picturesque
streets.
One of the most significant buildings is the large
Venetian church of Aghios Frankiskos which today houses the Archaeological
Museum of Chania.
The old city leads at the harbor, where many Venetian and Turkish buildings are
preserved. At the entrance of the harbor, at its northerst point, is the
renovated fort "Firkas", built on 1629, that today houses the Maritime
Museum of Chania as well as a summer theatre, where drama performances are
presented.
Chania Old Harbor
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Opposite
the Firkas fort, is the magnificent Venetian lighthouse, built on the
16 century and restored by the Egyptians.
The harbor is protected by a Venetian breakwater, built of huge stones. At
the center of the breakwater are the ruins of a fortress.
West of Chania, at a distance of 4.5 km, is the hill of Profitis Ilias,
where the memorial and tomb of Eleftherios Venizelos and his son Sophokles
are located.
Chania can be the starting point for a tour to the western Crete, a part of
the island with magnificent natural beauty. There are lots of places worth
seeing , within driving distance (two to three hours) , the most famous
being the Samaria Gorge. This is a National Park of Greece that starts at
the village of Omalos, at an altitude of 1227 m. and ends after a walk of
approximately 18 Km to the beach of Agia Roumeli. The Gorge is open from May
to the beginning of October and is definitely a must for everyone.
Facilities
Chania
offers a large number hotels of
all classes. There are also guest houses and hostels.
Opposite
the Firkas fort, is the magnificent Venetian lighthouse, built on the
16 century and restored by the Egyptians.
The harbor is protected by a Venetian breakwater, built of huge stones. At
the center of the breakwater are the ruins of a fortress.
West of Chania, at a distance of 4.5 km, is the hill of Profitis Ilias,
where the memorial and tomb of Eleftherios Venizelos and his son Sophokles
are located.
Chania can be the starting point for a tour to the western Crete, a part of
the island with magnificent natural beauty. There are lots of places worth
seeing , within driving distance (two to three hours) , the most famous
being the Samaria Gorge. This is a National Park of Greece that starts at
the village of Omalos, at an altitude of 1227 m. and ends after a walk of
approximately 18 Km to the beach of Agia Roumeli. The Gorge is open from May
to the beginning of October and is definitely a must for everyone.
Facilities
Chania
offers a large number hotels of
all classes. There are also guest houses and hostels.
Chania Old Harbor Sun Set
The old city is full of restaurants
and taverns, housed in renovated houses, or even in the open-air remains of old
buildings. There are also plenty of bars and night spots . Night life in Chania
is very intense with most places staying open throughout the night. Usually a
night out for most locals starts with dinner , continues with a visit to bars
and discos and ends with coffee and sweets in the early morning.
Chania at Night
THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
OF CHANIA
25 Chalidon Str.,
tel. +30821 90334
  The museum is housed in
an imposing building, the renovated Venetian church of Saint Francis.
It contains impressive finds from the excavations of the ancient city of Kydonia,
from Idramia, Aptera, Polyrinia, Kissamos, Elyros, Irtakina, Syia, Lissos,
Chania, Axos, and Lappas (the last two in the prefecture of Rethymno).
The exhibits, painted larnakes of the late minoan period, vases and implements
from the geometric period, statues from the Hellenistic and Roman period, as
well as an exquisite Roman mosaic floor, are all outstanding.
 Clay pyxis depicting a
man playing a lyre and flying birds. Late minoan III B period (1310- 1200 B.C.)
Outstanding example from a local workshop. Kalami, Chania.  Spherical
flask
unusual ceramic type
Late Minoan III period.
Chania Map
CRETE MAPS
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