Chania Crete

Chania also called Hania or also the Venice of the East, is the second largest city on the Crete island and is located on the north-west side right in the part where there are the most famous and exotic beaches.

The town was built on top of the ruins of Kydonia, a very important center of the Minoan civilization after the rise of Knossos. A fantastic, lively place with a thousand shades given above all by the succession of past dominations. With its walls, Venetian fortifications, ancient mosques, colorful alleys, its lively center and the old town with its marina, make Chania a magical place to be discovered and breathed in deeply.

Let's start by talking about its story just to get an idea of how much wonder it is opening up to your eyes. As we said before, an ancient population also mentioned by the great Homer arose on the ruins of a Minoan settlement of great value at the hands of the Kydones. Its position above the Kastelli hill was chosen not for the view, but for the ease in being able to defend itself from the invaders given its steep sides that made access very difficult.

Its name in the past was Cidonia and it was a Roman colony that was part of the Eastern Roman Empire from 67 BC until 330 AD. Later it was freed by the Byzantines who, however, continually attacked by pirates were unable to expand the territory. In 828 AD the Saracens of Cordoba razed the city to the ground by conquering it, rebuilding it, helping to give it prosperity, especially because they made the port of Chania the main port and proclaimed it the capital of Crete putting into disuse that of Heraklion which before the Saracens was both the capital and the main port.

In 961 AD the Byzantines again took possession of the city under the general Niceforo Phoca who fortified the walls on all sides.

In 1204 the Venetians arrived who in 1252 began to recreate it by fortifying it with a fortress on the hill and a new wall that enclosed an even wider area of the city. Four bastions, towers and an outer moat were erected to repel attacks by pirates and conquerors. The port also underwent some transformations and was improved to better protect the Venetian fleet.The Serenissima also contributed to creating an aqueduct and a water network capable of satisfying the entire population. Imposing buildings for public use and stately homes sprang up in Chania giving it a sophisticated and typically Venetian look.

In 1645 the Turkish Ottomans, after a brief siege of about a couple of months, conquered it and, as in their style, largely destroyed it. They further strengthened the walls, built public baths, fountains, converted churches into mosques and gave birth to other mosques with high minarets making them an extremely oriental look.

After various internal revolts in 1821 a bloody massacre of the Christian inhabitants took place and Nehmet Ali was ceded to the Pascia of Egypt until 1841. In 1897 all Christian neighborhoods were set on fire and all the inhabitants killed. In 1905 Therisso's revolt broke out, led by the great Elefherios Venezelos who later became Prime Minister of Greece and after almost three hundred years the Turks withdrew forever. Finally the whole island of Crete was united under Greece, thus ending centuries of foreign domination.

The Municipal Market. Opened in 1913 just above the Venetian bastion called Platform, it is a large cross-shaped construction with about eighty shops where all local products are found. A visit to do absolutely first to stop and eat something typical in one of the few taverns that are located between the stalls, second to take home a piece of typically Cretan taste.

The old Town. A riot of colors with its cobbled streets and the old port where fishermen's boats and private sailing boats are moored. Full of typical and local restaurants where to have an aperitif perhaps at sunset with the sea in front. Surrounded by Venetian walls erected to defend against pirates and in particular the terrible Barbarossa, they separate the modern part from the ancient part. Here you can breathe an air full of history and just close your eyes to imagine how it could once have been.

The Archaeological Museum. As in almost all of Greece, the Archaeological Museum cannot be missing, on the other hand it is one of the countries with a very important historical background and therefore inevitable not to find it. A real work of art and specifically an ancient church dedicated to San Francesco built by the Venetians who, as always, the Turks transformed into a mosque, to then become an ammunition depot. From 1963 it became a museum where you can admire a small but fantastic collection of Minoan art as well as sculptures, coins and jewels from prehistoric times to the Roman period.

The lighthouse. In the Venetian port of Chania, perhaps one of the most photographed places by tourists, on the waterfront towards the old city we meet the Egyptian lighthouse from the 16th century, one of the oldest in the world with a height of 21 meters. Obviously it is no longer functional and much less can be visited inside but just a walk to see it is worth it. A real symbol of Chania called by the inhabitants "Gem of the city".

The Mosque. Right on the dock, there is the Koioutsouk Hasan mosque (governor of Chania from the late Ottoman period) much better known as the Giannizzieri Mosque. The oldest in Crete dates back to 1645 and is a small masterpiece of Islamic architecture with a large dome and seven smaller ones. Over time it has had many functions from a Byzantine church to an administrative office.

The Orthodox Cathedral. In Platia Mitropoleos we find the Isodion Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin of the Three Martyrs. Built in 1864 above the previous church where in the Ottoman period there was a soap factory. It has three naves and a bell tower.

Tabakaria. A very picturesque area, right on the seafront not far from the center. Between 1820 and 1830 it was a popular district where the tanneries were located. Very active until the fifties, today it looks like an industrial archeology complex, with some buildings still well preserved, others in full decline. Despite everything, however, it has its own and particular charm especially at sunset when everything is tinged with yellow-orange and maybe sitting in a cafe or a restaurant that was once an artisan's shop you will get lost in the immense horizon.

Topanas. The neighborhood that welcomed Christians during the Ottoman period. Its name means Arsenal in Turkish and this name was given because in Topanas there was the Venetian ammunition warehouse that can still be admired at the end of the street. To the north is the Firkas Fortes wanted by the Serenissima, used as a barracks and converted into a prison in the 19th century. Between 1841 and 1898 with the participation of the Great Powers to protect Crete, the consulates were established in the district which have become hotel shops and restaurants in the modern era.

From its labyrinthine alleys, the Topanas district is divided into picturesque streets where you can meet various historical monuments such as the Monastery of San Salvatore, a Venetian church that collects a beautiful collection of Byzantine finds, 17th and 18th century palaces such as the prestigious hotel Casa Delfino, the home of the Renieri family, one of the three Hamams of the Ottoman period up to the Jewish quarter. A beautiful walk through history and architecture.

Splantzia. The old Turkish quarter in the east of Chania. To visit the church of San Nikolaus an ancient monastery of Dominican monks then transformed into the central mosque of the city Hiougar Tsamissi which in Turkish means Sultan's Mosque in honor of Sultan Ibrahim who, in turn in 1919 was converted into the Orthodox church of Agios Nikolaos, and again the temple of San Rocco in the northwest corner of the Santo square which protected the city from cholera. In the beautiful square now called Place 1821, the fulcrum of the district where the Turks gathered, there is a stair railing that leads underground where there is a large fountain used by the Ottomans for religious ritual washings. To the side a large plane tree where today you can sit, enjoy the natural shade and rest.

Let's say that the nightlife in Chania is quite quiet, no extreme nights, a fair compromise in our opinion and with that touch of elegance. There are many places where you can spend a delicious evening after a nice dinner, perhaps in one of the typical restaurants or taverns, especially at the port or in the historic center. Of particular note are the Boca Bar, Hannag and Apzeman. If, on the other hand, you want something more lively, you have to move to Agia Marina or Platanias.

So let's say that the Chania area is always the most sought after and the reason is for its wonderful beaches of fine sand bathed by a sea that will leave you breathless. Let's start with the mythical Balos Lagoon, a real paradise not so easy to reach unless you opt for a boat excursion, but the walk alone will be worth it. A surreal landscape where a strip of white sand creates this lagoon and the sea of indescribable blue awaits you. In the summer it is super crowded but on the other hand when something is beautiful everyone wants to live and see it.

Elafonissi beach is a beach with white sand with pink shades, where the crystalline and clean Libyan Sea usually has warm and flowing waters, perfect for families with children. Super crowded in summer, it is quite equipped but never manages to please everyone so 'whoever arrives first stays better! It is about 75 kilometers from Chania but believe us it is time spent more than good.

Falassarna beach, about twenty kilometers from Kissamos and consequently forty from Chania. It extends for almost three kilometers in the bay of Livadi and has a coastline of soft fine sand with transparent waters and gently sloping seabeds. It is partly equipped in others completely free. During peak periods it has many visitors but given its size it will hardly stand on top of one another.

If you want extremely wild beaches then you have to head to the Akrotiri Peninsula about fifteen kilometers from Chania and there is guaranteed heaven on earth.Do not miss Stavros beach the beach of Zorba the Greek just to give you another gem, a circular coastline with golden sand and a turquoise blue sea. Equipped with sun beds, umbrellas and some delicious taverns where you can relax after a beautiful day at the beach.

Could we have forgotten ​the Seitan Limania beach? Beautiful, wild and remote in the north east of the Akrotiri peninsula. A small coast of white sand mixed with pebbles, protected on the sides giving it the shape of a real canyon with high cliffs, all surrounded by a turquoise sea, clean but with waters that are not exactly calm. A real Eden, difficult to reach but which despite everything, especially during peak periods, is very crowded. Its name means Port of the Devil, but it has very little evil !. Obviously it is not equipped so remember to bring everything you need.

Beaches closer to Chania just as beautiful but not so scenic, however, can be found if you don't want to travel kilometers. Agia Marina, Kolymbari and Platanias certainly deserve a jump.

For the lazy, on the other hand, there are city beaches such as Koum Kapi beach to the east of the port, Nea Chora to the west or Golden Beach or Chryssi Akti beach. In short, let's say that the choice is not lacking.

You could go on almost indefinitely in listing the things to see in Chania but as always we don't want you to lose the thrill of discovery. This is just a small track to follow, follow your instincts and get lost in one of the most beautiful cities in Greece.