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The City of Chania
by Minoa.info / Juhani
Chania is the former capital city of Crete. It is the second biggest city on the island after Iraklion. The old and valued Market hall is the central point of the city. It is in the middle of the most interesting area of the city and the obvious place to begin the city tour. In the Market hall you can find just about everything that is produced in the Chania province, or sit down for a cup of coffee at one of its many coffee shops. There are almost 80 shops inside the spacious Market hall.
Chania is the former capital city of Crete. It is the second biggest city on the island after Iraklion. The old and valued Market hall is the central point of the city. It is in the middle of the most interesting area of the city and the obvious place to begin the city tour. In the Market hall you can find just about everything that is produced in the Chania province, or sit down for a cup of coffee at one of its many coffee shops. There are almost 80 shops inside the spacious Market hall.
A Walk in the City
South of the Market hall are the archaeological findings of the ruins of the old Venetian fortress. From the west wing opens the Mousouru business street. After going north on Mousouru there is a street to the left called Skridlof, perhaps the most tourist oriented street in Chania. Soon you will reach the Chalidon Street, which has many historical buildings and an art gallery. Further along the street you will reach the Old town and the harbour. First you pass the Mitropolis Cathedral, Isodion Church, the Catholic Church and the Archaeological Museum.
At the end of the Chalidon street, turning to the Karaoli Thimitriou Street, you will find the Kydonian walls, which have been built using stones from earlier buildings. From Katre Street you can go down to the Kanevaro Street, and after a short walk you reach the center of an ancient fortress of the hill, with remnants of Minoan structures revealed by archaeological excavations.
Continuing on Kanevaro Street you will see the Venetian monastery and the ruins of the Santa Maria dei Miracoli church, which was built in 1615 AD. After reaching Kasteli you will enter the Venetian harbour. On the banks of the harbour are closely packed beautiful old buildings. There is a Venetian shipyard from the 14th -16th century in the harbour. Here's a panoramic view of the harbour, and a panoramic view from the breakwater of the city.
Via Akti Tompazi you can reach the Kioutsouk Hasan Mosque, which was built in 1645. Going further you get to the Sidrivani square and to the end of Chaldion Street. As Chalidon Street is left behind, you walk on the Akti Koundourioti by the shore where you can find all kinds of taverns and cafés. At the western end of the street is the Fortress of Frika. This is the place where the flag of Greece was raised December 1st in 1913 as a sign of the Unification of Crete and Greece.
Inside the fortress there is the Naval Museum and Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Societies of Crete. Following the walls of the fortress you descend to Theotokopoulo Street, and get a view of the Church of San Salvatore with Byzantine collections on its left side. After the church there are Venetian and Turkish buildings inside the narrow alleys.
At the end of Theotokopoulo Street you will head down to Duka Street and to the foot of the huge Venetian buildings. One of them is the extraordinary Palace of the Renier family on Moschon Street. It was built in the 15th century with a small family chapel. The Jewish quarters on Zabeliou Street hold the only Jewish Synagogue in Crete. As many as three horses may pull the beautiful carriages on short rounds along the narrow alleys and around the harbour in the old city. To the east from the old city and harbour is the historical Square of Splanzia. This is the site where the Church of Agios Nicholas was built in 1204 AD next to the Turkish Minaret.
Outside the numerous attractions of the center of Chania and the old town you can visit the Halepa quarters with some more recent attractions, like the Palace of Prince Georgios and the residence of Eleftherios Venizelos. In Chania modern is combined with the ancient, from the Minoan era to Modern Greece, illustrating the greatest historical moments of the island of Crete.
Here's a panoramic view of the city from the hill east of Chania. In the picture you can see the tourist villages stringing along the coast.
Additional info:
South of the Market hall are the archaeological findings of the ruins of the old Venetian fortress. From the west wing opens the Mousouru business street. After going north on Mousouru there is a street to the left called Skridlof, perhaps the most tourist oriented street in Chania. Soon you will reach the Chalidon Street, which has many historical buildings and an art gallery. Further along the street you will reach the Old town and the harbour. First you pass the Mitropolis Cathedral, Isodion Church, the Catholic Church and the Archaeological Museum.
At the end of the Chalidon street, turning to the Karaoli Thimitriou Street, you will find the Kydonian walls, which have been built using stones from earlier buildings. From Katre Street you can go down to the Kanevaro Street, and after a short walk you reach the center of an ancient fortress of the hill, with remnants of Minoan structures revealed by archaeological excavations.
Continuing on Kanevaro Street you will see the Venetian monastery and the ruins of the Santa Maria dei Miracoli church, which was built in 1615 AD. After reaching Kasteli you will enter the Venetian harbour. On the banks of the harbour are closely packed beautiful old buildings. There is a Venetian shipyard from the 14th -16th century in the harbour. Here's a panoramic view of the harbour, and a panoramic view from the breakwater of the city.
Via Akti Tompazi you can reach the Kioutsouk Hasan Mosque, which was built in 1645. Going further you get to the Sidrivani square and to the end of Chaldion Street. As Chalidon Street is left behind, you walk on the Akti Koundourioti by the shore where you can find all kinds of taverns and cafés. At the western end of the street is the Fortress of Frika. This is the place where the flag of Greece was raised December 1st in 1913 as a sign of the Unification of Crete and Greece.
Inside the fortress there is the Naval Museum and Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Societies of Crete. Following the walls of the fortress you descend to Theotokopoulo Street, and get a view of the Church of San Salvatore with Byzantine collections on its left side. After the church there are Venetian and Turkish buildings inside the narrow alleys.
At the end of Theotokopoulo Street you will head down to Duka Street and to the foot of the huge Venetian buildings. One of them is the extraordinary Palace of the Renier family on Moschon Street. It was built in the 15th century with a small family chapel. The Jewish quarters on Zabeliou Street hold the only Jewish Synagogue in Crete. As many as three horses may pull the beautiful carriages on short rounds along the narrow alleys and around the harbour in the old city. To the east from the old city and harbour is the historical Square of Splanzia. This is the site where the Church of Agios Nicholas was built in 1204 AD next to the Turkish Minaret.
Outside the numerous attractions of the center of Chania and the old town you can visit the Halepa quarters with some more recent attractions, like the Palace of Prince Georgios and the residence of Eleftherios Venizelos. In Chania modern is combined with the ancient, from the Minoan era to Modern Greece, illustrating the greatest historical moments of the island of Crete.
Here's a panoramic view of the city from the hill east of Chania. In the picture you can see the tourist villages stringing along the coast.
Additional info:
BOOK A HOTEL in Chania..
Minoa.info map of the region
Chania on Google maps
Weather in Chania and 7 day forecast: freemeteo.com
Coordinates for the Market hall: 35°30'52.26"N 24° 1'13.47"E
Webcam in old harbor
Sources:
www.chania.gr
M. Anthrianakis. "The Old City of Chania", 1997
M. Anthrianakis. "Halepa through its Churches", calendar, 1998,
Publication of the Parents' Association, 10th Elementary School
Emily Klathou - Bletsa "Chania beyond the Walls", TEE 1998
Maria Anthreathaky - Vlazaky, "The County of Chania in Prehistoric Times", Hania 1982, p.p. 14-21
Minoa.info map of the region
Chania on Google maps
Weather in Chania and 7 day forecast: freemeteo.com
Coordinates for the Market hall: 35°30'52.26"N 24° 1'13.47"E
Webcam in old harbor
Sources:
www.chania.gr
M. Anthrianakis. "The Old City of Chania", 1997
M. Anthrianakis. "Halepa through its Churches", calendar, 1998,
Publication of the Parents' Association, 10th Elementary School
Emily Klathou - Bletsa "Chania beyond the Walls", TEE 1998
Maria Anthreathaky - Vlazaky, "The County of Chania in Prehistoric Times", Hania 1982, p.p. 14-21
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