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According to archaeological excavations Chania stands on the site of ancient Kydonia, a large city which flourished during the Roman period. Other excavations proved that the area was inhabited since Neolithic times and an important settlement used to stand on the same site.
This settlement extended over the centuries and became Kydonia, which is believed to have been destroyed by the Saracens in 828 AD.
Chania lost its prestige during the 2nd Byzantine period and went from the status of a prestigious town to that of an unimportant village.
When the Venetians came they fortified the town and built palaces within the fortress as well as a Roman Catholic cathedral. The walls of the city were constantly fortified during the 200 years of the Venetian occupation.
In 1645 the Turks besieged the fort and took the town. They repaired and fortified the walls of the city and, in 1851, transferred the seat of their administration to Chania.
After many battles and revolutionary acts from the inhabitants of Crete, the island was declared autonomous in 1897 and Chania became the capital of the Cretan State as well as the seat of the High Commissioner.
In 1913 Crete (and Chania) was reunited with the newly built free Greek State.
On the 20th of May 1941 the Germans attacked the island by air and sea. Those attacks lasted 8 days until the Germans managed to invade Crete. This attack is known as the Battle of Crete and was one of the most heroic battles of the island: the inhabitants if the island fought bravely for their freedom helped by British, Australians and New Zealand soldiers. During the difficult years of German occupation the Cretans actively kept organizing acts of resistance.
In 1971 Chania lost its status of capital of Crete and was replaced by Heraklion. |
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The beautiful town of Chania has managed to keep its local and authentic colours, despite the growing tourism.
It is considered as one of the loveliest towns of Greece, as well as the more picturesque town of Crete, since the many vestiges of its past give it a unique charm.
Chania is divided into various neighbourhoods among which four old quarters have survived.
All those old quarters are made of impressive, beautiful and interesting buildings as well as narrow stone-paved alleys, which add a mystical and charming character to the whole town. |
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This is the aristocratic neighbourhood of old Chania, located in the western part of the town.
It is where the wealthy Christian families lived during the end of the Ottoman occupation and where the Consulates of the Great Powers was also located.
Some beautiful Venetian buildings can still be admired in the narrow streets nearby the harbour.
A fortress called “Firkas” (= military unit), built in 1629, stands at the northernmost point of Topanas, at the entrance to the harbour.
This fortress is where the Greek flag was hoisted in the 1st of December 1913.
The Naval Museum of Chania and a summer theatre are housed today in this superb fortress.
Opposite, a 16th century lighthouse stands. |
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Jewish
Quarter : “Ovriaki” |
This quarter is lying south of Topanas. The imposing Venetian Church of Saint Francis which belonged to the Franciscan monks is really worth seeing. It was transformed into a mosque by the Turks who added new structures and a small minaret that were destroyed during World War II. Today, this beautiful edifice houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
The Schiavo or Lando bastion stands south of the quarter as well as a portion of the walls of Chania. |
Situated east of the harbour, this quarter is where the ancient Kydonia stood. The Venetians settled there in 1252 and built the fortified walls.
On the highest point of the area the “Rettore’s” Palazzo was built, where the Pasha lived during the Turkish rule.
At the end of the Ottoman occupation many wealthy families of Chania lived in the neighbourhood of Kastelli. |
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Splantza
or Plaza quarter |
This neighbourhood was the Turkish quarter. It is situated east of the Kastelli quarter, nearby the shipyards of the harbour built by the Venetians at the end of the 15th century; only nine of the twenty superb arches of the shipyards are still preserved today.
Worth-seeing in Splantza is the Church of Saint Nicholas, the Greek Orthodox Church of Agioi Anargyroi and the small Venetian Church of Saint Rocco that has a Latin inscription dating from the 17th century.
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The main square of this quarter was built in honour of Eleftherios Venizelos (the Greek who lead the Cretan revolution and became president of the newly built Greek state but was assassinated a few years later) with a beautiful Turkish fountain (syndrivani) in its middle.
The beautiful mosque of Hassan Pasha, built by the Arabs, is situated in the northern part of the quarter and houses the Information Office of the Municipality of Chania. |
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Worth-seeing
places in Chania |
The Turkish Baths, in the area of the harbour, are housed in a superb building with a wonderful dome, and can be visited.
The beautiful Venetian Renieri Gate is located in one of the main streets of the town called Theophanous Street.
The verdant Municipal Gardens of Chania which were designed by Reouf Pasha in 1870 according to European models, are very interesting to visit and constitute a pleasant place to spend the day and a nice walk through the greenery.
In Zambelli Street, one of the principal streets of Chania, visitors can admire the imposing Venetian Palace on which a heraldic emblem and a Latin inscription can be seen.
Visitors can also walk around the wonderful Municipal Market which was built in 1911 and is located in the centre of Chania. Fresh meat and fish as well as other various local products are sold.
In the harbour the beautifully restored mosque of 1645 houses the Greek Tourism Organizations.
The new Halepa quarter is also worth-seeing and houses the palace of the High Commissioner, the residence of Eleftherios Venizelos and the Church of Saint Magdalene which was built according to the Russo-Byzantine architectural style.
Other important new neighbourhoods are Koum Kapi (located east, outside the walls), Bolari (east of Koum Kapi) and Kainourgia Hora (the New Town) which is located in the western part of Chania.
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| Chania offers many types of accommodations of various categories, numerous international restaurants and Greek traditional taverns, excellent pastry shops, traditional cafes, lively bars, clubs and pubs, all mostly located in the harbour area, and cinemas, theatres and places for concerts and exhibitions, since plenty of cultural activities take place in beautiful Chania. |
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