Chania Maritime Museum of Crete

Location: Town
Don't miss: Museums guide (free admission dates and other useful info)

The Maritime Museum of Crete is housed at the Venetian Firka fortress, at the entrance of the old harbor in Chania. This location is of historical significance, as on December, 1st, 1913, the Greek flag was raised here to signal the incorporation of Crete into the Greek state. It was founded in May 1973 by Vice Admiral A. Giannopoulos, who was serving as an Admiral Commander in Chania. The foundation and function of this museum were supported by many military officers and distinguished citizens of Crete. The aim of the museum is to immortalize the Greek naval tradition and especially the naval history of Crete.

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Indeed such a museum was founded in May 1973 by Vice Admiral A. Yannopoulos, who was serving as an Admiral Commander in Chania. The foundation and function of this museum were supported by many military officers and distinguished citizens of Crete.

The museum’s collection is presented by time period. The earliest period starts with the Bronze Age Minoan culture, whose claim to fame is the earliest known “Thalassocracy” – undisputed naval supremacy – and continues to the Hellenistic Period, with models of ancient ships, such as the Keryneia ship, a 4th-century BC vessel that was discovered in 1965. The next period focuses on the Byzantine Empire (the inventors of Greek Fire), featuring models of a Dromon, the main type of Byzantine warship, as well as various Cretan-Arabic vessels.

The section on Venetian Crete takes center stage on the ground floor, including a large model of the old fortifications of Chania, as well as many surviving maps from the 16th and 17th centuries. Visitors can also see a disused lighthouse from the city’s port, as well as yet more ship models.

The next section focuses on the Greek War of Independence and the many separate attempts of the Cretan people to unite with the rest of Greece, such as in 1866. Other sections focus on the Balkan Wars and the two World Wars, the Greek Navy was equipped with modern, technologically advanced ships, such as the world-famous Averoff, whose pictures and models are presented here in the Maritime Museum of Crete. There is also a reference to the recent state of the Greek Navy.

Special sections exist for the merchant navy, lighthouses, and postage stamps, as well as the “Altar of the Fatherland”, dedicated to the fallen of World War II, while on the first-floor level, visitors can find themselves the life-size reconstruction of a destroyer’s bridge! Furthermore, one can visit a collection including seashells, sponges, crustaceans and starfish that depicts the amazing beauty and diversity of marine life.

There are two permanent exhibitions at the museum. One is dedicated to Ancient Shipbuilding, featuring an awe-inspiring life-size replica of a Minoan vessel, while the other centers on traditional Greek shipbuilding with scale models of fishing boats, trade vessels, and even pirate ships.

The Museum is open from Monday to Saturday, between 09:00 and 15:00. The permanent exhibitions are only available between May 1st and October 31st.

Official website: mar-mus-crete.gr