Chania
„Chania is the best city on the island. There is hardly a city on the mainland as beautiful and there is no comparison to Nauplio, Corinth, Patras or Sparta.”
Chania is Crete’s second largest city (aprox 53.000 inhabitants). What makes Chania so attractive is the mixture: on one hand a busy Greek city and on the other hand a collection of small Cretan villages. The Venetian harbour adds an almost Italian flair to the city. Chanias old town is an interesting and colourful “architectural catalogue” that consists of unique antique, Venetian, Turkish and Cretan elements.
SIGHTS
Market hall (Agora)
The market hall offer an ideal start off point for a walk through the old town. The cross-shaped market hall was built in 1911 based on the model of the halls in Marseille and in 1913 it was opened officially with a big celebration on the occasion of the connection of Crete to the Greece.
Folklore Museum
In an old Venetian house with traditional needlework, embroideries, carpets, traditional dresses and woven goods as well as made up sceneries “en miniature”, traditional furniture and reconstructed rooms.
Archaeological Museum
The archaeological museum is one of the highlights of the city. It is located in one of the biggest churches of the city, in San Francesco.
Venetian Harbour
The Venetian harbour is characterized by numerous taverns and cafés, where the owners try to impress their visitors loudly with their specialities. Over a Greek coffee you can enjoy the view of the harbour before you move on to the winding lanes of the Topanas quarter.
City-Wall
The partly remaining city-wall from the Byzantine-Venetian times is impressive for the lay public.
War Museum
The war museum behind the public garden offers an interesting, though a bit dusty, glimpses into the Cretan fight for freedom.
Historical Museum
It is located in a neo-classicistic building to remind us of the younger Cretan history.
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