Chania

The city of Chania constitutes of the old and the new city. It is the administrative centre of the homonym prefecture of Chania the most western in Crete.

The old city was built in the 13th century from Venetians, on the ruins of ancient Kydonia. In the old city you will see the impressive old Venetian harbor and its lighthouse, from the 16th century that was reconstructed by Egyptians in the 19th century and functions until today. The Fortress Firkas that was used to protect the entry of the harbour. Here in December 1913 the Greek flag was raised to state the union of Crete with Greece.

The Jewish quarter with the synagogue and the Venetian mansions. Megalo Arsenali that accomodates the Centre of Mediterranean Architecture and is the bigger of the seven enclosed shipyards. Splatzia, the Turkish quarter with the minaret of Ahmet Aga in the church of Saint Nikolaos that had been changed into a mosque from the Turks.
Santrivani square where the intellectual and artistic world of Crete used to gather. The church San Salvatore that accomodates the Byzantine collection. In the aristocratic district of Chalepa where prince Georgios used to stay and also the house of Elefterios Venizelos in the same region. On the hill Kasteli where the acropolis of ancient Kydonia was were discovered ceramics from the Neolithic and Roman periods.

The new city that unfolds round the old has very good town planning and is very functional.

• Samaria Canyon is of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. Its length is 16 km and has been nominated a National Woodland since 1962. Thousands of tourist visit the canyon each summertime that it is open, in order to admire the amazing pictures. Big gaps, ravines, green landscapes, sources, imposing volumes, wild animals and in the end the Libyan Sea.
• Fragokastelo. A Castle built by the Venetian in the 14th century for protection from the raids of pirates. In 1828, Moystafa, governor of Crete exterminated here the killed here the chieftain Hatzi Michili Ntaliani and his men. The legend says that the souls of the fighters that the locals name Drosoylites assemble here each year in the form of morning dew that shapes on the walls in strange forms
• Akrotiri, a peninsula east of Chania, with beautiful landscapes and monasteries with rich history. Here are the graves of Eleftherios and Sofoklis Venizelos.
• in Kasteli Kissamou, the Roman aqueduct, the Greek-Roman baths, the mosaic floorings and other
• in Maleme, a domed grave of the after Minoan period and the German Military cemetery
• in Moyrnies the Museum of Chrisopigi Monastery
• Sfakia. The landscape is the wildest and most virgin in all Crete, with steep slopes, caves and canyons. The people are known for their hospitality and manliness
• ancient Lyssos
• the monastery of Virgin Mary Chrisoskalitissa, built on rock. One of the ninety steps that lead to the monastery is gold and according to tradition only the faithful can distinguish it.
• in Kolympari is the monastery Gonias with a history from 9th century
• the canyon in Topolia is impressive with a length of 1.500 m. On its slopes you will see a lot of caves. • Souda is the harbour of the prefecture and a naval station. On the islet Souda, opposite of the fortress Itzedin is one of the most important Venetian castles of Crete.
• the archaeological site of the ancient Aptrea
• in Gavalochori the Historical and Folklore Museum
• ancient Falasarna
• ancient Polyrrinia.