Listed 100 (total found 104) sub titles with search on: Sights for wider area of: "KYDONIA Province CHANIA" .
AGIOI THEODOROI (Rocky island) PLATANIAS
Opposite the beach, the small island of Thodorou is the home for a
number of the protected wild goats (kri-kri) of Crete. No one is permitted on
the island.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
APTERA (Village) CHANIA
Aptera commands an impressive view of Souda Bay. From the fort you have a good view of the entrance of Souda Bay and also an aerial view of the other Venetian fort, (known by its Turkish name) Itzedin, below Aptera.
Looking south across the valley of Stylos, you will enjoy the view of the Lefka Ori. The view is quite breathtaking from here in the spring when the White Mountains are covered with snow.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
The neighbourhood of Halepa rewards the visitor with several interesting
buildings, including the residence of the celebrated prime minister of Greece,
Eleftherios Venizelos; the house of the first governor of Crete; the Russian-styled
church of Agia Magdalini on Dagli Street; Galiki Skoli, a former convent which
is now part of the Technical University of Crete; and the Tabakaria, a traditional
leather processing area on the seashore.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
MESKLA (Village) MOUSSOURI
The village of Meskla is very pleasantly situated between green hills
in the Keritis Valley, has a river going through it, and the Lefka Ori as a background.
The mountain views and the views of the valley down below are breathtaking.
OMALOS (Plateau) CHANIA
At 1,080 metres in altitude, the plateau of Omalos is one of the three
highest large plateaus of Crete. The plateau of Nida in Psiloritis is at 1,400
metres and Niatos, above Askifou, is 1,500 metres high. The plateau has three
exits. The first one is the road from Chania. The entrance to the plateau (1,087m)
on this road is called the Neratzoporta --The Orange Door. The second exit is
the Samaria Gorge, which ends at Agia Roumeli. The third exit is in the southwest
corner of the plateau. The road from here reaches Sougia through wild and captivating
scenery. The plateau is surrounded by the peaks of the Lefka Ori: Volakias (2,116m);
Gigilos, in front of Xiloskalo (2,081m); Samberos (2,005m), on the west side of
the Samaria Gorge; and Psilafi (1,984m). The plateau is roughly triangular in
shape and each side is about an hour's walk. During the winter months, snow may
cover Omalos and the road may be closed for several days. The Omalos Plateau is
green except in midsummer and is covered by wild flowers in the spring. The physical
beauty of the area is as exhilarating as the mountain air and the plateau is a
marvellous area for mountain hiking or walks. On the plateau there are tavernas
and hotels, some of which are equipped for winter stays.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
Tel: +30 28213 40100-2
Fax: +30 28213 40201
The residence of the first governor of Crete is between the Venizelos
home and the Galiki Skoli.
This is the last building on the west side of a complex of 17 shipyards. Construction of the building was begun in 1585 by the Commissioner General Alvise Grimani. The thickness of its walls, its isolation from the rest of the "Neoria", as well as the public services which were periodically housed there may account for the name "Great". The second floor, constructed in 1875 housed the school of the Christian Community. When restoration finishes it will be used by the "Mediterranean Centre of Architecture".
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
The need for the presence of the Venician fleet in Crete forced Venice to build shipyards, (Arsenali or Neoria) where the ships were repaired in winter time. The south complex was completed in 1599, with the construction of 17 Neoria. In 1607 the construction of five more Neoria begins on the eastern basin of the harbour. These are known as the Moro Neoria and only two were ever completed. Today only 7 survive out of the 17. In their original form they were open on the side of the sea. The ceilings are arched, and they are connected with arched openings of the same thickness as the walls.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
In Chania harbour there is the Great Arsenale. This arsenal's second floor was
used as a Town Hall and as a Mayor's residence during the Venetian era. The city
and the University are presently making plans to restore the Arsenale.
The Market, impressive for its size and shape, was built on the remains of the bulwark Pietta Forma. The construction survey was commissioned to K. Thranthakis. The structure is in the shape of a cross with 76 shops grouped according to their wares in the four arms of the cross. The south facade is particularly well constructed out of chiselled limestone, in the architectural style of the local tradition, developed during the Venetian period. Construction was completed in 1913 and the formal opening was made by Eleftherios Venizelos on 4th December 1913 as part of the celebrations for the Unification of Crete to Greece.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
The covered market is in the centre of the city on busy Odos Hatzi
Michali Yannari. Behind the market are the old Venetian and Turkish parts of the
city, while in front is the modern commercial centre of Chania. The city market
(agora) of Chania is prominent on the main east-west street of Chania and dates
from the beginning of the century.
A cruciform building modelled on the market at Marseilles, it stands in the place
of the main entrance of the Venetian fort that surrounded the city. Materials
from the fort were used to build the market. The market celebrated its eightieth
anniversary in 1993. The site that the market occupies is that of the former Venetian
Pittafora Bastion. West of the market's front door are some of the bastion's remains.
Near these remains the large and imposing Rethimnon Gate, the main entrance to
the old city, once stood.
The Public Market of Chania has many grocery shops, as well as bakeries, meat,
fish, and cheese stores. Many shops sell the local, well known, Cretan herbs.
There is also a variety of restaurants and cafes frequented by the Chaniotes,
as the people of Chania are called, during the day. The market has a lively atmosphere,
especially on Saturdays.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
Important specialized building, erected in the period of the Cretan State. It is cross-shaped in plan, influenced by the buildings of the so-called Iron Age of the 19th century, which characterizes the period of the Industrial Revolution. The building is distinguished by its elegance and good balance and preserves in schematic form the typical features of the late Neoclassicism.
The building of the Market was founded on April 14, 1911 by the Municipal Manolis Mountakis and was inaugurated on December 4, 1913 by the Prime Minister, Eleutherios Venizelos, during the celebration of the Union of Crete with Greece. Since then it has been used as the town's public market.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
Public baths - Hamams constitute a very old Moslem tradition, brought by the Ottomans of Asia Minor and spread throughout their domain. According to the Koran only running water can purify. On the whole, body hygiene was closely associated with worship and meditation. The Hamam is situated on Halithon Str., near the place where a Roman Bath used to be, and is decorated with beautiful mosaics. It is a multiple-domed structure with an arcade on the perimetre, which was demolished in 1941. The Hamam was built on the site of the Venician Monastery of St. Clara opposite St. Francis.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
Construction was begun in the late years of the Turkish occupation in order to house a military hospital. The building complex consists of several wings in the form of a free rectangle, surrounding a central court with free access from the facade. Both this complex and its morphology greatly affected the design of the modern city and the planning of some key road junctions, as well as the circus opposite the facade. The building was renovated after a destructive fire in 1936, and a third floor was added to the central part.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
Tabakaria grew into a district of leather processing houses on the rocky eastern side of the city, beyond the walls, in the middle of the 19th century. This area was chosen for the following reasons : the abundant brackish subterranean waters used to soften leather, and its relative closeness to the city. Today some of the leather processing houses are still in operation. Adjusted to the natural properties of the land, the buildings have only one floor on the side of the street and two or three floors on the side of the sea. They are made of stone with tile roofs. They are built close to each other with very narrow, steep passages and steps going down to the sea. They constitute a unique architectural complex.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
MOURNIES (Small town) ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS
Mournies is the village where Crete's famous statesman Eleftherios
Venizelos was born. The house is on the main street and is now a museum.
STERNES (Village) AKROTIRI
In Sternes there is a large Venetian structure as well as remains
of Venetian houses.
THERISSO (Village) CHANIA
The Eleftherios Venizelos Centre for Independence is in Therisos.
In 1905, Venizelos, the revered Cretan politician, set up a revolutionary assembly
here demanding immediate union with mainland Greece. As a result of this assembly
and the ensuing riots, Prince George, the High Commissioner of Crete, resigned.
Finally, in 1913, Venizelos's dream of union with Greece was realised. The house
(his mother's) is to the left in the middle of the village, and has been preserved,
but no official status is given to it.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
The fort still known with its Turkish name, Firca (Firka = barracks) was built in order to protect the entrance of the harbour. A thick chain from Firca to the base of the light-house closed the harbour in case of siege. The fort was the headquarters of the Military Commander of the city. The inside area was divided into barracks and ammunition warehouses. The buildings of the west wing have two-floors with dome covered rooms. Over the door of the first floor there is the following inscription : "ALOYSIUS BRAGADEUS PROVISOR CYDONIAE M. DCXX". In the centre of the court, there is a large water reservoir, where the water running from the roofs was collected. In the period of the Turkish occupation and until fairly recently, Firca was used as military barracks and a prison. The flag of the Unification of Crete to Greece was symbolically raised on the corner watch-tower on 1st December 1913.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
The Firkas Bastion is at the western end of the outer harbour. It now houses the Naval Museum. The Venetians used it as a prison for Greeks condemned to death. Eleftherios Venizelos and King Constantine officially raised the Greek flag here in 1913. During the summer months, the Firkas is host to a local Cretan dance group that gives public performances. Plays and concerts are also performed here.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
ARKOUDOSPILIA (Cave) AKROTIRI
The cave of Our Lady of the Bear (Spileo Arkoudas) is on the path
from Gouverneto to Katholiko. The chapel dedicated to the Virgin is inside the
cave. At the rear of the cave there is a grey bear-shaped stalagmite with a small
pond in front of it. Local legend says that the Virgin Mary turned the bear to
stone after she caught it drinking the monks' water. Archaeologist claim that
in antiquity the cave was a shrine to Artemis, who was transformed into the shape
of a bear. On the first day of February local people come in the evening for the
church service and stay in the cave afterwards to celebrate with food and wine.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below.
STAVROS (Port) AKROTIRI
There is a cave in the hill, which was used from Neolithic times.
Evidence exists of its use as a sanctuary from the end of the Bronze Period through
all the Greek periods.
AKROTIRI (Municipality) CHANIA
Among the 115 caves and 5 small gorges of the promontory the small
verdant gorge of Katholikou or Avlaki Agiou ("The saint's way") distinguishes
itself in its wild beauty. After reaching the well-known Convent of Gouvernetou,
situated at an altitude of 260m. and a distance of 16 km from Chania,
you start walking northwards on a pathway and, after 10 minutes, you meet the
Cave of Panagia Akroudiotissas, as well as the chapel of the Virgin Mary and the
sanctuary of Artemis. After walking for 10 minutes downwards, you can see the
monastery of Saint John the Hermit, who lived during the 14th century in the 151
m long and very nice cave that is situated in the vicinity of the chapel.
A little further downwards, after walking over an unusually big bridge,
you enter the gorge. You then walk on the streambed for about half an hour and
reach the coast. You can see is very clean for swimming. You can see a Venetian
well, a construction where the monks of Katholikos used to keep their small craft,
and the stone portion that was cut off for the building of the Convent.
This text is cited April 2003 from the Prefectural
Committee for the Promotion of Chania pamphlet.
KATOCHORI (Village) KERAMIES
This gorge is well known as the gorge of Katechori or Stylos as well
and it is one of the few gorges in Chania that does not have a north-south direction.
It is a very beautiful and verdant gorge, with many species of the
Cretan flora and with a lot of steeps. Its crossing is easy, since it is situated
near the city of Chania and
is accessed from the village of Katechori in the Province
of Keramia (at an altitude of 300 m and a distance of 21 km from Chania).
The passage takes three to four hours and ends in the village of Faraggi
(meaning "gorge") (at an altitude of 40 m and a distance of 17 km from Chania),
at a short distance from the Chania -Stylos
main road.
This text (extract) is cited April 2003 from the Prefectural
Committee for Tourism Promotion of Chania pamphlet.
OMALOS (Plateau) CHANIA
It is one of the most remarkable gorges of Sfakia where a few couples
of wild goats still live (the seldom Cretan Chamois).
Its passage starts from the village of Agios
Ioannis in Sfakia (at an altitude of 780 m and a distance of 92 km from Chania).
You need around 1 hour in order to reach the location of Kormokopos, where there
are caves with water, before starting descending the gorge (up to that point,
you need a guide). The gorge ends in the very beautiful piny sand beach of the
Libyan Sea, after another
2 hours' walk. From the beach to Agia
Roumeli, you have to walk one more hour. The above crossing covers half the
gorge. If you wish to cross all of Elygia, you need an experienced guide and at
least 2 days at you disposal. You start from the plateau of Omalos and walk via
the refuge of Kallergi and the summit of Melinataou (at an altitude of 2133 m)
before reaching the location "Potamos" in the White
Mountains. After a vertical descent of 10 m you reach the bottom of the gorge
and walk on up to the coast of the Libyan Sea.
The Omalos-Potami trek takes 6 hours and another 6 hours from there
to the coast.
This text is cited April 2003 from the Prefectural
Committee for Tourism Promotion of Chania pamphlet.
This gorge is one of the biggest and most difficult of access in Chania,
which requires a guide to be crossed, and at least one and a half days available.
The first afternoon you can climb up (via the plateau of Omalos at an altitude
of 1200 m) the mountain of Grigkilos, very precipitous mountain with alpine configuration.
You pass under a natural arch at an altitude of 1400 m from the frozen water source
of Linoseli. In order to approach the summit, where you spend the night outdoors
or in the ruined sheepfold of Tzatzimou, you need to walk for 2,30 hours at an
altitude of 2080 m.
The myth says that it is on this summit that Cratagenous Jupiter had
his throne, and westwards, on the nearby more regular peaks, he had his harness
racing. At the source of Linoseli there was a famous ancient oracle as well.
From Gigilo up to the coast, you have to walk for about six hours.
If there is no boat waiting for you there, you will walk for another three hours
(right-and upward from the old village), before reaching the very beautiful littoral
village of Sougia in Selino
(70 km distant from Chania)
There is a wide diversity of fauna and flora species in the gorge,
which is the dwelling place of the Cretan Chamois as well.
You will find a cistern, a goat sheepfold and the chapel of Saint
Nicholas there also.
This text is cited April 2003 from the Prefectural
Committee for Tourism Promotion of Chania pamphlet.
PRASSES (Village) MOUSSOURI
A small but very beautiful and wild gorge with significant altitude
differences from the entrance to the exit, due to which the walk in the gorge
is sideling enough and takes place among small or bigger rocks and under very
impressive precipitous escarpments.
You reach the beginning of the gorge via the asphalt road leading
from the crossroads of Petra Seli to the plateau of Omalos
(Chania-Sougia
route) and about 1 km from the entrance to the detour of Omalos. On the nearby
dirt road, there is a 1-km long pathway leading to Platanos
after 15 minutes, a densely wooded area with plane trees and ferns and full of
water sources. You thus enter the main portion of the gorge and exit the gorge
after walking for two hours on the rural road leading from the village of Prasse
in Kydonia (31 km distant from
Chania, at an altitude of 480m) to the village of Skidia rightwards. You need
another 40 minutes' walk before reaching Prasse if you do not have any vehicle
at your disposal.
This text is cited April 2003 from the Prefectural
Committee for Tourism Promotion of Chania pamphlet.
SAMARIA (National Park) CHANIA
The Samaria Gorge is the longest in Europe, with a total length of
18km. The width of the gorge is 150 metres at its widest to 3 metres at its narrowest.
Its status as a national park protects its rare flora and fauna. The walk through
the gorge takes between 6 and 8 hours. The path runs downhill but requires strong,
comfortable footwear and some degree of physical fitness.
The gorge begins at Xiloskalo (Wooden Stairs) which, as the name suggests, is
a wooden staircase descending steeply to the river bed through an impressive forest
of trees and exceptional views. At the bottom, near the small church of Agios
Nikolaos, one can relax for a few minutes and enjoy the view. The path then follows
the river bed. Here the mountains tower more than 2,000 metres above sea level.
The highlight of the walk is the Sidheres Portes or Iron Gates. Here the walls
of the gorge are only 3 metres apart and tower to 600 metres on either side.
You can glimpse the blue sea in the distance.
Agia Roumeli lies at the end of the gorge. From here boats take you to Hora
Sfakion where buses transport visitors back to Chania.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
The gorge of Samaria is the biggest, most imposing and beautiful gorge
in Chania and in Europe, and
that is why it is internationally renown and mostly visited, since more than 300.000
people have the opportunity to cross it each year. It has a wonderful landscape
with rare geo-morphological formations. It is a unique biotope with particular
richness in fauna and flora. It has a rich mythology as well, that goes back to
pre-historical years and a tumultuous history during the difficult years of Crete.
It was proclaimed National Park of the White
Mountains of Crete in 1962,
date at which two or three Sfakian families still lived in the village of Samaria,
in the middle of the gorge, who were mainly busy with cattle-breeding and woodcutting.
The surface covered at the time was 48.500 sq.m., whereas the expansion
of the Park is promoted today on 250.000sq.m. that will include the remarkable
portion of the White Mountains.
The gorge was awarded the following prizes:
•1971: National Diploma of Nature Protection.
•1973: was proclaimed a place of special natural beauty.
•1979: First Order European Diploma of Protection of the Natural Environment
awarded by the Council of Europe, renewable every 5 years. The same diploma was
indeed awarded anew in 1984, 1989, 1994 and 1999.
The length of the passage to the limits of the park is 12.800km and
the distance to the coast of Agia
Roumeli is then another 3.200km.
The gorge can usually be visited from the beginning of May till the
end of October, unless there are bad weather conditions. There are guardhouses
of the State’s Service of the Park (Forest Inspection Service) at the beginning
of the gorge (in the village of Samaria) and at its end. A doctor is also available
to serve the visitors of the gorge, as well as a helicopter airport in Agia
Roumeli.
The gorge has a lot of narrow passes that are called “gates”,
but the narrowest pass, the “Iron Gate”, is 3m wide and 300 to 700m
high from both sides. There are a lot of spots where you can walk over the river
of the gorge on small wooden bridges.
(Text: Antonis Plymakis)
This text (extract) is cited February 2004 from the Chania
Prefecture Tourism Committee tourist pamphlet.
THERISSO (Village) CHANIA
It is the nearest gorge to the city
of Chania and the only gorge that a visitor can drive through by car of other
transportation means, since it is crossed by a carriageway leading to the gorge
from Chania via the suburb
of the city of Perivolia. The
main portion of thegorge is 6 km long. The imposing precipitous rocky slopes and
the very luxuriant flora have no cause to be jealous of the bigger gorges of Chania.
The gorge, even if visited by car, and the beauty of the village of
Therisso, built at the foot of the White
Mountains at an altitude of 580 m and only 15 km distant from Chania,
will remain unforgettable to the visitor.
The great politician and later Prime Minister of Greece,
born in Chania at the beginning
of the previous century, actualized the Cretan Revolution from the village of
Therisso in order to unite the island
of Crete and the rest of Greece,
after four hundred years of slavery under the Turks.
(text: Antonis Plymakis)
This text (extract) is cited February 2004 from the Chania
Prefecture Tourism Committee tourist pamphlet.
The road to the village of Therisos goes through the gorge, which
is 6km long. A tree lined river follows the gorge, with steep walls on either
side. The area is very pleasant for walking.
LAKKI (Village) MOUSSOURI
Further on the road to Omalos is a memorial plaque to World War II
resistant fighters killed by the Germans. The New Zealander Dudley Perkins (Kiwi
or Vasili) and his Cretan companion were ambushed near here on 28/02/1944. Their
bravery is recorded in the Cretan folklore and their exploits written in The Cretan
Runner by George Psychoundakis and Vasili The Lion of Crete by Murray Elliot.
Mr. Perkins is buried in the Allied War Cemetery in Souda Bay.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
The hill of Kasteli is crossed lengthwise by a wide road, the Venician Corso (today Kanevaro str.) At the end of the first vertical street on the north side (Lithinon str), was built the impressive complex of the Government House, "Palazzo". Today only the ground floor, part of the 1st floor, and the entrance to the central court survive. On Lithinon street, the frame of the entrance to the Archive still exists, dated in 1624. The Turkish Government House and the Turkish prison, where several offices of the Technical University of Crete are now housed, are nearby.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
The site where the Venizelos family house is built was bought by Eleftherios' father, Kyriakos Venizelos in 1876. The style is that of a villa and was finished in 1880. It has two floors and is surrounded by a garden planted with trees and vines. Later it was renovated by Eleftherios Venizelos, who transferred the reception rooms to the ground floor and the bedrooms to the first floor. Today it houses the "Eleftherios Venizelos Institution".
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
The building was constructed in around 1880 as a villa, in the square of Chalepa, the suberb of Chania. It assumed its present form in 1927 when Eleutherios Venizelos himself undertook the task to renovate the house. The outer, south staircase was then abolished and replaced by an open balcony on the first floor and a protected entrance on the ground floor. The reception halls were all housed on the ground floor and a spacious, open balcony was added to the main facade. A typical characteristic of the building was the surrounding area, especially the front garden, which was often taken care of by Eleutherios Venizelos himself.
In 1980 the building was protected by a preservation order. It still belongs to the Venizelos family.
The house was renovated in 1927 by Eleutherios Venizelos. The last restoration was carried out in 1957 by the engineer George Melakis who repaired the interior and several of the installations of the building.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
The mansion of the Venician-Cretan family Renier is situated on Theofanous str. The largest part of the impressive Renier building complex still survives, though changed by several interventions. Over the arched frame of the entrance the visitor can read the following inscription : MULTA TYLIT, FESTIUE ET STUDVIT DULCES/PATER ET ALSIT, SEMPER REQUIES GERENAT. CDC VIII. IDI. B. IAN (Much was brought, done and studied by the sweet father who laboured and sweated. Let him sleep in serene eternity. The Ides of January.)
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
The building housing the French Embassy in the late years of the Turkish occupation and during the period of the Cretan State, was built by the engineer Leonidas Lygounakis as a home for his son. It was finally given as dowry to his daughter Erasmia, who married the French Consul Blanc. After that it was used as the French Embassy. Today it is the property of the Technical University of Crete and is used as a cultural and conference centre.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
An exquisite example of the Neoclassical arcitecture during the last decades of the Turkish occupation. It was built in the suberb of Chalepa and is one of the most important buildings of Chania. Built as a typical villa, the house is distinguished by its elegance, the well-balanced volumes and the simplicity of the form. Of special interest is the main entrance opening to the courtyard, with the marble staircase and the porch, as well as the interior decoration of the building.
The building was constructed in 1860 and from 1965 onwards it became the centre of social and philanthropic activity in Crete during the last years of the Turkish occupation and the Harmosteia on the island. It has been proteced by a preservation order.
The building today is abandoned.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
OMALOS (Plateau) CHANIA
At the beginning of the plateau proper, on an eastern hill, there
is the house and grave of Hatzi Michalis Yannaris, a famous revolutionary of the
1866 Rebellion. The chapel of Agios Pandeleimonas beside the house was built by
him in thanks for his release from prison.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
AGIA (Village) THERISSOS
One of the two freshwater lakes in Crete is in Agia. The lake is beside
the road and in the spring is an excellent place for rare flower seekers, bird
watchers and nature lovers.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
From the original Venician light-house which dominated the entrance of the harbour, only the base survives today, built with the same sandstone as the Walls. The present light-house, rebuilt during the Egyptian occupation (1821-1841), is different from the original and is rather reminiscent of a minaret, as regards its shape and the inside stone staircase leading to the balcony and the glass tower.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
AKROTIRI (Municipality) CHANIA
The graves of Eleftherios and his son Sofocles are in a memorial park
overlooking the city of Chania. The park is at the entrance to the peninsula of
Akrotiri on the road from Chania to the airport, about 2km from Chania.
Eleftherios Venizelos was a Cretan statesman who fought for independence from
the Turks and later for union with Greece. He was prime minister of Greece several
times, and one of the most important Greek statesmen, until the monarchists forced
his resignation and sent him into exile in France. He died in exile in 1936. From
this site in 1897, Cretan revolutionaries raised the Greek flag to symbolize their
demand for union with Greece. A salvo from the European fleet destroyed the flagpole.
A Cretan again raised the flag under fire, using his body as the flagpole. From
this location, the view of Chania is quite outstanding, especially at sunset.
The gardens around the graves and the small church of the Profitis Ilias are a
popular site for baptisms and weddings during the summer months.
This extract is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
MALEME (Village) PLATANIAS
Just outside the village of Maleme, you will see the sign on the right for the German Cemetery (Deutscher Soldaten Friedhof). The 4,465 men buried here fell in the Battle of Crete in May of 1941. The Germans landed at the small airport of Maleme when they attacked Crete. The German statue of the attacking eagle, on the left of the highway just outside Chania, is a memorial of this event. A short history of the Battle of Crete is described on the wall of the entrance hall. It also tells of the Cretans who died in the same battle.
This text is cited Jan 2004 from the Interdynamic S.A. URL below, which contains image
AGIA (Village) THERISSOS
In Agia there is Virgin Mary's church (of Chania and Kydonia) which after the Arab occupation, for unknown reasons, was transferred by the Italians to the location Episkopi in Agia Kydonia. Following the customs of that time, the church was built in the ruins of an older one, so that materials from pervious ancient churches could be used. On the north wall of the church a part of an older temple is visible. The new church seems to be a "basilica" with arches and two ranges of pillars. Some of them are still preserved today. They were made of red marble and granite and standing on rectangle bases. The church collapsed quite early and has been reconstructed many times. It' s a very rare monument of this kind of Greece. The archaeological committee has characterized it as a preservable monument.
This text is cited Dec 2001 from a WebPage of the Municipality of Therissos.
In Agia there are the ruins of the church of the Panagia, which was the bishopric of Kydonia in the second Byzantine period. The remains of the Panagia are located in Episkopi, Agia. The church was built on the remains of an older one and older materials such as the marble remnants are still evident. The church was a three-aisled basilica. The side aisles were subdivided into four chapels, each with domes supported on the external walls by columns. The columns were made of red marble or granite and were supported by a rectangular base in order to increase their height, since they were from the previous church and were short. On the exterior walls the church has four oval windows, one for each of the chapels. There were other windows behind the church and traces of wall paintings can still be seen.
This extract is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
Moslem temples are a part of the religious life of the Ottoman Turks in Crete. Aga Tzami (mosque) is situated on Hatzimichaly Daliani street (former Schinoplokathika). Only the minaret and some buildings which now house a knitwear factory survive.
The monastery of the Virgin Mary of Miracles was built in 1615 by Marussa Mengano for the Dominican nuns of Hania. Today only two parts of the convent survive : the south and part of the east wall, and only a few of the cells on the south. It is located at the end of St. Marcus str. on Kasteli. The building complex has a central court like the other Venician structures. The church had one nave with a pointed arch supported by sculptured pillars. Today the visitor can see only part of the covered arcade, supported by arches, and some cells on the ground and first floors. Most of the convent was destroyed during the bombings of 1941
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
This is a small chapel, part of the mansion of the Renier family on Theofanous street. It is a small, arch-covered structure. The main arch is supported by pillar-like spandrels. On the south wall, there is a post-gothic, three-lobe, blind arch of the same thickness as the wall. The chapel probably dates from the latter half of the 16th century.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
This is the only surviving mosque in the city, built in the latter half of the 17th century. Following research carried out by the 13th Agency of Byzantine Antiquities, it was discovered that a small chapel was previously built at the site. The mosque is a cubic structure covered by a large hemispheric drumless dome. On the west and north side it is surrounded by an arcade covered by six small drumless domes. Originally the arcade was open as is the custom in mosques. Around 1880 the arcade was converted into a covered one with arched openings and pronounced the neo-classical style. The mosque is the property of the Harbour Office and periodically hosts various exhibitions.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
This three-aisle church, situated on Halithon str, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was inaugurated on 25th April 1879. It has been in operation since then and is the Cathedral of the Catholic diocese of Crete, as well as the parish church for the catholic parish of Hania. The Capuchin monks arrived in Hania by order of Pope Paul the 5th, in 1566. Led by father Ignatius the 4th Aritus, they established their first Monastery in Crete. Soon they opened a hospital next to the church, which they called "College". The Monastery of the Capuchin Monks took its present form in 1842, and a new wing was added in 1860. It was completely renovated in 1990-1991.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
This monastery is situated within the fortifications on the north-west side. (This part of the fortress was named after the monastery.) The entrance to the nave is on Theotokopoulos str. This is the entrance for the worshipers. On one side it is connected with the monks’ cells through a covered arcade. It was constructed in three phases : Originally there was a small arch-covered chapel, probably built in the 15th century. The first extension to the west was built in the 16th century, and the church took its present form in the late Venician period. In the years of the Turkish occupation it was converted into a mosque, the Topou Aga Han or Aga Tzamissi.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
MOURNIES (Small town) ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS
Near the village, is the monastery of Agios Eleftherios from the seventeenth
century. The monastery church has unusual architecture. Today it presents externally
the shape of a Latin cross (the vertical stem being longer than the horizontal)
with three conches and a dome supported by a tall drum. The front part of the
church, however, is much older, probably dating from the tenth or eleventh century.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
PERIVOLIA (Village) THERISSOS
The remains of the wall-painted Byzantine church of Agios Georgios.
STERNES (Village) AKROTIRI
The village of Sternes contains the Byzantine church of Agii Pandes.
It had cruciform architecture with a dome. On the floor of the church there is
an old tomb decorated with vine leaves.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
Platia 1821 was to the Turks what Sindrivani was to the Christians, a central meeting place. Under the square there is a partially excavated Turkish bath and a large Venetian cistern. This cistern is said to have held enough water for the city for six months. The cistern became obsolete after the earthquake of 1595 changed the course of the stream that fed it. It may be significant that the San Rocco (the saint protector against cholera) Church was built here. There is a memorial plaque to Bishop Melhisedek in the platia. The Turks, fearing an uprising, hanged him from the plane tree in 1821.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
At the end of Halithon street, the visitor finds Eleftherios Venizelos Square. The square used to be called "Sindrivani" (fountain) due to a small marble water fountain, decorated with lionheads and Venician coats of arms. This fountain can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Hania. The present square differs from the old one which was closed in by buildings. On the west side of the square was "Porta Colombo" and on the west "Porta de Cap". The north side of the square was destroyed by fire in 1932. The old City Hall is situated on the north-west corner. One of the towers of the Byzantine walls, converted into a house, stands on the opposite corner.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
At the bottom of Odos Halidon you reach Platia Sindrivaniou. Sindrivani Square was once at the heart of Chania. It was a local gathering place for Christians during the Turkish occupation. At one time the fountain in the museum garden was here. As you enter the square, directly in front of you, is a Venetian construction, the Hotel Palazzo. It has an outer staircase with the remains of a fountain below it. To the right is a large three-storey building overlooking the square, dating from the sixteenth century. This building has been a hospital, an Admiralty, and a Town Hall and is presently being renovated for future use as a hotel. Approximately 100 metres on the left from Sindrivani is a characteristic Venetian staircase under which are the remains of a fountain.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
The newly renovated Platia 1866 is an important landmark in Chania. The square has statues of local war heroes and a Turkish fountain. On the southwest corner of the square, behind the Samaria and Omalos Hotels, is the long distance bus station (KTEL). Buses leave frequently from here for Iraklion, Rethimnon, Kastelli, Omalos and the Samaria Gorge, and other villages of the Nomos of Chania. There is an information booth in the station.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
The Turkish Pasha designed the Kipos - The Public Garden - in 1870, following the style of a formal European garden. Located in the city centre between Odos Dimokratias and Odos Tzanakaki, it encompasses a small zoo, a cafe, an open air cinema, and the city clock tower in the northeast corner.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
ALIKIANOS (Village) MOUSSOURI
In Alikianos there is the Venetian Tower of Da Molin. It is named
after the Venetian family that owned this feudal territory. The remains are very
near the church of Agios Georgios, approachable through a narrow alley between
buildings.
CHANIA (Town) CRETE
Many parts of the city have a completely different atmosphere at night.
Activity within the Venetian walls starts at sunset, especially during the summer
months. If possible, tour during the evening. Only the Archaeological and Naval
Museums are not open at night. The city market is open in the evening on Tuesdays
and Fridays.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
This area called Splantzia that starts at Platia 1821 (or Platia Splantzia) and goes south to the Santa Lucia Bastion, is a maze of narrow streets and is one of the more interesting and pleasant areas of Chania, mainly because it has yet to have major tourist development. Splantzia is best enjoyed in the evening. Venetian soldiers lived in the neighbourhood of Splantzia during that era, as well as the Turks during their occupation.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
Following the conquest of the City by the Turks (1645), a new state of affairs is created. The turks reside mostly in the eastern districts : Kasteli and Splanzia, while the Christians live mainly in the district Topanas, on the west side of the city. This district was named after the Venician ammunition warehouse (Top-Hane in Turkish), which was situated at the beginning of Theotokopoulos str. The Jewish district was located north-west of the city, behind the harbour. The residences of the richest Jews were mainly on Konthilaki str. The visitor can still see the Synagogue, Kehal Hayyim on a side street. Gerola, basing his choice on Coronelli's map, identifies the Synagogue with the church of St. Catherine, claiming that the church was later converted into a Synagogue. The building has one large vaulted nave and two smaller chambers on the south side associated with Jewish worship. All the Jews in Hania were exterminated during World War II, when the ship on which they were trying to escape was sunk by the Germans off the coast of Hania.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
The area of Kastelli is the hill to the northeast of Platia Sindrivaniou. Substantial remains of a Minoan city, which some archaeologists believe was the ancient city of Kydonia, were found here. The Venetians fortified the Kastelli and it was the centre of their city. The cathedral was here, as well as many palazzos - noblemen's houses. The Venetians rebuilt existing walls (using many Greco-Roman remains).
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
The town of Chania, inhabited since ancient times till today, is with
the harbour of Souda - one
of the safest & largest gulfs of the Mediterranean & important Naval bases - a
commercial, tourist, financial, transport, cultural and artistic centre, but it
is also a live museum. The excavations of recent years on the hill of Castelli
showed ceramic of all eras from the Neolithic period until Roman times. The Minoan
settlement that takes up the whole of Castelli must have been quite important.
The recent finding of three clay signs with the Grammic B scripture is considered
to be one of the most important findings not only in the field of writing but
also because it supports the theory that there was on important palace in the
area.
Apart from the archaeological sights, Chania has interesting Middle-Age
& more modern monuments interspersed in various neighbourhoods. In the neighbourhood
of Topchanas we can see the dominating Fort Firkas (1629). At the entrance of
the port we can also see the Venetian lighthouse that was repaired by the Egyptians.
The remains of the Venetian navy yard of the 15th cent.
Very impressive, as well as the mosque of Hassan Passa at Santrivani
and various churches in Splantzia, are the temples of St. Frangiskos, the temple
of St. Salvador of the Frangiskans (15th to 17th cent.) which hosts the Byzantine
& Post-Byzantine collection of Chania. There are also interesting monuments
of the end of the 19th & the beginning of the 20th cent. such as the Town Park
(1870), the Town Market (1911), the prefecture,
the stadium & others.
(text: Roula Kastrinaki)
This text (extract) is cited February 2004 from the Chania
Prefecture Tourism Committee tourist pamphlet.
Next to the entrance to the Roman Catholic church on Halidon is a
very interesting doorway, doubtless part of the monastery that was around the
San Francesco Church, with a Latin inscription from the Venetian era.
The visitor can admire the harmonious matching of the architectural elements of different historical periods in the buildings along the waterfront of the Venician harbour, and those in the surrounding alleys. Most of these buildings have been converted into cafeterias and restaurants, which offer tasty dishes using mostly local products. The picturesqueness and serenity of the harbour have made it a pole of attraction both for local and foreign visitors.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
The harbour was first constructed between 1320 and 1356 by the Venicians to protect the City. Certain problems were caused to the habrour by the north winds and the silt deposits in the basin from rain waters and sewage. To solve these problems a jetty was built with an opening for the renewal of water. At the entrance to the harbour, there is a light-house, which was rebuilt in the period of the Egyptian occupation as it is seen today.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
Beyond the cathedral is Odos Skridlof with its concentration of leather shops. Leather goods of all sizes and descriptions are displayed here. Odos Skridlof (Leather Street) has the atmosphere of a bazaar. Here you can buy locally produced leather products as well as rugs, and other souvenirs. At the entrance of Odos Skridlof you can see remains of the old Venetian wall. The wall continues west, behind the shops on the south side, towards Odos Halidon but the stores on Odos Hatzi Michali Yannari block its view.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
The main thoroughfare (Corso) was the present day Odos Kanevaro and went from the east gate to the west gate (Porta Colombo) of Kastelli. Along this street were the beautiful Venetian mansions of the noblemen, Permarin, Da Molin, and Zangaroli. The air raids at the beginning of the Battle of Crete in the Second World War destroyed them all. The portals from the Zangaroli mansion are in the Archaeological Museum's garden. In the Kastelli (Platia Ekaterini) there is an excavation by a Greek and Swedish group of archaeologists that found, among other things, the Masters Impression, a clay seal. The picture shows a male figure on a wall with a large size city behind it. It is dated about 1450 B.C. and it is on display in the Archaeological Museum of Chania. Substantial remains of a Minoan city, which some archaeologists believe was the ancient city of Kydonia, were found here.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
The evolution in the military arts, the discovery of gun powder and the expansion of the Ottoman empire in the Eastern Mediterranean were the main reasons that forced the Venicians to build new fortifications in the city of Hania and other strategic points nearby. The planning of the new walls was assigned to the Veronese enginner Michelle Sammichieli, who also supervised the work from 1538 to the end.The wall was given a square shape and each of the four corners was fortified with a heart-shaped bulwark. A moat was dug around the wall. There were three gates on the wall : Porta Retimiotta, the main gate; Porta Sabbionara on the east side, and a small gate at San Salvatore bulwark. The fortifications of Hania were built with local resources and the forced labour of the local villagers.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
The Venetian walls (Venetika Teihi) contain the old city. This area is full of narrow alleyways and fine Venetian and Turkish buildings. Five sections compose the old city: Kastelli, on the hill above the harbour; Skalakia, covering the centre near the market; Splantzia, south of the city; Evraiki and Topanas, behind the Firkas in the harbour. In the thirteenth century the Genoese, traditional enemies of the Venetians, gained the support of the local population and seized the city. Twenty years later the Venetians again gained control of the city, renaming it La Canea. They quickly strengthened its fortifications and in two stages, during the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, built the city walls. Despite these great fortifications, the city fell to Turkish invaders in 1645 after a two-month siege.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
The jetty is founded on a series of the reefs which made the harbour inaccessible to ships. Almost in the centre of the jetty is located the bulwark of St. Nicholas of Molos, named after the small church built there. The bulwark extended to the entrance of the harbour, which it protected, together with the Fort Fircas.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
This is located on the North-west corner of the Venician fortifications and it was named after the Monastery of San Salvatore, still surviving in the area. Over this bulwark, there is a four-sided watch-tower which, together with the Fort of Fircas, could protect the sea and a part of the west side of the fortifications.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains image.
Bulwark Sabbionara (of the sand) is better well known today by its Turkish name, Kum- Kapi ( Kum Kapisi = Door of the Sand). It is situated on the north-east corner of the Venician Walls and is literally built in the sea. On the front part, the visitor can still see a round emblem with the lion of St. Mark and a coat of arms. The gate is the only surviving one today, though considerably altered in the years of the Turkish occupation.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Chania URL below, which contains images.
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