Chania on Crete
CRETE the largest island of the holiday destination Greece. West Crete is in full development, while prices are not yet at the level of East Crete.
From our villa Limani you can easily visit the 3 main cities on Crete, these are Chania (30min), Rethymnon (30min) and Heraklion (1.45min), but of course we recommend to visit Chania, very well know to many tourist especially for a city trip.
Chania is the most beautiful city in Crete. This owes the city to its numerous inhabitants and to the historic city center, which is situated around a beautiful Venetian harbor. The old city is car-free, which certainly increases the atmosphere. Tourists like to come to Chania to spend a day strolling around, shopping and certainly to enjoy the many terraces.
Chania is the largest city in West Crete. also very popular with city-trip tourists or for the cruise ships that dock in SOUDA BAY.
You can shop extensively in one of the many boutique shops in Chania, while the ladies enjoy an afternoon of shopping, the man can relax in one of the numerous LOUNGE BARS in the city. There are some at the old harbor (but quite busy) but you can also find them in the city center.
A visit to the beautiful city of Chania in Crete will remain in your memory. It is one of the most picturesque and cozy places in Crete. Chania is the second largest city in Crete and is located in the northwest of the island. Just over 100,000 people live there. When you come to the old town you can taste the special atmosphere. The influences of all kinds of cultures are very clearly visible. Chania is, as it were, a melting pot of civilizations. Thousands of tourists visit the city every day. They are often day trippers who come from the tourist coastal towns around the city such as Agia Marina, Platanias and Georgioupolis.
For tourists, the partly walled part of Chania is the most worthwhile. Here you will find the most terraces, the shopping streets and the main attractions. A good example of this is the Archaeological Museum of Chania, which, thanks to the great collection of Minoan art and utensils, is considered one of the most important museums in Greece. Just outside the walled city center is another beautiful sight: the Venetian harbor with the Venetian fortress as the showpiece
The old town lies within the old Byzantine city wall and the Venetian city wall. Stroll through the narrow, old-fashioned alleys where there are traditional houses, shops, cafes and restaurants. Small alleys with colorful buildings and small and large Byzantine churches and minarets.
Once Chania was owned by Venice and the walking route stopped here. This did not do any harm to Chania. The Venetians and Ottomans have set foot here and you can see that in many buildings, old seaside resorts and mosques.
Places of interest in Chania city
The JANISSARY MOSQUE.
A striking building on the harbor of Chania is the Janissary mosque. This mosque is also known under the name Hassan Pasja mosque. This is the oldest surviving building in Crete. The mosque dates from the seventeenth century and reminds today's tourists of the fact that Crete was once occupied by the Turks. For example, you can find even more remains from the Ottoman period on Crete and other Greek islands. Today the building is no longer used as a mosque but is used as a tourist area. Exhibitions and markets take place in the building.
Horse-drawn carriages are waiting for customers from the square near the Janissary mosque. The romantic carriages can drive you around the harbor and a bit through the old town of Chania. Especially nice as a romantic ride with your sweet or cozy with the children. The price is a matter of negotiation. Count on about 20 to 25 euros for a ride of about half an hour.
The covered AGORA
Since 1913, the Market of Chania, or the Agora, has been a well-known place in Chania. The covered market hall was originally a place where locals came to shop. Although there are still some fresh products sold such as olives, cheeses and herbs, the Agora is nowadays mainly a tourist attraction. In the stalls you can see that food is increasingly displaced by merchandise that is clearly aimed at tourists. Nevertheless, the Agora remains worth a visit.
The LIGHTHOUSE on the harbor
One of the most characteristic buildings of Chania is the lighthouse that stands at the beginning of the port or at the end of the Venetian harbor wall. This sand-colored lighthouse originally dates from the early seventeenth century. Over the years, the appearance of the 21-meter-high lighthouse has changed. During the short-lived Egyptian period in Crete (1831-1841), the lighthouse took the form of a minaret. Although the lighthouse is attractively illuminated in the evenings, the lighthouse is no longer in use as such. If you make the effort to walk over the harbor wall to the lighthouse, you will be treated to a beautiful view over the cityscape of Chania.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM of Chania
In Crete you will find a few archaeological museums, one of which is located in Chania. The finds that are exhibited here almost all come from the immediate vicinity of Chania. Although the museum is smaller than the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and also has a smaller collection, it is certainly no less interesting. The exhibition covers the history of the area around Chania and shows exhibits from the Neolithic to Roman times. The exhibition is divided into two parts. In the west wing you will find antiquities from the Iron Age. All elements of archaeological finds in Crete can be found in this museum, such as Minoan pottery, jewelry, tools, glassware, sculpture and beautiful samples of mosaic floors and a collection of coins. In the east wing, exhibits from Neolithic and Minoan times are shown. The archaeological museum has been housed since 1963 in the church of the Venetian monastery of St. Francis. Opening hours: Monday 13:00 - 20:00 / Tuesday - Sunday 08:00 - 20:00. Entrance fee € 4.
FOLKLORE MUSEUM of Chania.
The Folklore Museum of Chania is located in the center of the old town, next to the Catholic Church. There are folklore and traditional exhibitions from the 18th and 19th centuries, which give visitors an insight into life at the time. You can view a collection of tools, products of traditional crafts and rural life. Opening hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
MARITIME MUSEUM of Chania.
Those interested in shipping, shipbuilding and boat building may find themselves in the Maritime Museum of Chania Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
AGIOS NICHOLAOS CHURCH of Chania.
St. Nicholas Church, known as the Ottoman Mosque or the Mosque of Ibrahim, is the only church in Greece with a bell tower and a minaret. The church was originally part of the Venetian Roman Catholic monastery dating from 1205.
