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The old town of Chania is a maze of colourful streets with cafes, tavernas, shops and...cats. The architecture of the buildings reflects the culture and religion of the different foreign powers that ruled the island for centuries: the Venetians, the Ottomans and, for a short period between 1831 and 1841, the Egyptians. The main points of reference in Old Chania are: - The Kastelli quarter, located on the hill above the harbour, where Chania originated, between 3650 BC and 3000 BC; - The Topanas quarter behind Firkas Fortress, inhabited by Christians during Ottoman rule. It's named after the Venetian armoury, the designation being "tophane" in Turkish; - The Jewish quarter, located east of Topanas, created by the local Jews right after Chania was conquered by the Ottomans, in 1645; - The fountain square, a reminder of the original Venetian fountain; - Chalidon street, where some of the most important monuments are located, like the Orthodox cathedral, the Catho...

The walls around Chania were originally built in antiquity. The inner walls were rebuilt by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th and 7th centuries and again in the 10th century after being destroyed by the Arab attackers. The outer walls were built by the Republic of Venice in the 16th century. The Firkas fortress was built in 1620 to defend Chania's harbour and control its entrance. During Turkish domination the fortress was used as a barrack, getting its current designation, Firka. Today it houses the Maritime Museum of Crete. Back to Chania

The Folklore Museum, also known as Cretan House, is located close to the Catholic church of Chania and it gives an insight on the ways of life and traditions, in Crete, in the 18th and 19th centuries. Your host is a very nice lady working on her crafts. Opening hours: Mon. to Sat. 9 am to 3 pm. Entrance fee: €2 Back to Chania

The Roman Catholic cathedral of Chania was dedicated on April 25th of 1879, to the Virgin Mary. It was built in the neoclassical style. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Crete and is under the responsibility of the Capuchin Order, which arrived in Chania, by order of Pope Paul V in 1566. However, the monastery of the Capuchin Monks, close to the cathedral, was only built, in its present form, in 1842. Entrance free Back to Chania

The Nautical Museum is located at the entrance of "Firkas" Fortress, in Chania Harbour. It was founded in 1973 to promote the nautical traditions and history of Crete. The permanent exhibit ranges from the Copper Age to present day, with particular detail on the II World War, namely the Battle of Crete. It includes about 2500 items such as findings recovered from the bottom of the sea, paintings, maps, photographs, models of ships and nautical instruments. Opening Hours: 9 am to 6 pm (2 pm Nov. to Apr.) Entrance fee: €2.50 Back to Chania

The archaeological museum in Chania is housed in the former church of the Franciscan Monastery, built during the Venetian Period. During the Ottoman rule, the building was converted into a Mosque. After the Muslims left it was used as a cinema and, after World War II, as a military house. It became a museum in 1963 and underwent major restoration in the late 1970s. The museum's collections span from the Neolithic to the Roman Period and include findings from Chania and Western Crete. Opening hours: 8.30 am to 3 pm Entrance fee: €2 Back to Chania

The cathedral dominating the historical centre of Chania was built in 1860 on the site of a small temple known to exist since the 11th century, dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin (Eisodion tis Theotokou). This small temple was demolished during Ottoman rule to be replaced by a warehouse and later a soap factory. After the soap business failed the Christian Community requested the reconstruction of the temple, which was authorized. Entrance free Back to Chania