hania stands on the site of the ancient city of Kydonia. According to the myths, the ancient town was built by Kydon, a grandson of Minos, who was the protector of travellers: this perhaps explains the reputation of the local people for hospitality. In our days, Chania is the second most populous city in Crete and the capital of the Prefecture of the same name. During the period of Cretan autonomy and in the first period of union with Greece was the capital of the whole island.

nquestionably one of the most beautiful cities in Greece, Chania is untouched by the development of tourism and is still strangely reminiscent of the days when it was the administrative capital of Crete. Chania consists of the Old Town and the New Town, which blend harmoniously into an attractive, warm and friendly entity. There are old Venetian buildings -many of them now superbly restored- to take one back to the magic and glamour of an earlier age.

		he sights of Chania are concentrated mainly in the Old Town. The Old Town is surrounded by the fine Venetian walls, dating from the 15th century, a typical example of Venetian architecture. The Old Town is centered around the pretty Venetian harbour.
At the entrance is the old Venetian lighthouse, opposite the historic Firka Fortress and the Naval Museum. Other sights are the Venetian neighbourhood of Topanas, the large walls of the Venetian fortress, built in 1540, Kastelli, and the neighbourhood of Splantia with the churches of Ayios Rokkos, Ayios Nikolaos and Ayioi Anargyrioi.

he Archaeological Museum is housed in the basilica of St. Francis, a Venetian church from the 14th century. Further south is the Cathedral. At the boundary with the New Town is the Public Market with its own characteristic colour and in the New Town itself the beautiful Public Gardens.
Nearby are the Historical Archives of Crete which are the second largest in Crete in size and volume of documents. East of Chania is the aristocratic suburb of Chapela and the home of Eleftherios Venizelos.

Photos and text taken from "Crete - today and yesterday" and "Crete - A tour of all the towns and villages" (Toubis Editions)

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