One of the most beautiful and interesting towns of the Greek island of Crete, which is certainly worth a visit, is undoubtedly Chania, located on the northern coast of the island about 145 km from Heraklion and 70 km from Rethymno.
During the Venetian domination of the island, which lasted almost four hundred years, Chania was a major commercial and financial centre of Crete and prospered, significantly expanding and strengthening its borders during this period. The last fortifications were erected by the Venetians in the 16th century, and it is these that today confine the so-called Old Town, the historic centre of Chania formed around the hill of Castelli, which rises next to the old port and has been inhabited since the Neolithic period.
Although a number of buildings have been destroyed, including by bombing during World War II, Chania's Old Town has been well preserved to this day and is now considered one of the most beautiful towns in the Mediterranean. You will have a lot of fun strolling through the narrow streets of the city, whose architecture so harmoniously combines the styles of different eras and cultures, and enjoy its unique colour and amazing atmosphere.
One of the most interesting places in the Old Town is the picturesque promenade and the old harbour, built in the 14th century by the Venetians, at the entrance to which on one side stands the ancient lighthouse and on the other the Firka Fortress (1629). Here you will also find the Venetian Arsenal (shipyards), the fascinating Crete Maritime Museum and the famous Janissary Mosque (1645). However, other attractions in the city deserve special attention, including the Archaeological Museum located in the former St. Francis Cathedral, the Folklore Museum, the Byzantine Museum, the Cathedral of Chania (Cathedral of the Three Martyrs) and the Church of St. Rocco..
