Old Town

Although it was bombed and burned several times in its long history, the old town of Chania is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. The traveler can wander through the narrow alleys and in various places,he can meet examples of all the cultures that passed through it.

 In its center is the hill of Kastelli, which has been inhabited since the Neolithic era and is a fortified position next to the old port. In it there is the palace of the High Commissioner of Crete during the period of the Cretan State, as well as archaeological sites from the Minoan era. A little further east of Castelli is Splangia, the old Muslim quarter, which is very atmospheric. In its picturesque alleys there are many taverns. There is also the church of Agios Nikolaos, which during the Venetian rule was the church of Agios Nikolaos of the Dominicans and during the Turkish rule it was the central mosque of Chania, while it has been operating as an Orthodox church since 1918. Outside the church is Splantzia Square with the plane tree on which the Turks hanged the bishop of Kisamos, Melchizedek Despotakis, and the deacon Kallinikos from Veroia. At the corner of the square is the Venetian church of Agios Roccos. In the same area are the small churches of Agia Irini (Sarpakis Street) and of Saints Catherine and John the Hermit (Melidoni Street).

Walking towards the sea we see the Venetian neoria (from 1497), the Carnaia, which once built war galleys, today they still operate repairing boats. There, one will also see the great Arsenal, which housed the Chania town hall until it was bombed by the Germans in 1941, which today houses the Center for Mediterranean Architecture. At the eastern tip of the Venetian Harbor is Neorio Moro, which today houses the Chania Sailing. This district, together with Ovraiki (or Jewish), are considered the most beautiful districts of Chania. In it is also the Venetian fortress of Fırka (Turkish Fırka - Division, in Venetian Revellino di Porto), where the union flag of Crete with Greece was raised (1-12-1913) and today the Maritime Museum of Crete operates.

 Finally, the port of the old town is the most beautiful and touristic spot of Chania! The Tombazi coast, the Kountouriotis coast and the Union coast with several historical buildings, such as the Νeoria, the Yalı camisi (The mosque on the shore) and the great Arsenal, which today houses the center of Mediterranean architecture.

The center of the old town is the Fountain, where the main streets of the old city, Halidon Street, Canevaro Street and Zambeliou Street, intersect. On Zambeliou Street is one of the most beautiful examples of a Venetian mansion in the city, the abusively called Loggia of the Venetians, preserving a coat of arms, a Latin saying and almost all the architectural elements of the facade. The identification of the coat of arms allowed the identification of the individual (Nicolo Clado) and the dating (1615-1625) of the mansion.

Across the coast one can admire the 19th century Egyptian lighthouse, built on the foundations of the older Venetian lighthouse, which is the city's trademark.

Montern city

A little further south from the Trimartyri square is the New Shops square, which is the boundary of the new city. The official name of the square is Square 1866, was named in honor of the great Cretan revolution (1866-1869) against the Turks. The town's shops have been located there since the beginning of the 20th century. Today one can find many quaint shops and cafes. There are also intercity bus stations.