Chania Maps

Chania is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania regional unit. Located on the northwest coast, the city has a population of approximately 55,000 residents. Chania is renowned for its well-preserved Venetian harbor and old town, which blend Turkish, Venetian, and Greek architectural influences.

The Old Venetian Harbor is the city's centerpiece, lined with restored Venetian buildings now housing restaurants, shops, and hotels. The Egyptian Lighthouse, built in the 16th century and rebuilt by Egyptian forces in the 1830s, stands at the harbor entrance. The Venetian Arsenali, stone-vaulted shipyards dating from the 15th century, are located along the waterfront.

The Maritime Museum of Crete occupies part of the Firka Fortress at the harbor entrance and documents Greece's naval history. The Archaeological Museum of Chania, housed in a former Venetian monastery, displays artifacts from western Crete spanning from the Neolithic period through the Roman era. The old town's narrow streets contain the Etz Hayyim Synagogue, the only remaining synagogue on Crete and the oldest in Greece.

The Municipal Market, built in 1913, features a distinctive cross-shaped design inspired by the market in Marseille. The structure combines neoclassical and Art Nouveau elements. Outside the city center, the Venizelos Graves on Prophet Elias Hill offers panoramic views of Chania and Souda Bay. The burial site honors Eleftherios Venizelos, one of Greece's most prominent statesmen, and his son.