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Minoan Kydonia
Chania, located between the emerald waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the White Mountains (Lefka Ori), is one of the most beautiful and captivating cities of Crete. Once there was a Minoan settlement called Kydonia (quince). Its fragments were discovered during excavations carried out in the Kastelli district on the hill behind the harbor.
In the Classical Greece Kydonia reemerged as an important city-state (important enough for Homer to mention it in Odyssey). After the conquest of Crete by the Romans in 69 BC Kydonia was privileged by giving her the status of an independent city-state and, e.g. retained the right to mint her own coins.
Byzantine Chania and Venetian La Canea
In later times, when Byzantium regained the city, its name was changed to the one currently used – Chania. Byzantines began to fortify the city to prevent another Arab invasion.
Venetians, after the acquisition of Crete, continued strengthening and expanding fortifications of Chania (then called La Canea), giving it a still visible shape. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, many Christian priests, monks or artists found shelter in Crete. Chania, like the rest of Crete, flourished, becoming a mixture of Greek, Byzantine and Venetian culture. At that time, many of the most important buildings of the city were built.
Cretan War – Venetian-Turkish war
During the Cretan War in 1645-1669, the Venetian defensive walls did not save the city from the Ottoman Turks. And when Heraklion fell after many years of persevering defense, Crete came under Ottoman rule.
World War II also did not spare the city, during German invasion and occupation, part of Chania was bombed.
The most beautiful city of Crete
Despite many still visible war-damaged buildings, Chania, the most beautiful city of Crete, attracts visitors with Venetian architecture and a beautiful harbour with a lighthouse. Particularly nice it becomes after dark, when restaurants are filling up, and the streets of the old town decorated with various goods, souvenirs and flowers become even more colorful. 🙂
Photographs of Chania
Excavations of Minoan Kydonia 
Hasan Pasha Mosque 
Rough water in the harbor 
Lighthouse 
Streets of Chania 
Alleys 
All roads lead to the port … 
Port in the clouds 
Neoria – Venetian dockyards 
Reconstruction of a Minoan ship 
Port at the Venetian shipyards 
Moody street 
Firkas Fortress, defending access to the port 
Hasan Pasha Mosque, dating from the arrival of the Turks in 1645 
Port 
Port with a lighthouse 
The most beautiful city of Crete 
Colorful goods 
Lighthouse 
A street sheltered from the sun by colorful flowers 
Colorful goods 
Harbor at night 
Streets at night 
Dolphins 
Moody street 
Streets at night 
Lighthouse at night 
Exceptionally green street of Chania 
Even the narrow streets are wide enough for filling them with many plants… 
Streets of Chania 
Port 
Coast somewhere east of Chania 🙂
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Carly BB
I am a passionate enthusiast of travel, archeology, photography and dancing 🙂 On this page I try to combine the first three elements: P and show you that travelling becomes definitely more interesting when we discover visited places, and often inconspicuous ruins hide the most fascinating stories 🙂