Chania Hotels, Apartments, and Villas

Chania Municipal Market was built in 1913 as vegetable, fish and meat market for the city of Chania.  It officially opened to the public 3 days after the union of the island of Crete with Greece. The architect, Konstantinos Drandakis, built the market where the mortar of the southern venetian walls were. This is evident by the difference of height between the north and south entrance to the building. During the Nazi occupation, most of the marketplace was used as a storage space for the German army. Today, although there are some shops selling local products, there are also many souvenir stores.  Chania Municipal Market is considered today as one of the most important tourist attractions. Entrance is free.

Chania (Greek Χανιά, also transliterated Hania or even Khania) is a beautiful port town on the north west coast of Crete, with an atmosphere reflecting its Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish past. A highly livable spot. Chania and the long row of beach resorts stretching 20 km west along the beaches of the Chania bay is a well visited destination for Scandinavian charter trips. Chania, being the nearest city, is an attractive destination for sightseeing and shopping for many tourists especially during April to October. Here is plenty of opportunities for eating and drinking on Greek tavernas and modern cafés that are open all day long The old town is centered around the harbor, it is a maze of alleys and houses that has been standing for many hundred years rebuilt, ruined and built up again with details from the different epochs. Old town is full of souvenir, art and crafts shops; the new quarters house the regular span of shops, here you can find the most of you

During the end of the Venetian occupation in Crete, the expansion of the Ottoman Turks led the Venetians to the fortification of Crete by fortresses. The fort is still known today by its Turkish name, Firca (Firka = barracks) and was built in order to protect the entrance of the harbour.  The positions of the cannons on the northern side of the fortress, which looks at the entrance of the harbor, are so far visible on the outer side of the wall. A thick chain from Firca to the base of the light-house closed the harbour in case of siege. The fort was the headquarters of the Military Commander of the city. The inside area was divided into barracks and ammunition warehouses. The buildings of the west wing have two-floors with dome covered rooms. Over the door of the first floor there is the following inscription : “ALOYSIUS BRAGADEUS PROVISOR CYDONIAE M. DCXX”. In the centre of the court, there is a large water reservoir, where the water running from the roofs was collected. I