Chania Old Town

The Chania Old Town is regarded as one of the nicest old towns of Greece and all over Europe and it is the most interesting part of the city. The "Old Town" consists of the old Venetian harbour and the small Venetian blocks located behind the harbour; it is characterized by narrow and picturesque alleys - similar to an enchanting labyrinth - full of life, and the plentiful remaining Venetian and Turkish buildings. The Lighthouse, the Fortress of Firka, the Mosque of Kioutsouk Hasan, the Great Arsenal and the Neoria have become landmarks of the beautiful old town.

Most of the buildings are rejuvenated and they compose a puzzle of contemporary, Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish architecture; they are also a 'living' exhibition of the town's history. Today they work as shops, tavernas, cafes and touristic accommodations.

The most famous part of the Old Town is the lively round waterfront along the Venetian harbour, which is full of small boutique hotels, cafes, restaurants, tavernas and bars. The Lighthouse at the end of the harbour is a landmark of Chania.

Inside the "Old town" there are various districts. The Daliani district was a place where Turks used to live and the Dominican church of Saint Nicholas still remains. The Kasteli district used to be a noble district, where many mansions were located in the past. At the end of its central road, the "Sintrivani" square is located, where the gentlemen were gathered for coffee, walking or political conversation. Today this area is regarded as the entrance to the old town and it is full of cafes, restaurants and small bars. In that district it is also located the mosque of Hasan Pasha. The "Akti Kountourioti" is a place with local shops, where many young and older people gathered for entertainment in the bars and restaurants nearby. There is also the Topana district which is named that way because of the cannons (topia) that the Turks had placed there.