Chania is the second-largest city in Crete after Heraklion. It is situated on the site of the ancient Minoan city of Cydonia, but you will mainly see Venetian and Ottoman remains there, which, according to general consensus, make it the most beautiful city in Crete.

The town suffered less bombing than Heraklion during the Second World War, so many remnants of the past have been fairly well preserved. The old town is a real gem, even though many of the buildings are still in need of restoration. Getting lost in its narrow streets is a real delight for anyone who takes the time to look up above the tavernas and souvenir shops.

The city has preserved its formidable ramparts, which were built and reinforced in turn by the Byzantines, the Venetians and the Ottomans. Part of the southern ramparts was demolished in the early 20th century by the autonomous Cretan state because they were hindering the city’s expansion, but what remains is truly impressive.

In the old Venetian harbour stands a 17th-century mosque, which lost its minaret when it ceased to be a place of worship but has since become an iconic building used for exhibitions.

Paradoxically, the harbour lighthouse, built by the Egyptians between 1824 and 1832 on Venetian foundations dating from the late 16th century, is shaped like a minaret: at the time, Egyptian troops were occupying Crete to support a severely weakened Ottoman Empire against the Cretans, who were in the midst of a rebellion...

Set aside several days to visit Chania: in five days, we shot countless panoramas, but we’re nowhere near having seen everything!

Useful links

Incredible Crete (The official tourism website of Crete) - Wikipedia