Duration:
4 h
Activity Level:
Easy
Experience:
Backpacker, Historical
Language:
English
Photo permit included
Tour by public transport
Canal Boat tour included
Train tickets included
Suitable for little children
Wheelchair accessible tour
Museum ticket included
Light snack included
Lunch included
Transportation included
Walking Tour
Overview
What about a private walking tour uniquely designed around the old town of Chania and Venetian port, which shows Chania's status as a cultural crossroads? A tour through a 7000-year-old history. Although the tour concentrates on history, we will explore the traditions and culture of Chania and how they have united to form the present-day city of Chania.
What's included
- Professional licensed guide
- Pick-up and Drop-off
- All fees and taxes
- Transportation
- Food and drinks
- In summer, it might be a good idea to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat
Highlights
Agora central market
Where Old Town and modern city meet, the fine Covered Market or Agora (Mousouron Street) is the focal point. This is more a shopping mall than a marketplace, it provides a cool haven where locals throng among shops and stalls offering every kind of local produce, alluring pastries, piles of olives, fragrant herbs, and spices, and appetizing cheeses like delicious Cretan graviera and mizithra.
Ancient Kydonia
The Minoan Kydonia was built at the current location of the old town of Chania. Kydonia was the third largest town of Minoan Crete. Here developed a thriving craft industry and the town became rich through sea trade, which was favored by its position. Indeed, the ancient writers mention Kydonia as the mother of the Cretan towns.
According to one version, the name comes from Kydon, the mythical son of Minos and the nymph Akakkalida. According to a second, it comes from an old name of Crete (Chthonia).
Most traces have been identified on the Kastelli hill above the old Venetian port. There have also been found plates of Linear A and Linear B. The rest traces, like the palace of Kydonia are located below the modern city of Chania and have not been excavated.
Byzantine Walls
The fortifications of Chania are a series of defensive walls and other fortifications which surround the city of Chania in Crete, Greece. The inner city walls were first built in antiquity and were rebuilt by the Byzantine Empire. The outer walls were built in the 16th century by the Republic of Venice. Some of the fortifications were demolished in the 20th century, but parts of both the Byzantine and Venetian walls remain intact.
Nowadays, the Byzantine Wall is visible only in certain places because of the fact that its biggest part was covered by the residencies that were constructed in the region, after the erection of fortifications that made the Byzantine Wall redundant.
Chania
Chania is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania regional unit. Chania is a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. It’s known for its 14th-century Venetian harbor, narrow streets, and waterfront restaurants. At the harbor entrance is a 16th-century lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences. Opposite, the Nautical Museum has model ships, naval objects, and photographs. The former monastery of St. Francis houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
Church of Agios Nikolaos
The church of Agios Nikolaos is located East of Splatzia Square of the old city of Chania, which was built before 1320, during the Venetian Period, as the monastery of Dominican Order. During the Venetian period, it constituted the most important church of the city.
It was elegant and big in capacity, with wide arches in the interior. After the predominance of Turks in Chania, the temple was turned into a mosque and was named Hiougkar Tzamisi (mosque of the Emperor), in honor of the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Imbraim.
Its importance is highlighted by the existence of two- instead of one- balconies on the minaret. In 1928, after being seized by the Christians orthodox, the mosque was turned into a Christian church and has been dedicated to Agios Nikolaos.
Etz Hayyim Synagogue
The Etz Hayyim Synagogue is the only surviving remnant of the once Romaniote Jewish community on the Greek isle of Crete. After being restored, the synagogue (with its Mikveh) has become a tourist destination and has attracted visits from foreign dignitaries like Queen Sofía of Spain, the sister of the former King Constantine II of Greece, who made a sudden and unannounced visit to the site on March 6, 2006.
Firka Fortress
Venetian-built fortress from the mid-16th century featuring scenic harbor views & a maritime museum.
Maritime Museum
Long-running museum with nautical history exhibits, including model ships, paintings & furniture.
Mosque Yiali Tzami
The Turkish Mosque Yiali Tzami (or Giali Tzami) is hard to miss, as it dominates the Venetian harbor of Chania.
This was the first mosque built in Crete, after the Ottomans conquered Chania, in 1649. It was built on the site of a small church. The mosque was operative until 1923 when the last Muslims left Crete. The minaret was destroyed in the early 20th century.
The mosque was actually named after Kuçuk Hassan Pasha, the first military governor of Chania, but is known as Yiali Tzami from the Turkish "Yali Tzamissi" meaning "mosque by the seaside".
It is now used for temporary exhibitions.
Old Venetian Harbour
A stroll in the town’s most enchanting area
Chania’s Venetian Harbour was carefully built in the 14th century for commercial purposes and for protection against pirate raids. Today it is a point of reference for the city of Chania, and a much-photographed place with a touch of magic! This city hub is filled with cafes, restaurants, tavernas serving local delicacies, bars, pastry stores, and art shops as well as monuments referring to various historical periods. You will find there is a balanced mixing of Cretan, Ottoman and Venetian elements, beautiful narrow alleys across the old town and amazing architecture. The old harbour area beckons you to enjoy a carefree journey through time as you explore it. Shall we then?
The District of Splantzia
Splantzia during the Ottoman era was predominantly a Turkish neighborhood. It extends south and east of the walled hill of Kasteli, in the old town of Chania. Here used to be the Turkish mahalas of the town, with its central square, that has now been renamed to 1821 square.
At that time, the church of Agios Nicholas on Splantzia square, part of the monastery of Dominican monks, is converted into the central mosque of the city, in honor of the Sultan Ibrahim. It is the only temple in Greece today, that has both a belfry and a minaret. On the northwestern side of Splantzia is the Venetian church of San Rocco, a round floor plan Venetian church, that was unaffected by the Ottoman Empire and the subsequent periods.
Topanas district
The Topanas district behind Firkas is definitely worth a visit. The name Topanas is derived from the Turkish “top”, meaning a cannon, because this was where the cannons were kept in Chania during the Turkish period.
Today there are no cannon, but the narrow streets of the Topanas district still boast Venetian mansions, often with the obligatory modifications carried out during the Ottoman period. During the last years of Turkish rule, Topanas was the Christian aristocrats’ quarter. Turks rarely set foot here, as they lived in the Splantzia on the other side of Chania town.
Venetian Shipyards (Arsenals)
Venetian Shipyards (Arsenals) in Chania: One of the most enduring landmarks in Chania is the 16th-century Venetian shipyards. It is known for its historical vaulted buildings. The buildings of this area were purposely constructed for shipbuilding which flourished in Chania in the 16th century.
Itinerary
09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00
Pick up from Souda port or meeting at your centrally located hotel in Chania. Also, you can meet with the guide at the Agora central market.
The tour begins with a visit to the Muslim Quarter, the Splantzia, and the Church of Agios Nikolaos.
During the tour, you will visit Byzantine Walls of the inner city;
Excavation of Ancient Kydonia (3000 BC) – up to now excavations have revealed Minoan tombs, Mycenaean buildings, small palaces with frescoes, several vases, Roman statues, Hellenistic mosaics, etc.
We will visit a spectacular panoramic viewpoint at Kasteli with excellent views over the Old Harbour;
Visit the Venetian Arsenal (shipyard), the ships pavilion and hear more about the connection between Venice and the sea;
Old mosque Yali Tzami (now exhibition hall); Kondylaki Street and Jewish Quarter with Etz Hayyim Synagogue;
Christian Quarter and Topanas district;
Firka Fortress and Maritime Museum.
The tour ends where we started or at a different location where you will prefer.
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