Chania ( el, Χανιά ; vec, La Canea), also spelled Hania, is a city in
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
and the capital of the
Chania regional unit. It lies along the north west coast of the island
Crete
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, ...
, about west of
Rethymno
Rethymno ( el, Ρέθυμνο, , also ''Rethimno'', ''Rethymnon'', ''Réthymnon'', and ''Rhíthymnos'') is a city in Greece on the island of Crete. It is the capital of Rethymno regional unit, and has a population of more than 30,000 inhabitants ...
and west of
Heraklion
Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban Ar ...
.
The municipality has 108,642 inhabitants (2011). This consists of the city of Chania and several nearby areas, including
Kounoupidiana Kounoupidiana is a village in Crete, Greece, part of the municipal unit of Akrotiri and the largest town on that peninsula with a population of 6,334 (in 2011). It is 8 km northeast of the city of Chania and has become a popular place to live in re ...
(pop. 8,620),
Mournies
Mournies ( el, Μουρνιές) is a village in Crete, in the regional unit of Chania. Between 1997 and 2010, it was the seat of the former municipality of Eleftherios Venizelos. Mournies is famous for being the place of birth of the statesman Ele ...
(pop. 7,614),
Souda
Souda ( el, Σούδα) is a town and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chania, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of ...
(pop. 6,418), Nerokouros (pop. 5,531), Daratsos (pop. 4,732), Perivolia (pop. 3,986), Galatas (pop. 3,166) and Aroni (pop. 3,003).
History
Early history
![AMC - Hellenistischer Frauenkopf](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/AMC_-_Hellenistischer_Frauenkopf.jpg)
Chania is the site of the
Minoan
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age Aegean civilization on the island of Crete and other Aegean Islands, whose earliest beginnings were from 3500BC, with the complex urban civilization beginning around 2000BC, and then declining from 1450B ...
settlement the Greeks called
Kydonia
Kydonia or Cydonia (; grc, Κυδωνία; lat, Cydonia) was an ancient city-state on the northwest coast of the island of Crete. It is at the site of the modern-day Greek city of Chania. In legend Cydonia was founded by King Cydon (), a son ...
, the source of the word
quince. It appears on
Linear B as ''ku-do-ni-ja''. Some notable
archaeological evidence for the existence of this Minoan city below some parts of today's Chania was found by excavations
in the district of Kasteli in the Old Town. This area appears to have been inhabited since the
Neolithic
The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...
era. The city reemerged after the end of the Minoan period as an important city-state in
Classical Greece, one whose domain extended from Chania Bay to the feet of the
White Mountains. The first major wave of settlers from mainland
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
was by the
Dorian Greeks
The Dorians (; el, Δωριεῖς, ''Dōrieîs'', singular , ''Dōrieús'') were one of the four major ethnic groups into which the Hellenes (or Greeks) of Classical Greece divided themselves (along with the Aeolians, Achaeans, and Ionians ...
who came around 1100 BC. Kydonia was constantly at war with other Cretan city-states such as
Aptera,
Phalasarna
Phalasarna or Falasarna ( grc, Φαλάσαρνα) is a Greek harbour town at the west end of Crete that flourished during the Hellenistic period. The currently visible remains of the city include several imposing sandstone towers and bastions, ...
and Polyrrinia and was important enough for the Kydonians to be mentioned in
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
's ''
Odyssey
The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Iliad'', th ...
'' (xix.200). In 69 BC, the
Roman consul
A consul held the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic ( to 27 BC), and ancient Romans considered the consulship the second-highest level of the ''cursus honorum'' (an ascending sequence of public offices to which politic ...
Caecilius Metellus defeated the Cretans and conquered Kydonia to which he granted the privileges of an independent city-state. Kydonia reserved the right to mint its own coins until the 3rd century AD.
Byzantine and Arab era
The early Christian period under
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
rule (First Byzantine Period, 395–824 AD) and the
rule of the
Arabs
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
, who called the settlement ''Al Hanim'' ("the Inn"), are not well documented. Under the Arabs, the Christian population was persecuted and moved to the mountains. The Byzantine Empire retook the city in 961 AD (Second Byzantine Period, until 1204 AD). In this period the Arabic name of the city was changed into Greek ''Chania''. Byzantines began to strongly fortify the city in order to prevent another Arab invasion, using materials from the ancient buildings of the area. By this time Chania was the seat of a bishopric, which would be known under Venetian rule as
Roman Catholic Diocese of La Canea
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Canea or Cidonia (Cydonia ) was a bishopric on Crete, with see at present Chania, and afterward was twice a Latin titular see. and later become the Latin titular see of Cydonia.
Venetian era
![Venetian shipyards, Chania](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Venetian_shipyards%2C_Chania.jpg)
After the
Fourth Crusade (1204) and the fall of Byzantium in the
Hellenic area, Crete was given to
Bonifacio, Marquess of Montferrat. He in turn chose to sell it to the
Venetians for 100 silver marks. In 1252 the Venetians managed to subdue the Cretans but in 1263, their rivals of Genoa, with local support, seized the city under the leadership of
Enrico Pescatore, count of Malta, and held it until 1285, when the Venetians returned. Chania was chosen as the seat of the Rector (Administrator General) of the region and flourished as a significant commercial centre of a fertile agricultural region.
The Venetian rule was initially strict and oppressive but slowly the relations between the two parts improved. Contact with
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...
led to close intertwining of
Cretan
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, an ...
and Venetian cultures, without, however, the Cretans losing their
Greek Orthodox
The term Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also cal ...
nature. The city's name became ''La Canea'' and
its fortifications were strengthened, giving Chania the form that it still has today. On the other hand, after the fall of
Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...
in 1453, many priests, monks and artists took refuge in Crete and reinforced the
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
religion and culture on the island. The city of Chania during the period that followed was a blend of Byzantine, Venetian, and Classical Greek cultural elements. Many of the important buildings of the town were built during this era and the intellectual activities (written word, music, education) were also promoted.
Ottoman era
![Chania Ottoman](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Chania_Ottoman.jpg)
During the opening months of the
Cretan War (1645–1669)
The Cretan War ( el, Κρητικός Πόλεμος, tr, Girit'in Fethi), also known as the War of Candia ( it, Guerra di Candia) or the Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War, was a conflict between the Republic of Venice and her allies (chief among ...
the city's walls did not prevent an
Ottoman army from capturing it from the Venetians after a two-month siege. Many Cretans fled to escape persecution, many others were slaughtered or converted to Islam, while numerous Turkish Muslim settlers arrived changing the ethnic mix of the city.
Muslims resided mainly in the eastern quarters, Kastelli and Splantzia, where they converted the
Dominican church of St Nicholas into the central Sovereign's Mosque (Turkish: ''Hünkar Camısı''). They also built new mosques such as the
Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque or Yali Mosque on the harbour. Public baths (
hamam), and fountains were a feature of the Ottoman city. The
pasha
Pasha, Pacha or Paşa ( ota, پاشا; tr, paşa; sq, Pashë; ar, باشا), in older works sometimes anglicized as bashaw, was a higher rank in the Ottoman political and military system, typically granted to governors, generals, dignitar ...
of Crete resided in Chania.
The city remained under Ottoman control despite fighting during the
Greek War of Independence (1821-29), the
Cretan Revolt (1866–1869) Cretan Revolt may refer to one of the following uprisings in Crete:
Under Venetian rule
* Cretan Revolt (1212) of the Hagiostephanites family
* Cretan Revolt (1217) of the Skordiles and Melissenos families
* Cretan Revolt (1222) of the Melissenos f ...
and the
Cretan Revolt (1878)
The Cretan revolt of 1878 was an insurrection of the Cretan people against the Ottoman occupation of the island. This insurrection is part of a larger movement for independence from the Ottoman Empire, which Crete was part of since the middle of ...
. Due to the island's mixture of Muslim and Christian residents, Crete was the subject of international debate between the European great powers, most notably at the
Treaty of Berlin (1878)
The Treaty of Berlin (formally the Treaty between Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire for the Settlement of Affairs in the East) was signed on 13 July 1878. In the aftermath of the ...
which resulted in the
Pact of Halepa
The Pact of Halepa ( el, Σύμβαση της Χαλέπας) or Halepa Charter (Χάρτης της Χαλέπας) was an agreement made in 1878 between the Ottoman Empire (then ruled by the Sultan Abdul Hamid II) and the representatives of the ...
. During the 19th and early 20th century inter-ethnic violence on Crete eventually led to the mass migration of the island's local Muslim population to other Mediterranean islands or coastal cities. Mass conversions also occurred. The
population exchange between Greece and Turkey
The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey ( el, Ἡ Ἀνταλλαγή, I Antallagí, ota, مبادله, Mübâdele, tr, Mübadele) stemmed from the "Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations" signed at ...
in 1922 resulted in the deportation of the island's last Muslim residents.
Modern era
![Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/%CE%95%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%B8%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%92%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B6%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82.jpg)
In 1898, during the final moves towards independence and ''
enosis''—union with
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
—the
Great Powers made Chania the capital of the semi-autonomous
Cretan State
The Cretan State ( el, Κρητική Πολιτεία, Kritiki Politeia; ota, كريد دولتى, Girid Devleti) was established in 1898, following the intervention by the Great Powers (United Kingdom, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Germany ...
("Kritiki Politeia"), with
Prince George of Greece
Prince George of Greece and Denmark ( el, Γεώργιος; 24 June 1869 – 25 November 1957) was the second son and child of George I of Greece and Olga Konstantinovna of Russia, and is remembered chiefly for having once saved the life of h ...
, the High Commissioner of Crete living here. During these years Crete issued its own stamps and money. This was a very important transitional period when, no longer an isolated ''
vilayet
A vilayet ( ota, , "province"), also known by various other names, was a first-order administrative division of the later Ottoman Empire. It was introduced in the Vilayet Law of 21 January 1867, part of the Tanzimat reform movement initiated ...
'' of the Ottoman Empire, the city became more cosmopolitan and flourishing, regaining its role as the crossroad of civilizations, influenced by Europe as well as by the East. Many important buildings were built during this era, intellectual and artistic societies were created and a new class of local aristocracy brought a different atmosphere to the everyday life of the town. The district of
Halepa has many fine neoclassical embassies and consulates dating from this period.
However the main goal was ''enosis'' with Greece, which came after
Eleftherios Venizelos's constant opposition to Prince George's rule over Crete. The series of conflicts includes the
Therisos revolt in 1905, which overthrew Prince George and brought
Alexandros Zaimis
Alexandros Zaimis ( el, Αλέξανδρος Ζαΐμης; 9 November 1855 – 15 September 1936) was a Greek politician who served as Greece's Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice, and High Commissioner of Crete. He serv ...
to rule Crete. Finally, in 1908, Venizelos managed to establish a revolutionary government, recognized by the
Great Powers. His later election as the prime minister of Greece (1910) eventually led to Crete's union with Greece on 1 December 1913, following the
Balkan Wars. The Greek flag was raised for the first time at Fort Firka in the Old Harbour in the presence of Venizelos and King Constantine.
Due to the popularity of Venizelos, Chania as with most of Crete remained staunchly pro-
Venizelist
Venizelism ( el, Βενιζελισμός) was one of the major political movements in Greece from the 1900s until the mid-1970s.
Main ideas
Named after Eleftherios Venizelos, the key characteristics of Venizelism were:
*Greek irredentism: ...
, pro-
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
and later pro
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
in the
National Schism
The National Schism ( el, Εθνικός Διχασμός, Ethnikós Dichasmós), also sometimes called The Great Division, was a series of disagreements between King Constantine I and Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos regarding the foreig ...
and the
interwar period. The only attempt to overthrow the monarchist
Metaxas Regime
Metaxās or Metaxa may refer to:
Places
* Metaxas Line, fortifications in northeastern Greece in 1935–1940
* Metaxas, Greece, a village in the Greek region of Macedonia
* Metaxas Regime or 4th of August Regime, a short-lived authoritarian regim ...
occurred in the city with the failed
28 July 1938 uprising.
Chania in World War II
Another important period for the city of Chania was the invasion and occupation by
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
forces during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. The British force that faced the German paratroopers during the
Battle Of Crete
The Battle of Crete (german: Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta, el, Μάχη της Κρήτης), codenamed Operation Mercury (german: Unternehmen Merkur), was a major Axis airborne and amphibious operation during World War II to capture the island ...
in 1941, had artillery elements over the hill of Dexameni in the south of the city. These elements bombarded the German forces in the
Maleme
Maleme ( el, Μάλεμε) is a small village and military airport to the west of Chania, in north western Crete, Greece. It is located in Platanias municipality, in Chania regional unit.
History
Bronze Age
A Late Minoan tholos tomb has been ...
airfield undetected, until they ran out of ammunition.
George II of Greece stayed in a villa near the village of Perivolia outside Chania before escaping to
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
. Part of the city was bombed and a significant proportion of the area's population was either executed or imprisoned due to participation in the resistance against the German rule. The
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
community of Chania was also eliminated during the German occupation. Most of them were transported off the island by the
Nazi
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
occupiers in 1944. Tragically, a
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
torpedo
sank the ship ''Tanais'', which was carrying most of the Jewish prisoners.
Post–World War II era
The city of Chania slowly regained its normal pace of development during the 1950s, trying to overcome the difficulties that the war had left in its aftermath. During the 1970s, Crete became a major tourist destination for Greek and international tourists, something that gave a significant boost to the city's economy and affected the everyday life and the overall culture of the locals. The capital of
Crete
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, ...
was moved to
Heraklion
Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban Ar ...
in 1971.
Since the 1990s, the city of Chania has entered a new era, mainly due to construction and infrastructure such as a new airport, port and educational facilities, and it is considered a prominent tourist resort in the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...
.
Geography
![Chania lighthouse A](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Chania_lighthouse_A.jpg)
The city of Chania lies around from the west end of Crete. By road, the distance is approximately .
Cityscape
The city of Chania can be divided into two parts: the old town and the modern city which is the larger one. The old town is situated next to the old harbour and is the matrix around which the whole urban area was developed. It used to be surrounded by the
old Venetian fortifications that started to be built in 1538. Of them, only the eastern and western parts have survived. From the south, the old town is continuous with the new, and from the north the physical border is the sea. The centre of the modern city is the area extending next to the old town and especially towards the south.
The old town
![Alley in Chania's old town](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Alley_in_Chania%27s_old_town.jpg)
The borders of the Old Town are the partly destroyed
old Venetian wall (and bulwarks) and this has been the cradle of all the civilizations which were developed in the area. The central part of the old town is named Kasteli and has been inhabited since
Neolithic
The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...
times (ancient
Kydonia
Kydonia or Cydonia (; grc, Κυδωνία; lat, Cydonia) was an ancient city-state on the northwest coast of the island of Crete. It is at the site of the modern-day Greek city of Chania. In legend Cydonia was founded by King Cydon (), a son ...
). It is located on a small hill right next to the seafront and has always been the ideal place for a settlement due to its secure position, its location next to the harbour and its proximity to the fertile valley in the south. Nowadays it is a bit more quiet than the neighbouring areas of the west part of the district. The Splantzia quarter (next to the east part of Kasteli) is also largely untouched.
The main square of the Old Town (next to the west end of Kasteli) is
Eleftherios Venizelos Square, also known as ''Syntrivani'' (from Turkish ''şadırvan'' 'fountain'). It is the heart of the tourist activities in the area. Next to this (on the west side) lies the Topanas district, which was the
Christian quarter during the
Ottoman period. Its name comes from the Venetian ammunition warehouse (Turkish ''tophane''), which was located there. The
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
quarter (''Evraiki'' or ''Ovraiki'') was located at the north-west of the Old Town, behind the harbour and within the borders of Topanas. The Topanas area has many narrow alleys and old buildings, some of which have been restored as hotels, restaurants, shops and bars. This makes it a popular place especially during the warm period (April–October). In the winter, it still remains a centre of activities (especially for nightlife).
Finally, a very distinctive area of the Old Town is the
harbour itself and generally the seafront. Akti Tompazi, Akti Kountouriotou and Akti Enoseos (
marina) all feature several historical buildings and nightlife. The main street that combines the modern town with the old town is Halidon Street.
The modern city
![Fountain in Chania, Crete 002](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Fountain_in_Chania%2C_Crete_002.jpg)
The modern part of Chania is where most locals live and work. It is less traditional than the old town, but there are still areas of some historical interest.
The oldest district (early 18th century) of the modern city is Nea Hora (meaning "New Town") which is located beyond the west end of the old town. It is a developing area with narrow old lanes leading to a small fishing harbour.
The district of Koum Kapi (the Venetians had first named it "Sabbionara", which means "the Gate of the Sand", the same as "Koum Kapi") situated beyond the walls at the eastern part of the old town, was also one of the first places to be inhabited outside the fortification walls. Initially, it was home for the "Halikoutes", a group of Bedouins from
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
who had settled there in the last years of Ottoman rule. Nowadays it is a developing area with many cafes, bars and restaurants on its beach.
In the same era the district of
Halepa began to grow to the east of the city and used to be home for the local aristocracy. Some of the historical buildings of the area (including old
embassies
A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually deno ...
of foreign countries) had been destroyed or abandoned during the later decades of the 20th century, and it was only recently when some interest was shown for the restoration of the remaining ones.
![Chania R01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Chania_R01.jpg)
Other historical buildings in the area include
Eleftherios Venizelos's House (built 1876-1880), the old French school (now property of the Technical University of Crete, housing the Department of Architecture), the Church of Agia Magdalini (built 1901-1903), The "Palace" (built 1882, house of Prince George during the period of the Cretan independence) and The Church of Evangelistria (built 1908–1923). Part of the marine area of Halepa is called Tabakaria, where a unique architectural complex of old leather processing houses is situated.
![Chania Kastelli](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Chania_Kastelli.jpg)
Apart from the previously mentioned older districts of the modern part of the town, several new residential areas have been developed during the 20th century, like Agios Ioannis, Koumbes, Lentariana, Pachiana and Pasakaki. Sections of the city centre are dominated by colourless medium-height block buildings, typical of the urbanization period of Greece (1950–1970). However, there are still some
neoclassical houses, especially in the eastern part of Chania. There are some parks and several sports grounds, the most important being the Venizeleio Stadium of Chania and the Swimming Pool at Nea Hora. The 1913 indoor market ("Agora"), is on the edge of the old town and is popular with tourists and locals alike. Some other important sites of the newer urban area are The Court House ("Dikastiria", built late in the 19th century), the Public Gardens ("Kipos", created in 1870), the Garden Clock-Tower ("Roloi", built in 1924–1927), the Episcopal Residence (Bishop's residence, "Despotiko", built in the early 19th century) and the House of Manousos Koundouros (built in 1909), the Cultural Centre ("Pnevmatiko Kentro"). The central largest squares in Chania are the Market Square ("Agora"), the Court House Square ("Dikastiria") and the "1866 Square".
Since the 1990s, there has been a profound movement of Chania residents towards the suburbs, as well as towards areas around the city which used to be rural, mainly around
Kounoupidiana Kounoupidiana is a village in Crete, Greece, part of the municipal unit of Akrotiri and the largest town on that peninsula with a population of 6,334 (in 2011). It is 8 km northeast of the city of Chania and has become a popular place to live in re ...
in the
Akrotiri Peninsula.
Climate
The city has a
subtropical Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...
: ''Csa''), with sunny dry summers and very mild rainy winters. During the period between April and October, clear-sky weather is almost an everyday feature. The atmosphere is always warm, but fierce heat waves (temperatures above 38 °C) are not very common, since the prevailing
Etesian
The etesians ( or ; grc, ἐτησίαι, etēsiai, periodic winds; sometimes found in the Latin form etesiae), ''meltemia'' ( el, ετησίες,μελτέμια; pl. of meltemi), or meltem ( Turkish) are the strong, dry north winds of the Aegea ...
winds ("Meltemia") blow from northern directions and pleasantly moderate the conditions. Intervals of sunny days are frequent during the windy and rainy winter as well. Snow and frost are rare near the coast, with very few exceptions, like the snowstorm on 13 February 2004, when of snow accumulated in the urban area, causing general chaos. The last significant snowstorm happened on 8 January 2017 when the whole city and the old harbour was blanketed by snow. However, such cold days can be followed by much warmer and sunny weather. Minor early heat waves can occur in March or April, during a
Saharan dust
Saharan dust is an aeolian mineral dust from the Sahara desert, the largest hot desert in the world. The desert spans just over 9 million square kilometers, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, from the Mediterranean sea to the Niger River v ...
event, whose main feature is the strong and hot
katabatic wind
A katabatic wind (named from the Greek word κατάβασις ''katabasis'', meaning "descending") is a drainage wind, a wind that carries high-density air from a higher elevation down a slope under the force of gravity. Such winds are sometim ...
from the south, which is a type of
Sirokos (σιρόκος) and is called "Livas" (i.e. the wind from
Libya
Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Suda ...
) by the Greeks.
The adjacent chart is based on data recorded during 1958–1997. The absolute maximum temperature recorded during this period was , while the absolute minimum recorded was .
However, the record minimum was broken on 13 February 2004 when the temperature dropped to and the record maximum was broken on 1 July 2021 when the temperature passed 44 °C (112 °F).
Topography
The climate in Chania is further complemented due to the terrain and can vary throughout its regions and elevations and according to its topography. At the south lies the mountain range of
Lefka Ori
Lefka Ori ( el, Λευκά Όρη, meaning 'White Mountains') or Madares ( from the Cretan Greek meaning 'without coverage, bald, bare of any vegetation for high mountain areas') is a mountain range located in Western Crete, in the Chania prefect ...
. Furthermore, prevailing winds, such as those of the West side and South of Crete, in addition to the North side—all interact to form its climate.
Government
![2010 Dimi Chanion numbered](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/2010_Dimi_Chanion_numbered.svg)
The municipality of Chania was formed in the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following seven former municipalities, that became municipal units:
*
Akrotiri
* Chania
*
Eleftherios Venizelos
*
Keramia
*
Nea Kydonia
Nea Kydonia ( el, Νέα Κυδωνία) is a former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chania, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an ...
*
Souda
Souda ( el, Σούδα) is a town and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chania, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of ...
*
Theriso
Theriso ( el, Θέρισο, Δήμος Θερίσου) is a village and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chania, of which it is a municipal unit. ...
The municipality has an area of , the municipal unit .
The municipality forms the eastern shore of Chania Bay (Kolpos Chanion Κόλπος Χανίων) and is bordered by
Platanias (6) to the west,
Sfakia
Sfakiá ( el, Σφακιά) is a mountainous area in the southwestern part of the island of Crete, in the Chania regional unit. It is considered to be one of the few places in Greece that have never been fully occupied by foreign powers. With a ...
(7) to the south and
Apokoronas (2) to the east.
Culture
![Naval Museum of Chania in Crete 001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Naval_Museum_of_Chania_in_Crete_001.JPG)
There are several museums,
art galleries
An art gallery is a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. In Western cultures from the mid-15th century, a gallery was any long, narrow covered passage along a wall, first used in the sense of a place for art in the 1590s. The lon ...
,
theatre
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...
and music groups, educational and research institutions within the city.
The most important museums in Chania are:
* Chania's ne
Archaeological Museumat 15 Skra Str. Chalepa, Chania, replaces the former
Archeological Museum of Chania. The museum houses findings from different parts of the region and from several historical and prehistorical periods.
*
Folklore
Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...
Museum (Old Town)
* Historical Archive (the second most important in Greece)
*
Nautical Museum of Crete (Old Town)
* Municipal Art Gallery
*
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
/Post-Byzantine Collection (Old Town)
* House of Eleftherios Venizelos
* Museum of Chemistry
*
School life museum
* Museum of Typography, Chania
Several theatre groups are active in Chania with the most important being the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Crete (DI.PE.THE.K). The repertoire includes old and contemporary plays from Greek and foreign writers. The Venizelian Conservatory of Music ("Odeion", established 1931) is also one of the most important cultural societies in Crete. A recent attempt from the municipality to create a
chamber music group named "Sinfonietta" has been successful and its performances throughout the year have enriched the cultural event calendar of the city. There is also a significant community of people who focus on
alternative
Alternative or alternate may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki''
* ''The Alternative'' (film), a 1978 Australian television film
* ''The Alternative ...
/
indie
Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Gaming
*Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies
*Indie game, any game (board ...
music as well as
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
and bands performing modern musical styles. A number of traditional
retanmusicians are also active in town.
There are five
cinemas (two of them open-air), concentrating both in commercial and independent movies and occasionally organizing small festivals.
There are numerous cafes, restaurants and bars throughout the Old Town and especially around the old Venetian harbour, at Enetiki Tafros (Venetian moat) and at Splantzia square, but also along the waterfront of the Koum Kapi and Nea Hora neighbourhoods. In summer, the bars and restaurants at
Platanias and
Agia Marina are also busy.
![Chania culture](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Chania_culture.jpg)
During the summer period a variety of cultural events take place on a daily basis. Theatrical plays, concerts and several exhibitions from Greek and foreign artists are organized either by the municipality or by individuals. A venue which hosts many of these events is a theater located in the east bulwark of the Old Town ("Anatoliki Tafros"). Also, several festivals, conferences and sport events take place in Chania, especially between May and September. The Venizeleia athletics competition is one of the most noteworthy events of the year.
A major role in the city's cultural life is played by the Municipal Cultural Corporation of Chania (DI.P.E.X.) which organizes a significant part of the events taking place throughout the year.
There is a
French, a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
, an
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
and a
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
consulate
A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of diplomatic mission, it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy (or, only between two Commonwealth c ...
in Chania.
Sports
Water sports
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a s ...
are very popular in Chania. The local
water polo
Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...
team, Nautical Club of Chania, N.O.X. has managed to be a protagonist in the primary league of the Greek national championship for years. Several athletes of this team have also played extensively for the
Greece men's national water polo team
The Greece men's national water polo team represents Greece in international men's water polo competitions and it is organized and run by the Hellenic Swimming Federation.
Greece has a long tradition of strong presence at international level, wit ...
, which has achieved major international successes.
Football and
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
are also very popular in the town, however not as successful. The main football teams are
PAE Chania (whose home ground is the
Perivolia Municipal Stadium
Perivolia Municipal Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Mournies, Chania, Greece.
From the 2012-2013 season, Platanias FC were based at Perivolia Municipal Stadium, which led to extensive upgrading and modernization work at all levels during t ...
), and "Ionia".
Platanias FC (based in the nearby town of
Platanias) gained 36 points in the football championship in the 2013
Super League.
The main clubs for
athletics
Athletics may refer to:
Sports
* Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking
** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport
* Athletics (physical culture), competi ...
are "Eleftherios Venizelos" and "Kydon". The "Antisfairisi" club is specialized in
tennis
Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...
,
table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong and whiff-whaff, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball, also known as the ping-pong ball, back and forth across a table using small solid rackets. It takes place on a hard table div ...
and also has a significant tradition in
chess
Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...
. Many of the above sports are being practiced in the Stadium of Chania, built in 1935 with the financial support of Elena Venizelou, then wife of
Eleftherios Venizelos.
There is also an open swimming pool for water sports in Nea Chora. A new indoor one which has been built on the nearby Akrotiri Peninsula in 2006, but has not opened to the public yet because of the estimated operational costs. A modern indoor stadium for basketball, volleyball and more, called
Chania Kladissos Indoor Hall, has also been built between 2002 and 2005 near Nea Chora (Kladisos area).
There is a very active climbing and hiking club (Greek Mountaineering Club of Chania, E.O.S. Chanion) organizing weekly excursions of varying difficulty on the mountains of Crete and several other longer term missions in mainland Greece and abroad.
Education and research
![TUC library](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/TUC_library.jpg)
Educational institutions located at the greater area of the city are:
*
Technical University of Crete
The Technical University of Crete (TUC; el, Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης, ''Polytechneio Kritis'') is a state university under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Education and was founded in 1977 in Chania, Crete. The first stud ...
* The Chania branch of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete
* The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania
* The Merchant Marine Academy of Crete (AEN KRITIS)
Other research and intellectual institutes and societies in Chania are:
* The National Research Foundation "Eleftherios K. Venizelos"
* The Mediterranean Architecture Centre (KAM)
* The Institute of
Olive Tree
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ...
and
Subtropical Plants of Chania
* The Institute of Cretan Law
* The Historical, Laographical and Archaeological Society of Crete
* Institute of Regional Press, Chania
Primary and
secondary schools are mainly public in Chania (as in all cities in Greece). However, there has been a slow development of some private high schools recently. Among the "Eniaia Lykeia" (Unified Upper Secondary Schools) of the town there is an autonomous Ecclesiastical Lyceum in Agios Mattheos.
Economy
![Chania - Markthalle - Schwämme](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Chania_-_Markthalle_-_Schw%C3%A4mme.jpg)
Two main sources of wealth in Chania are
agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...
and
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...
. A big portion of the city's residents (not necessarily farmers) own from few to many
decare
The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is a ...
s of agricultural land where several plants are being cultivated, the most common ones being
olive trees
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' 'M ...
and
citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...
. Other important products include
wine
Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
,
avocados
The avocado (''Persea americana'') is a medium-sized, evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to the Americas and was first domesticated by Mesoamerican tribes more than 5,000 years ago. Then as now it was prized for i ...
,
dairy etc. Apart from the traditional ways of cultivation, some of the producers have concentrated on practicing new methods in order to promote
organic food
Organic food, ecological food or biological food are food and drinks produced by methods complying with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming features practices that cycle resources, promote ecological ...
. The organization of the Agricultural August has been a recent attempt to promote local quality products including a series of activities organised by the Prefecture of Chania since 1999 has proved very successful.
On the other hand, starting from the early 1970s, tourism has developed rapidly. Nowadays the
tertiary sector
The tertiary sector of the economy, generally known as the service sector, is the third of the three economic sectors in the three-sector model (also known as the economic cycle). The others are the primary sector (raw materials) and the second ...
is becoming more and more important for the locals, since an increasing number of them are participating in the business.
Agrotourism
Agritourism or agrotourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
Types
A 2018 article published in the ''Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development'' classified a ...
and
ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide fund ...
are forms of tourism which are significantly developing lately.
There is also some secondary industry with focus on the processing-packaging of agricultural products (some of them export oriented) or manufacture products that support the agricultural production.
An important centre of the economic activities in the town is the Chania Chamber of Commerce and Industry (E.B.E.X.).
Health care
The main hospital in the city is the General Hospital "Agios Georgios". Other health institutions include the Crete Naval Hospital, the branch of the National Centre for Emergency Medical Care (E.K.A.B.), and the Clinic of Chronic Disease. The Chania branch of the Organisation Against Drugs (Ο.ΚΑ.ΝΑ.) opened in 2003.
The city has a number of private clinics (e.g., Iasis and Central Clinic of Chania), as well as medical centres specialising in various areas.
Transport
The city is served by
Chania International Airport
Chania International Airport "Daskalogiannis" is an international airport located near Souda Bay on the Akrotiri peninsula of the Greek island of Crete, serving the city of Chania, away. It is a gateway to western Crete for an increasing numb ...
(
IATA code
IATA codes are abbreviations that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) publishes to facilitate air travel. They are typically 1, 2, 3, or 4 character combinations (referred to as unigrams, digrams, trigrams, or tetragrams, respect ...
: CHQ) 14 km from Chania on the
Akrotiri Peninsula. The airport is named after
Daskalogiannis
Ioannis Vlachos (), better known as Daskalogiannis (; 1722/30 – 17 June 1771) was a wealthy shipbuilder and shipowner who led a Cretan revolt against Ottoman rule in the 18th century.Detorakis, Turkish rule in Crete, p. 357
Life and career
...
, a
Sfakiot hero who was skinned by the Ottomans in the 18th century.
Souda
Souda ( el, Σούδα) is a town and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chania, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of ...
, some from Chania, is the city's port, with daily ferries to
Piraeus
Piraeus ( ; el, Πειραιάς ; grc, Πειραιεύς ) is a port city within the Athens urban area ("Greater Athens"), in the Attica region of Greece. It is located southwest of Athens' city centre, along the east coast of the Saron ...
. Souda also hosts
Crete Naval Base
Crete Naval Base ( el, Ναύσταθμος Κρήτης, ''Nafstathmos Kritis'') is a major naval base of the Hellenic Navy and NATO at Souda Bay in Crete, Greece.
Formally known in NATO as Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay (NSA-Souda Bay), a ...
, a major Greek and
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
base.
Notable residents
*
Elpis Melena (1818–1899), born as Marie Espérance von Schwartz, German writer
*
Eleftherios Venizelos (1864–1936), prime minister of Greece 1910–1920, 1924, 1928–1932, 1933; widely considered as the most important statesman of modern Greece born in the village Therisso
*
Alexis Minotis
Alexis Minotis (; born Alexandros Minotakis ( el, Αλέξανδρος Μινωτάκης); 8 August 1900 – 11 November 1990) was a Greek actor and director.
He first appeared on stage in his native Crete as Chorus Leader and later as Messeng ...
(1898–1990), stage and screen actor active between the 1930s–1980s
*
Constantine Mitsotakis
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
(1918–2017), politician, prime minister of Greece 1990–1993, and later the honorary president of the New Democracy party
*
George Psychoundakis (1920–2006), Cretan WW II hero and author
*
John Craxton
John Leith Craxton RA, (3 October 1922 – 17 November 2009) was an English painter. He was sometimes called a neo-Romantic artist but he preferred to be known as a "kind of Arcadian".
Biography
Career
John was the son of musician Harold ...
(1922–2009), painter and British honorary consul
*
Maro Douka (1947–), Greek novelist
*
Ioanna Karystiani (1952–), Greek novelist
*
Christos Sartzetakis
Christos Sartzetakis ( el, Χρήστος Σαρτζετάκης; 6 April 1929 – 3 February 2022) was a Greek jurist and a supreme justice of the Court of Cassation, who served as the President of Greece from 1985 to 1990.
Early life and educ ...
(1929–), President of the Third Hellenic Republic from 1985 to 1990
*
Mikis Theodorakis
Michail "Mikis" Theodorakis ( el, Μιχαήλ "Μίκης" Θεοδωράκης ; 29 July 1925 – 2 September 2021) was a Greek composer and lyricist credited with over 1,000 works.
He scored for the films ''Zorba the Greek'' (1964), '' Z'' ...
(1925–2021), Greek composer
*
Nikos Christodoulakis
Nikos Christodoulakis ( el, Νίκος Χριστοδουλάκης) (born 1952) is a Greek politician, economics professor and electronics engineer. He was the Minister for Economy and Finance of Greece from 2001 to 2004.
Early life and educati ...
(1952–), Greek politician, economics professor and electronics engineer, Minister for Economy and Finance of Greece from 2001 to 2004
*
Nana Mouskouri
Ioanna "Nana" Mouskouri ( el, Ιωάννα "Νάνα" Μούσχουρη ) (born 13 October 1934) is a Greek singer. Over the span of her career, she has released over 200 albums in at least twelve languages, including Greek, French, English, Germ ...
(1934–), Greek singer, one of the top-selling female singers of all time
*
John Aniston
John Anthony Aniston (born Yannis Anastassakis, , July 24, 1933 – November 11, 2022) was a Greek-born American actor who played Victor Kiriakis on the NBC daytime drama series ''Days of Our Lives'', which he originated in July 1985 and played ...
(born in 1933), actor and father of well-known American actress
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Joanna Aniston (born February 11, 1969) is an American actress and film producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Since her career ...
*
Eftichios Vlahakis
Eftychios Vlahakis ( el, Ευτύχιος Βλαχάκης; January 14, 1935 – April 6, 2014), known as Van Vlahakis, was an American entrepreneur of Greek origin, regarded as a pioneer of environmentally friendly cleaning products. (1935-2014), Greek-American entrepreneur
*
Charis Galanakis (1981–), Greek agricultural, food and environmental scientist
Twin towns – sister cities
Chania is
twinned with:
*
Engomi
Engomi ( el, Έγκωμη tr, Engomi or Enkomi) is a suburb and municipality of the Cypriot capital Nicosia. In 2011, it had a population of 18,010. Of these, 14,254 were citizens of Cyprus.
It is a mainly residential neighbourhood with many ...
, Cyprus
*
Famagusta, Cyprus
*
Paphos
Paphos ( el, Πάφος ; tr, Baf) is a coastal city in southwest Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In classical antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos, today known as Kouklia, and New Paphos.
The current city of Pap ...
, Cyprus
*
Polis
''Polis'' (, ; grc-gre, πόλις, ), plural ''poleis'' (, , ), literally means "city" in Greek. In Ancient Greece, it originally referred to an administrative and religious city center, as distinct from the rest of the city. Later, it also ...
, Cyprus
*
Axioupoli
Axioupoli ( el, Αξιούπολη), known until 1927 as Boymitsa (Боймица, Μποέμιτσα), is a small town and a former municipality in the former Paionia Province of Kilkis regional unit, Greek Macedonia. Since the 2011 local gov ...
, Greece
*
Ermoupoli
Ermoupoli ( el, Ερμούπολη), also known by the formal older name Ermoupolis or Hermoupolis ( el, < "Town of "), is a to ...
, Greece
*
Karpathos
Karpathos ( el, Κάρπαθος, ), also Carpathos, is the second largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands, in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Together with the neighboring smaller Saria Island it forms the municipality of Karpathos, which is part o ...
, Greece
*
Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...
, New Zealand
Gallery
File:ChaniaDeWit1680.jpg, Map of Chania, 1680
File:Mosque harbour Chania.jpg, Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque
File:Domed church in Eastern Chania.jpg, Evangelistria church
File:Chania - Katholische Kirche - Innenhof.jpg, Statue of Francis of Assisi outside the Catholic church of Chania
File:Πύλη ενετικού διοικητηρίου 8380.jpg, View from the old Venetian quarter
File:Firkas Fortress, Chania 02.jpg, Inside the Firkas Fortress
File:Street in Chania.jpg, Old street
File:Old Clock Chaina Crete.JPG, Clock tower of Chania
File:After the massacre - ruined street in Christian Quarter, Canea, Crete.jpg, A ruined street in Chania's Christian quarter following fighting between the town's Christians and Muslims, 1897.
File:Agiosrokkos Chania.jpg, The church of Saint Rocco in Splantzia.
File:Cathedral of Chania.jpg, The Orthodox Cathedral.
File:Hania Prefecture.JPG, Prefecture building, Eleftherias Square
See also
*
Cretan cuisine
*
Chania Power Station
Chania Power Station is a natural gas power plant located in Chania on Crete island, Greece. It consists of two gas turbine units with a total capacity of about 120 MW. The power station is owned by the Public Power Corporation (PPC).
H ...
*
List of settlements in the Chania regional unit
This is a list of settlements in the Chania regional unit, Greece.
* Afrata
* Agia Marina
* Agia Roumeli
* Agia
* Agia Eirini
* Agios Ioannis
* Alikampos
* Alikianos
* Amygdalokefali
* Anopoli
* Anoskeli
* Aptera
* Armenoi
* Aroni
...
*
Mount Tityros
*
Presentation of the Virgin Mary Cathedral, Chania
The Presentation of the Virgin Mary Holy Metropolitan Church is a Greek Orthodox cathedral, located in Athinagora Square in the old town of Chania in Crete .It was originally built during the late period of Ottoman rule, between 1850 and 1860.
Th ...
(Greek Orthodox)
*
Assumption Cathedral, Chania (Roman Catholic)
References
External links
Municipality of ChaniaChania - A City Of Many Talesguide
Explore Chania – Travel Guide – Vacation & Trip Ideasguide
{{Authority control
Capitals of former nations
Capitals of Greek states
Cities and towns in Greece
Greek prefectural capitals
Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece
Minoan sites in Crete
Municipalities of Crete
Populated coastal places in Greece
Populated places in Chania (regional unit)
Port cities of the Aegean Sea