Architecture

Stroll down the promenade of the Old Town in Chania and observe the architecture. You’ll find the typical houses facing the sea, some housing tavernas or hotels, all in different colors that give the old port its unique appearance.

A walk to the lighthouse is well worth it for the sea and the harbor’s spellbinding views from a distance: the lighthouse it Chania’s city symbol and its most photographed attraction.

Erected by the Venetians in the 16th century to protect the city against the Ottoman threat, the architectural structure was modified under the Egyptian occupation in 1839. The base of the monument is the original Venetian construction, while the rest is the work of the 19th century reconstruction.

Today, the lighthouse safeguards the harbor standing 21 meters above the waves of the Sea of Crete. It is no longer in operation, but it makes for a romantic spot if you take the walk. The interior of the lighthouse is closed to the general public.

Firkas Fortress, or Revellino del Porto, is the most imposing fortification of the Venetian town of Chania. Erected by the Venetians in 1204-1669 to protect Chania’s port against the Ottomans’ constant threat, the monument is more than an architectural and historic landmark - it is a symbol of freedom for Cretans.

On December 1st, 1913, the Greek Prime Minister, Eleftherios Venizelos, and the King of Greece, Constantine I, raised the Greek flag for the first time after 800 years of slavery, in celebration of the annexation of Crete to the Kingdom of Greece.

Today, the fortress houses the Nautical Museum of Crete, founded 1973, on the 32st anniversary of the Battle of Crete. The museum has three sections documenting the Battle of Crete, the marine environment, and the permanent collection of traditional shipbuilding in Shipyard Moro - where you will also see a replica of a Minoan vessel.

The museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays, while the shipyard is only closed on public holidays.

Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque (Yali Mosque or Giali Tzamisi) is the only surviving mosque in Chania, although the city had several erected during the Ottoman ocupation of Crete. After the lighthouse, the temple is the second most important architectural and historic landmark of the port of Chania.

The mosque dates from 1645 when the Turks built it to celebrate Chania’s fall under Ottoman rule. Only the large spherical dome and the main body of the temple still stand, its minaret being demolished in 1939.

In 1923, Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque ceased to operate as a place of worship. The Cretans used it to house the Archaeological Museum of Chania in World War II, and subsequently as a storehouse, folklore museum, and tourist information center. Today, the building is an exhibition hall for local artists.