Greece City: Chania
The ancient city of Chania (Hania) – the second largest city of Crete and his spiritual capital.
For many, this is the most attractive city of the island, especially in the spring, when the snow peaks of white mountains seemed to so far over the roofs and turquoise spaces of the sea. The picturesque little harbor, a wonderful disorder of Venetian streets, restored trading quarters – all this leaves the impression of a very old and atmospheric place.
The city by and large and is such – founded at the Phynicians, in the ancient era, he turned into a large policy and a port of Kidonia, where they first began to grow quince (she is still called Latin – Cydonia). After the fall of Byzantium, the city was under the rule of Venetians for a long time, becoming the capital of the island and the residence of the rector. Many Orthodox and Catholics from the territories occupied by Turks, and Chania (then La Cana) came here, became a real location of cultures. But the beautiful defensive structures of Byzantines did not save the city – after a two-month siege and the huge losses of the Turks took it by an attack on August 2, 1645. Only in 1898, the Ottoman Empire granted Creit autonomy, but the Turks lived in Chania another quarter of a century, and many churches still carry alterations in the mosque.
sights
The oldest and most interesting part of the city spread around the port, especially colorful in the evening when the lights of hundreds of bars and restaurants are reflected in the water, and crowds of tourists and local residents go to the promenade. In the afternoon, the old district is clearly more quiet, but it does not suffer from it. Right in front of the square Platia Syndrivani (Also known as the Harbor Square) is a curious domed Mosque Yanychar, Built in 1645, – The oldest Ottoman building on the island (now the gallery is open here, placing various temporary exhibitions). Towering immediately for a small mosque Hill Casteli – The historic center of the city, which discovered traces of the dwellings of the Minoan, Venetian and Turkish cities. Now there are no special historical monuments here, but archaeologists believe that they may have found fragments of the Mina Palace and "Lost City" Kidonia (on these excavations can be viewed on Kanevarou Street). Now and then there are traces of the oldest city walls (the city surrounded two rings of fortifications – one distribution was protected directly to the casteli, another, later, – the whole medieval city). Below the hill, in the inner (Eastern) harbor, you can see the Arches of the Venetian Arsenal (XVI in.) And a few more fragments of external walls.
At the end of Esplanada, an impressive old bastion, in which there is a good Crete Military Museum (Opened from April to October daily, from 9.00 to 16.00, from November to March – from 9.00 to 14.00; 3 euros). And passing around the back of the bastion on the street, leading the inside of the city, you can find the best preserved section of the external fortification, as well as Byzantine Museum (open from Thursday to Sunday from 8.30 to 19.thirty; 2 euros, a single ticket with an archaeological museum – 3 euros), with a small, but interesting meeting Mosaik, icons and jewels of various periods of Byzantine Board. From here it is best to rise further on Theotokopoulou Street and explore some of the most attractive parts Old Town With its picturesque villas – villas and many charming small stores.
Behind the harbor lie less picturesque, but more lively sections of the old city. Here you can visit the San Francesco San Francesco Archaeological Museum of Chania (open on Mondays from 13.00 to 19.30, from Thursday to Sunday from 8.00 to 19.thirty; 2 euros, a single ticket with the Byzantine Museum – 3 euros), his garden with a huge fountain and ruins of a minaret, as well as nearby Museum of Folklore (from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 to 15.00 and from 18.00 to 21.00; 2 euros) with an excellent courtyard. The modern cathedral lies just a few steps along Halidhon Street, and its area is engaged in dozens of cafes and shops, stretching further to the back of the Odhos Skridhlof market ("Leather street"). In the direction of the Quarter of Spyanza (Spiantza), the ancient alleys with a dilapidated Venetian masonry and hanging wooden balconies stretch to the east. There are a couple of minarets – one on Dhaliani Street, and the second is adjacent to the church of Ayos Nikolaos. Plotia 1821 square spread around – a great place to just stop and drink a cup of coffee in numerous taverns and cafes.
Entertainment
The evening can be held in numerous bars and restaurants around the harbor, although the locals themselves prefer more relaxing establishments east, in the area of the Embankment Akti Miaouuli. And the best nightclubs are located on the coast west of the city, closer to the beachfront.
Beach rest
Good beaches start literally 10 minutes on foot to the west of eternally crowded, but pure urban beach, for the naval museum. But the most popular beaches can be found further – right up to the Akrotiri Peninsula. It is easiest to get to the local bus number 21 (departs from the eastern side of Platia 1866 Square and runs throughout the coast to Kalamaki Beach) or flight buses KTEL (depart from the main city station on Kydhonias).
