Chania is considered the most beautiful city of Crete. For a long time it was even the capital of the island. Many sights are perfectly preserved to this day. We will tell about the most interesting places in the city itself and its environs in this article. And for those who want to get to know the city and its surroundings better, we recommend a familiar guide - Katerina, about whose excursions Grekoblog.
Old town in Chania
Chania, like many other Greek cities with history, is divided into two parts - Old and New. Of course, the Old Town deserves attention with its narrow streets, reminiscent of Venetian ones, a medieval fortress, temples and museums. This part of Chania is divided into several quarters, each of which is beautiful and interesting in its own way.
Medieval houses in Chania are best preserved in the Venetian quarter of Topanas. The Firkas fortress dating back to 1629 is also located there: on its territory there is the Maritime Museum, where you can get acquainted with the history of navigation, see ship models and various ship utensils.
In the Jewish quarter of Chania, Venetian houses are also well preserved, as well as part of the fortress wall and the Shiavo bastion. It is impossible not to mention the Turkish quarter of Splandzia, on the territory of which the Arsenal is located, as well as two churches - St. Nicholas and the Holy Unmercenaries.
Walking around the Old Town, by all means look into the port, not far from which you can see the Janissaries Mosque. It is worth visiting the covered market, the building of which has the shape of a cross, and the museums of Chania - Historical and Archaeological.
Monastery of Agia Triada
Agia Triada, or Holy Trinity Monastery, is one of the richest, most beautiful and well-maintained monasteries in Crete. This landmark of Chania, surrounded by olive groves, orchards and vineyards, is located 15 kilometers from the city on the Akrotiri peninsula.
The construction of the monastery was started in 1611 by monk brothers Jeremiah and Lavrenty Tsagarolon, their surname is often added to the name of the monastery complex. During its existence, the monastery was rebuilt several times - first after the Turkish invasion, then after the Greek revolution.
Today, Agia Triada occupies a rather large territory, which houses the Cathedral, the Church of Christ the Savior, a library, a museum, a seminary, monastic cells, as well as an oil mill and a winery.
The inhabitants of the monastery have long and to this day produce excellent wine, olive oil and fragrant honey - they can be bought in the monastery shop, open from 8 am to late evening.
Ancient city of Aptera
The ruins of the city of Aptera, the first mention of which dates back to the XIV-XIII centuries BC, are located between the cities of Chania and. Aptera means "wingless" in Greek. They say that this name was given to the city by the Sirens, who lost the competition to the Muses, who took away their wings.
At the time of its heyday, Aptera was a significant commercial and military site with two ports, developed agriculture, construction and craft activities. The wealth and grandeur of the city is evidenced by the coins found at the excavations, minted in Aptera.
Today, on the territory of ancient Aptera, you can see sections of the fortress wall that once surrounded the city, the ruins of the Roman theater and the temple of Demeter, the monastery of John the Theologian, domed cisterns, which were either part of the water supply system, or granaries. We strongly recommend that you visit this attraction of Chania.
Samaria Gorge
The largest Samaria Gorge in Europe is located at a distance of 43 kilometers from Chania, near the village of Omalos. The 13-kilometer Samaria Canyon starts at an altitude of 1227 meters on the Xyloskalo Plateau and ends about two kilometers from the sea in the village of Ayia Roumeli.
Since ancient times, the gorge has been inhabited, but in 1962, when the National Park was organized on its territory, the inhabitants of the village of Samaria were resettled. The village houses housed park employees - security guards and rescuers, equipped with a first-aid post and a pharmacy. Several ancient churches have been preserved in the gorge: Hosia Maria, Agios Nikolaos, the Church of St. Mary of Egypt, the Church of Christ - some of them are open to the public. The flora and fauna of the Samaria Reserve is rich and diverse - 450 species of plants and many animals and birds, including very rare ones.
The walking tour lasts 4-8 hours: the duration depends on the level of physical fitness of tourists, since the route laid through the gorge can hardly be called an ordinary walk. Hiking in the canyon is allowed from mid-May until the end of October, because in winter and spring the river flowing along the bottom turns into a stormy and rather dangerous stream.
Grekoblog has dedicated more details to the Samaria Gorge, as well as ways to visit it with excursions or on your own.
Lake Kourna
Lake Kourna, or Kournas, is an important attraction not only of Chania, but of the entire island. The only freshwater lake in Crete is located about 40 kilometers from the city, on the eastern slope of the Lefka Ori ridge - the White Mountains. On one side of the lake, mountains rise, reflected in the transparent water surface, on the other, a picturesque green valley.
Once the lake was called Koresia after the name of the temple of Athena of Koresia standing on its shore. The temple has not survived to this day, only mentions of it in historical chronicles remain.
Kournas is the largest freshwater lake in Crete
The territory of the lake is protected by the European program for the protection of natural beauty and ecology. Its shores have been chosen by wild ducks, cormorants and herons, and in the lake itself there are several species of fish and turtles of a rare breed with a patterned shell.
On the gently sloping shore of Lake Kourna, facing the valley, there is an excellent sandy beach, catamaran and canoe rentals, a mini-zoo, several taverns and cafes. A little south of the lake is a cave with the same name - small, but quite interesting.
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