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Chania

Three Generations’ Trip to Chania

Three years ago, my mother, my grandmother and I, we traveled to Crete for couple of days, and returned with beautiful memories. The first few days we stayed in Heraklion at the administrative capital of Crete. When we were in Heraklion, we visited most of the ancient sites and museums but also we watched the film Zorba the Greek and visited the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis. Then, we rented a car and drove to the beautiful to the picturesque town of Chania...

The history of Chania began in the Neolithic period. The remaining of the first settlements of Chania are found on the hill of Kastelli, above the medieval Venetian harbour. The hill had a defensive role and it was a strategical location used by all the civilizations that settled in Chania. The first archaeological evidences that indicate that Chania was a trading centre dates to the Minoan period (3650 BC – 1450 BC). Archaeologists have found the remaining of a Minoan palace, however the site cannot be excavated because it situated under the center of modern Chania.

In the 1st century, the Romans settled in Crete and the city stayed under the East Roman (Byzantine) rule until 1204. From the 1st until the 13th century, the urban structure of the city developed. A fortress was established on the hill of Kastelli and the port of Chania became an important centre for the maritime trade routes. In the 13th century, the Venetians annexed Crete. Crete was particularly important for the Venetians because it was located on their Mediterranean trade routes. As a result, Venetians invested into the port cities in Crete and one of the major investment was done in Chania. Therefore, today most of the buildings in the old town of Chania are from the Venetian period. The major monuments that still stand today in the old town are the Arsenali buildings built in the 15th century. These buildings were constructed for ship building and repairs. Originally there were seventeen of them in a terrace, however nine of them were demolished under the Ottoman rule. Today Arsenali buildings are used by the Center of Mediterranean Architecture and some of them used for various events and exhibitions.

http://www.chaniatourism.com/see-do/archaeological-sites-historical-monuments/66-venetian-neoria.html

From 1645 until 1912, the island was conquered by the Ottomans. Because of the two-month long siege the city was mostly damaged. Therefore, after the siege the Ottomans reinforced the walls and established new houses, but also public baths, fountains and mosques. Until the 20th century, there a major Muslim population in Chania and one of the buildings that remains from the Ottoman era is 17th century mosque, the Mosque Kioutsouk Hassan (the Mosque of Little Hasan) or Giali Tzamisi (the Mosque of the Seaside). The mosque is situated in the old town near the port. The building has a unique architectural style and today it is used for exhibitions. As a result, similar to the other port cities, Chania has a complex history and the visitors can see all the layers of history while wondering on the streets of the old town.

http://www.chaniatourism.com/see-do/archaeological-sites-historical-monuments/67-giali-tzamisi.html

17th century Map of Chania

This map was created by the Flemmish engraver Jacob Peeters (1637-1695) in 1690. The map clearly portrays the fortifications that surrounds the city and arsenals that were built by the Venetians. Peeters have also depicted the key monuments of the port city and explained them in alphabetical urder the map of Chania.


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