Chania – a city that harmoniously combines the romance of narrow alleys and streets, numerous buildings built in the style of Ottoman and Venetian architecture of the old town, near the port, and elegance modern buildings, beautiful squares and wide alleys that adorn new areas of Chania. Chania region is located on the west side. Crete. Much of the area is decorated with the White Mountains. Among the mountains lies very beautiful Samaria gorge.
16.06.2013
Ущельями пересечён весь остров, а в особенности горный хребетWhite peaks (Lefka Ori), as if the island had a comb. Samaria is one of the most beautiful in Crete and in Europe. Therefore, it very populous. At its narrowest point the distance between the rocks It is only three meters in which the river is also located. In the summer, real queues line up here to get out. on the coast of the Libyan Sea.
Tired tourists after a long mountain walk do not try miss opportunities to swim in crystal emerald water Libyan Sea and soak up the black and sandy beaches of the village of Agia Rumel.
The city of Chania is the second largest and most populated city of Crete, it has always been popular, since the Neolithic times for this place fierce wars were constantly being fought. Here was the Minoan Cydonia, in the ninth century, Arabs dominated, in 1252 came Venetians, in 1645 – the Turks, who built their site on this site Cretan capital. Mosques, minarets and wooden bay windows significantly changed the look of the city. Finally expel the Turks from Chania and from the island of Crete was only possible in 1898.
In the city of Chania you can see wonderful sights of greece. Main attraction Venetian Old Town, which is completely pedestrian zone, Odos Khalidon street. It connects the area with the Venetian by the port. On its right side is a large cathedral with wonderful large-scale murals. On the left side there is The three-nave Gothic church of St. Francis, built in the seventeenth century, rebuilt by the Turks in the mosque (about this look like a fountain for washing and the foundation of a minaret). Today here there is a city archaeological museum with exhibits from the era Neolithic to Roman times.
On the left side of a large Venetian port are located taverns and bars, on the right – the former mosque of Hassan Pasha, built in seventeenth century. To the west of the port begins the picturesque urban Topanas quarter. In the old streets, rich in monuments architecture, you can find the best artists artisans of Crete. The entrance to the Venetian port protects the bastion of Firka. Here it is Maritime Museum where you can see how Chania looked in the time of the Venetians. The Great Hall is dedicated to the Battle of Crete. 1941-1944 East of the Venetian port you will find Arsenal, which is surrounded by fishing and yacht harbor. Before seventeen Warehouses served Venetians shipyard.
On the west side, Odos Archoleon Street begins with the former Dominican Church of St. Nicholas. In 1645, in times of Turkish domination, it was rebuilt into a mosque, and the belfry became the minaret; today it is again an Orthodox church, but with a touch of Islam in appearance. For a short walk through shopping recommended street Odos Skridlof. On its east The tip is an indoor market, built in 1911. Worth visit the Samaria Gorge, which lies south of Chania, away from main road.
Photo: greekbook.ru, Timo Nieminen, Boleslaw Kubica
