Chania Old Venetian Harbour

The Old Venetian Harbour of Chania is a top-class world attraction, which should be in the "100 places to visit" list of every world traveler. Built in the 14th century during the Venetian era of Crete, it was second in importance only after the Venice Harbour itself. Its purpose was to make Chania a center of maritime trade in the Eastern Mediterranean, and to protect the city from pirate raids, and it was so big that it could contain up to 40 Venetian galleys. The landmark of the harbour, lying on the edge of the Venetian Sea Wall, is the distinctive Lighthouse, which has been superbly restored. On the other side of the harbour entrance you will see the big, red-colored Firkas Fortress, which now houses the Maritime Museum of Crete. In the center of the harbour you can find the Kioutsouk Hasan mosque, with its characteristic unique shape. On the eastern side of the old harbour, behind the modern small harbour, you can find the huge Venetian Arsenalis, or Neoria. The biggest of them, the Grand Arsenali, now houses the Center of Mediterranean Architecture. In the Venetian Harbour of Chania you will be impressed by the variety of buildings with exquisite architecture from all the different historical periods of the city. But you will be amazed by the once-in-a-lifetime feeling to be in a unique, wonderful place, that seems to have come out of history books, and which will travel you back in time.