Top Sights in Chania, Crete | Traveler by Unique
Archaeological Museum of Chania
Top Sights in Chania
The Museum has been housed in the church of the Venetian Monastery of St Francis since 1963. Its exhibits illustrate the cultural history of the region from Neolithic period to Roman era. You will find two major sections. The east wing has exhibits from the Late Neolithic period and the Bronze Age while the west wing presents antiquities from the Iron Age.
The collections comprise Minoan finds from various parts of the Prefecture, finds from tombs of the Geometric period, finds of the Historic era from Chania and various towns and cities in the region, coins, prehistoric and historic jewelry, sculptures, inscriptions and mosaics.
In 2000 Mitsotakis family donated their private collection. The exhibits include examples of Minoan pottery, clay models, stone carvings, seal carvings, jewelry and various objects from different areas.
The museum hosts temporary exhibitions, educational programs and various events.
28 Halidon St, Chania 73132
Τel: 28210 90334
Email: [email protected]
Maritime Museum of Crete
Top Sights in Chania
Maritime Museum of Crete is located at the entrance of Firka Fortress. It was founded in 1973 to house the Greek Maritime Traditions and it’s the second oldest Museum in Greece. It hosts various maritime symbols, model of the Venetian Chania, photographic material and ship models from the Balkan wars, portraits of the Independence struggle of Cretans and exhibits from Byzantine period and Bronze era. You could also vie antiques from World War 2 and the post-war period.
The museum also hosts various exhibitions such as shell exhibition, Lighthouse material, exhibits from the battle of Crete and of Greek traditional naval architecture.
Part of the Museum is also the shipyard of MORO at the other side of the harbor. Worth mentioning that the museum in collaboration with other local authorities in 2000 shipbuilder the reconstruction of a Minoan Ship. The ship launched on 1st December 2003 and on 29th of May at the same year made a 10 days sailing trip following the route from Chania to Peiraias just as the Minoans had done in the past.
01/11 to 30/04 Daily 9:00 to 15:30
01/05 - 31/10 Daily 9:00 to 17:00 Sunday 10:00 to 18:00
Permanent Exhibition of Ancient and traditional shipbuilding (Neorio Moro)
01/05 - 31/10 Daily 9:00 to 17:00 Sunday 10:00 to 18:00
Folklore Museum of Chania
Top Sights in Chania
Located in the old town of Chania on Halidon Street you will find the Folklore Museum of Chania, also known as “Cretan House."
The Folklore Museum represents agricultural and household activities using human models with authentic tools and products used in 18th and the 19th century. The Museum also hosts a place where replicas of old needlework are being made. You can also find embroidery, with scenes taken from local customs.
Halidon Street 46B.
Tel: 0032821090816
The Art Gallery - Municipal Art Gallery of Chania
Top Sights in Chania
Municipal Art Gallery is a centre of cultural education, having fine arts as its basis and a much wider frame of activities. The Gallery has managed to approach the course of art of the local artists in a historical aspect. Its collection numbers many artists works. Nowadays its considered as the institute of protection and rescue of culture with a wider possible significance than just an art museum. The Gallery has also published various exhibitions.
98-102, Chalidon Street, 73 131 Chania, Crete, Greece
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +30 28210 92294 & +30 28210 92419
Archaeological Museum of Kissamos
Top Sights in Chania
Located in Kissamos the Archaeological Museum is housed in the city's Turkish-built monument known as the Governor's Office next to the "Castel Chissamos", which gave rise to the former name of the city, Kastelli. The Museum accommodates the archaeological finds of the city and the wider area of Kissamos. Its exhibits illustrate the history of the region from prehistoric to Christian times.
The exhibition is divided into chronological sections and covers the ground and first floor of the building.
At the ground floor you will see Minoan findings from the excavations at Nopigia (9th-8th century BC) as well as the historical development of major cities of western Crete: Polyrrhenia and Falassarna that flourished in the Hellenistic period (4th-1st century BC). It also presents pottery and ceramic findings from smaller local cities and settlements of the region and Hellenistic inscriptions and sculptures from the area of Kissamos, dating mostly to the Roman period (67 BC - 4th century AD).
The first floor is dedicated to the town of Kissamos and the findings from local excavations. Here one can admire mosaic floors with interesting pictorial representations from urban villas, amphorae and coins coming from trade, findings from workshops, everyday objects and findings from tombs of Falassarna and Polirinia, a burial of the second half of the 4th century BC, from the Roman and early Christian cemetery.
Stratigou Tzanakaki Square, 73400, Kissamos
Tel: +30 28220 83308, Fax: 2822083308
Email: [email protected]
Saint Nicholas’ Church (Splantzia Square)
Top Sights in Chania
Saint Nicholas’ Church built during Venetian era as the main structure of the Monastery of the Dominican Order.
During the Turkish period it was transformed into a mosque. The minaret with its two balconies was truly impressive. In 1928, it became an Orthodox church. It is located in the Splantzia Square, where one can also see the Venetian chapel of Saint Rocco’s and the tree where the Turks hanged the Bishop of Kissamos, Melhisedek Despotakis, in 1821.
Firka Fortress
Top Sights in Chania
A glorious castle! Firka Fortress on the northwestern side of the port of Chania is a truly magnificent structure. The Venetians built the so called Revellino del Porto, a fortified construction used to protect the harbor.
The construction started during 6th century and concluded a few years before the Turkish conquest, almost a century later.
Intzedin Fortress
Top Sights in Chania
Intzedin Fortress built from Turks is located on the hill of Kalami village overlooking Souda Gulf, 15km from Chania city. Built in 1872 took its name from the first son of Sultan Abdul Aziz Intzedin. It was used as a prison for political prisoners as well as prisoners of the common criminal law and for prisoners who received death penalty.
Many people suffered and died in its dark and hostile cells, while its last role as a place where prisoners were people who fought for democracy became an inspiration for various books and movies