The Old Venetian Harbour of Chania

The Old Venetian Harbour of Chania

The old Venetian harbour of Chania it will amaze you whenever you visit it. The quay is the busiest part of the old town of Chania, filled with cafes, restaurants, bars, bakeries and other shops.

However, the old Venetian harbour of Chania would have been just like another beautiful seaside tourist place, if there haven't been preserved its monuments since the Venetian rule period (1252-1645), the Ottoman rule (1645-1898 ), and the years of the Egyptian domination (1831-1841) that occurred during the Turkish period.

Walking along the seafront you will find one of the few surviving examples of Renaissance Islamic art, the Turkish Mosque Yiali Tzami (or Giali Tzami) dedicated to Kucuk Hassan, the first Turkish military governor of Chania.

Just in front of it, the traditional horse carriages are waiting to take you for the most romantic ride, in the alleys of the picturesque old town of Chania.

Horse carriage in front of Yiali Tzami

Going east you will meet Neoria (also known as arsenal).
These are stone buildings with arched facades, which functioned as a place for repairing the ships of the Venetian fleet.
Your walk will end a few meters below the Moro Neorio, which has been reconstructed and functions as a showroom of the Maritime Museum and a cafe.

 

Directions - Map