Island of Crete, Greece, port city of Chania - March 24

Chania, Greece, Island of Crete- March 24

The city of Chania is known for its 14th-century Venetian harbor, busy narrow streets, and waterfront shops and cafes. It was built on the foundations of the Ancient Greek city of Kydonia, mentioned in Homer’s “Odyssey”. 

The Venetian Harbor's 15th century lighthouse still stands, a tribute to their building expertise.

The now Orthodox Church of Agios Nikolaos was built during the Venetian occupation, around 1320, as a Catholic church. During the Turkish occupation, it was turned into a mosque, at which time a minaret with two balconies was erected. In 1928, it was converted into an Orthodox church. 

This was the way it was, all over. Romans, Venetians, then Turks, all battling, conquering, and rebuilding.

The Kucjk Hassan Mosque on the waterfront is the oldest Ottoman building in Crete. It was erected in 1645 when the Turks captured Chania. The minaret was destroyed during the bombings of World War II. The building stopped functioning as a mosque in 1923.

The stop at Chania was unexpected, because it was too windy to dock at the scheduled port of Heraklion, so we deviated to Chania for the day. 

 

Oldest Ottoman building in Crete, 1645

Current Orthodox church w/o minaret

Internet pic of current Orthodox church when it was a mosque with minaret

These Greek-Swedish Excavations in Haghia Aikaterini Square cover 5,000 years of history. Built in 3,000 BC!!! destoyed in 1,450 BC!!

Lighthouse from the 1400's in Venetian harbor 

Fort on waters edge

Love the water colors

Leaving Crete, snow capped mountains in background