MUSEUMS OF THE TOWN
The Archeological Museum (Chalidon 25, tel. 90334) is under the same roof as the Catholic church of St Francis. Rich in idols clay sarcophagus, statues, guns, items of ceramic and glasswork, old coins, inscriptions, jewelry, etc.
The Naval Museum of Crete
(Akti Kountourioti, tel 91875) exhibits different kinds of naval warguns, navigation equipment, model ships, portraits of important admirals, even a collection of rare shells!The historical Archive of Crete
(I. Sfalianaki 20, tel 52606) contains pictures, photographs and material pertaining to Eleftherios Venizelos, the revolutions against the Turks and the resistance of the Cretans in the second world war.The War Museum
(Stratopedo Tzompanaki, tel 44156) contains rare photographic material and historical heirlooms from the revolution of the Cretans against the conquering Turks, from the Macedonian war (1903-1908), The Balkanian wars and the destruction of the Greek part of Asia. It also contains memorabilia from the second world war and the “Battle of Crete” (1941-1945).
VENETIAN AND TURΚISH MONUMENTS OF ΤΗΕ TOWN
(l3ΤΗ-l9ΤΗ CENTURY AD)
The Neoria (in the harbour of the Old Τοwη). Venetian buildings (14th-16th century AD) which were used for the protection, repair or building of Venetian "galleys". There are 9 (out of the original 25) still in existence.
The Loggia (α club) in the area of the "Xenia Hotel" and the church of St. Francis in Chalidon street, are two of the most important Venetian monuments. Also worth seeing are the churches of St. Rokos (1630, Splantzia) and St. Sotiros (near "Xenia").
The breakwater and the Lighthouse are both Venetian (with Arabian foundations), whilst the Mosque (with its' domeshape) is Arabian. These monuments are α11 found in the harbour.
The Firka Fortress (opposite the lighthouse) is where the Cretan rebels were imprisoned by the Turks. The minaret (at the church of St. Nicholas, Splantzia), the
Turkish baths
(near the main town church), the Court House (Court Square) - which is also the County Ηαll, the Italian army barracks (next to the Public Gardens), all originated from the Turkish period of the islands' history.
NEW MONUMENTS
The Public Market [1 ], the Public Gardens (1870, α creation of Reouf Pasas), the house of the French school "Saint Joseph" (Chalepa, 1860), the refurbished Villa Koundourou (at the end of Iroon Politechniou str.) and also the houses of ΕΙ. Venizelos and Prince George in Chalepa.
The Venizelos Graves (Profitis Ilias, Akrotiri), 5 km out of town, οn the way t o the airport. Here rests Eleftherios Venizelos, the greatest politician of Greek modern history [2].
The German Eagle (3 km from Chania, οn the road to Casteli) and the German Cemetery [3] in Maleme with 4,465 graves, are reminders of the recent history of the county.
Equally remembered are the graves of the British, which can be found in Souda, with 1,597 graves, mainly from the "Battle of Crete".
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Aptera
(15 km from Chania, οn the way to Rethimno) [1 ]: one of the most important ancient towns of Western Crete, overlooking the plain and the bay of Souda. The ruins of α small ancient temple and the walls of the town still exist; together with the remains of αn ancient Greek theatre, Roman reservoirs, a Venetian monastery and a Turkish castle.Polyrrinia
(49 km NW of Chania) [2]: ruins from the walls, the acropolis of the ancient town and the sanctuary of Artemida Diktinna, there are also remains of α Roman aqueduct. The Venetian church of 99 Martyrs is built οn the foundations of a Greek temple, with building materials from roman times.Falassarna
(55 km west of Chania) [3, 4]: remains of cyclopean walls, house foundations and sculptures carved into the rocks. Important ancient sites still exist in the following places: Elyros (near Rodovani) and Irtakina, Lissos and Syia (at Sougia), Kandanos and Kadros (minoan graves carved into the rocks), Tarra (Aghia Roumeli), Araden and Anopolis (in Sfakia), Hippokoroneon (Apokoronas), Karidi [5] etc.THE SAMARIA GORGE
Rightly considered to be the most magnificent απd beautiful gorge in Europe, which is why it has been honoured three times with a "Α Class" diploma by the Council of Europe (1980, 1984, 1989) for the purity of its natural environment. Situated 43 km south of Chania, it is 18 km long. The entrance is at the mountain of Omalos. From 1962 it has been declared a protected "National Park" and passage through it is allowed οnly from Μαy to October. It has water all year round. Its impressive, wild, pure naturalness with unsurpassed views, show the immeasurable variations of nature on your journey into the gorge and provokes a feeling of awe απd the sentiment of your own insignificance before the grandeur of nature! It takes approximately 4-5 hours to travel through the gorge. Your reward is α beautiful sandy beach and a marvellous sea. There you will find many places to rest and eat α good meal. All the tourist offices of Crete and the Island Bus Company organise trips το the Samaria Gorge. The buses take you to Omalos, then after Aghia Roumeli, at the end of the gorge, you travel by boat to Sfakia or Paleochora, from where you catch the bus back to Chania.
FRANGOCASTELO
Frangocastelo (“Castel Franco” ) is situated to the east of Chora Sfakion, near the Libya sea (80 km from Chania). Built by the Venetians in 1371 for their protection form pirates and from Cretan rebels, it is a most impressive and well preserved castle. The beautiful sea with its beaches is a centre of attraction as is the strange story of unexplained human shadows (Drossiulites) that appear at dawn on May and September mornings. The people of Sfakia say that the dead of the Castle appear from the sea, exciting the imagination of artists, poets and historians. “….you feel it…” G. Manoussakis writes, a Chania writer, in his book “Travelling in Sfakia” (page 72, 1980). “At this end of Sfakian land the ghosts of nature and the remains of history live every night together. The spirits of air, of water, and the plain mix with the souls of the dead, and you, the person day, are the intruder in this secret cohabination.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The climate and the configuration of the land make the county of Chania a paradise for thousands of plants and animals: The lilys of the sea (pancratium maritimum), the lavdano (lavdanum), the cyclamen (cyclamen creticum), the Cretan tulips (tulipa cretica), the maple (acer creticus) and chiefly the endemic and unique dittany (origanum dictamum) and malorita (dideritis cretica), which, with matzourana (origanum maiorana), compose medicinal boiling plants of Omalos you can find stamnagathi (cihorium spinosum). Dried or freshly cut, these special medicinal herbs can be found in the Public Market or local shops. In Crete you can find 17 unique plants, 4 of which exist only in the county of Chania. The proud Creta beast, the “Kri-Kri” (capra aegagrus cretica) [1,2], lives freely only in the Samaria Gorge. There and elsewhere you can see Cretan eagles (aquila chrysaetos) and partridges (alectoris chucar). Ferrets (martes foina bunites), skunks (meles meles arcalus), weasels (mustela nivalis galinthias), hares, hawks etc. can also be seen in open places. There is also an endeavour to protect an area on the north shores of the county especially for the turtles (caretta-caretta), that live there.
POPULAR ART
Popular traditional Cretan art is continued today in weaving, crocheting, carpet making, towels, lace work etc. showing the feel for beauty and art the people of the county have. Village women and local co-operatives make embroideries from silk or wool. Hand-crafted items of glass, wood and metal can be found in Casteli Kissamos, while workshops for ceramic goods, wooden sculptures, as well as metallurgy (copper, gold and silver) are plentiful in the county. There is a special workshop for glass blowing at Kokkino Chorio Apokoronou. Many shops selling popular art can be found in the old town. Above the Catholic Church there is the “Cretan House” (private folk museum). Rich folk material can also be found in exhibitions at the firka Fortress. You can also see collections of objects from farming and the local civilization at Kandanos, Gavalochori, Vamos, Kefalas, Therisso, Spilia Kissamos, Sougia, Askifou (Sfakia), Azogires and elsewhere. A special techniwue is the production of Cretan boots (made from genuine leather) at Stivanadika (Skridlof str., Chania) where dominating all else , is the smell of leather. Other characteristic items are Cretan Knives with four line poems written on their blades.
Telephone numbers Useful Telephones for all Greece
First Aid Station tel: 166
Police tel: 100
ELPA Road Assistance tel: 104
Tourist Police tel: 171
Greek National Tourist Organization tel: + 30 210 3223111
Piraeus Port Authorities + 30 210 4226000
Rafina Port Authorities +30 22940 22300
Olympic Airways Airport Information + 30 210 9363363
Western Athens Airport Information + 30 210 9369111
Useful Telephones for Chania
Police Chania : ( + 30 28210) 43333
Chania Port Authorities:( + 30 28210) 89240
Chania Airport: ( + 30 28210) 63264
Olympic Airways: ( + 30 28210) 57701
Hospital ( + 30 28210) 44421