| Overview | Things to do | Suitability | Country Info (Greece) |
 |
Chania is situated on the north west coast of Crete (42 mls NW of Rethymnon, 10 mls W of Chania airport; 90 mls NW of Heraklion airport). It is located on the Gulf, and in the prefecture, of Chania, surrounded by countryside and some of the island's most fertile agricultural land, with the stunning grandeur of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) as a backdrop; the mountains have snow on the upper reaches for half the year.
Chania is built on the site of an ancient Minoan city and the capital of Crete until the 1970s, Chania is the island's second largest town with a resident population of around 140,000; its main centre measures about 2 mls by 1½ mls with sprawling residential suburbs rising uphill to the rear of town. It is generally hailed as one of the most charming Cretan resorts, it has a rich history encompassing Byzantine, Arabian, Venetian and Turkish occupations. This inheritance is reflected in many of the buildings in the Old Town, which fans out along the sea front north of the cruciform-shaped market hall and is loosely divided into Venetian, Turkish and Jewish quarters. Here you can find medieval structures, mosques and minarets alongside later colonial or neoclassical architecture. A Venetian/Egyptian lighthouse guards the entrance to the long, picturesque harbour with its abundance of fine restaurants and cafes, a focal point for visitors from morning to late into the evening. |
