The Monastery of Agia Triada Tzagarolon
The Monastery of Agia Triada Tzagarolon is one of the largest monastic complexes of the late Venetian rule throughout Crete. It is located at the foothills of the Stavros in Akrotiri and flourished during the Ottoman rule. Today it still plays a key role in the religious and economic life of the country and attracts foreign and local visitors.
Venetian Harbour of Chania
The Venetian Harbour was built in the period between 1320 and 1356. In the 16th century the Venetians would build a wall with battlements along the breakwater, the Bastion of St. Nicholas of Molos, the Fortress Revellino del Porto at the entrance of the harbor and the lighthouse. During the Cretan State expands the foundations of the port, but the next decades, the passenger and commercial activity will be transferred to the large natural harbor of Souda.
Venetian dockyards
The dockyards started being manufactured in the early 16th century in the harbor of Chania to because of the ever growing needs of Venice ships to be repaired. In the years of Ottoman occupation, there were converted mainly in military warehouses. Today only seven survived, the Great Arsenal in the west, and from the dockyards of Moro are saved two, now hosting various private and public activities.
Eleftherios Venizelos Square (Syntrivani)
Syntrivani or Mavrovounio Square, as it was called during the Cretan State, (now Eleftheriou Venizelos Square), although small, was the most secular square, the center of discussions and meetings of the Chanians. It was paved, with cafes, hotels, clubs and luxury novelty shops. It was named after a massive fountain, decorated with lions’ heads, to […]
Church of St. Rocco
The church of San Rocco was built on the northwest side of the square Splantzia in 1630, probably after the outbreak of the plague, while Saint Rokkos was the protector of Chania from this contagious disease. During the Ottoman rule functioned as a military guardhouse, while during the Cretan State and until 1925 as a police station.
Firkas Fortress
It was built by the Venetians in the northwestern part of the port of Chania to protect the harbor entrance. It was the headquarters of the Military Governor of the city and inside there were a number of auxiliary buildings. During the Ottoman rule Firkas was used as barracks and prison, while on December 1, 1913, on its corner tower was raised the flag of the Union of Crete with Greece.
Santa Lucia Bastion
In the southwestern corner of the Venetian fortifications is located Santa Lucia Bastion, which took its name from the orthodox church of Agia Fotini (Luccia), located in current Minoos Street. It was built in 1568, while a large part of the bastion was buried in 1930 under Nikiforos Fokas & Cyprus Street and nowadays there are efforts of its emergence by the Archaeological Service.
Piatta Forma Bastion
The Piatta Forma Bastion was built in the middle of the south side of the Venetian fortifications. It was in front of the Bastion of Santa Lucia to the east and of the bastion of St. Dimitrios to the west, while it was protecting the main city gate, the Porta Retimiotta (the gate of Rethymno). […]
Gate and Bastion Sabbionara
The Gate Sabbionara is located on the northeastern part of the Venetian fortifications and is the only surviving structure. During Ottoman rule, it suffered major changes regarding its external appearance. The same name was given at the bastion that was built on the north, in front of which survives a circular emblem with the Lion of St. Mark and Venetian coat of arms.
Rampart of Lando or Schiavo or Saint Dimitrios
On the southwest of the Venetian fortifications, the bastion of Agios Dimitrios took its name from the homonym church, which functioned as Cathedral of Chania during the Venetian period. It is also called Lando or Schiavo, names of Venetian Officials. On this it was built the circular rampart of Agios Dimitrios.
