Chania Greece, the second largest city on the
island of Crete has a long history beginning with
Neolithic settlements. Minoan, Roman, Byzantine,
Venetian cultures blend, leaving many signs of the
town’s many change of hands. Today the many cultures
can be seen in the arts offered in Chania.
On the north coast of Crete island lays its second
largest city, Chania. The greater area host a
population of 70,000 in this city built on a plain,
but sprawling into hilly suburbs. Chania has a long,
very extensive history. It appears to have been
inhabited since the Neolithic period. The central
part of town, on a small hillside right on
the seafront, next to a fertile valley was home to
Stone Age people.
Historically, Chania Greece is the site of
the Minoan town of Cydonia, which means quince. After
the Minoan period, the settlement reemerged as an
important city during the Classical period. The first
wave of settlers arrived around 1100 BC. Cydonia was
frequently at war with other Cretan cities. Then, in
69 BC, Roman conquerors granted the city independent
city-state statues. Cydonia began minting its own
coins, and continued doing so until the Third Century
AD.
During the time of the Byzantine Empire, the city was
renamed Chania, and was ruled by the Arabs. Christians
were persecuted and fled to the hills.
Then the Fourth Crusade, 1204, sent Chania into the
hands of the Venetians, then to the Genoans. Greek
and Italian cultures intertwined, and the city became
known as La Canea. Fortifications, still seen today,
were created, then strengthened. Priests, monks and
artists took refuge in the city, creating the blend of
Byzantine/Venetian/Classical Greek cultures still felt
today. La Canea was the site of much intellectual
activity.
More turmoil was on the way for this city with the
Turkish invasion of 1645. The Pasha of Crete took up
residence in Chania. Then the Greeks rose against the
Ottomans in 1821. Treaties led to a semi-autonomous
Cretan state. Chania again minted its own coins and
issued its own stamps.
Parts of the city were bombed during World War II.
The Jewish community was completely eliminated. By
the 1970’s, Chania had recovered. Crete was becoming
a major tourist attraction, and the city’s economy
improved drastically.
Today Chania Greece is a center of music, films, theater,
arts, festivals. It celebrates the many cultures of
its history as well as the European, Asian and African
cultures of its close neighbors. In summer, it is
easy to find outdoor concerts or theater productions.
The old town, remnants of its Venetian history,
survives with some of the walls intact. This is right
on the harbor. The old town’s central square is the
heart of tourist activities. To the west is the
Topanas District, a very colorful and picturesque area
with narrow alleys and old, restored buildings. The
harbor also has surviving old buildings which are not
part of the city’s nightlife.
The oldest district of the modern city dates from the
early 1700’s. In older neighborhoods, narrow lanes
lead directly to the fishing harbors.
Chania is a family oriented place where one can find
traditional tavernas as well as foreign restaurants.
It is a place where tourism is developing even more as
local and specific knowledge is shared through
ecotourism and agrotourism opportunities.
by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com mailto:greekinfo@gmail.com">greekinfo@gmail.com />
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