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Chania Old Town Tour: Explore Ancient Civilizations and Historical Streets in a Private Van
5.0
28 Ratings
Chania Town
Immerse yourself in the ancient civilizations and historical streets of Chania's Old Town on a private van tour. Discover the influences of Minoan, Roman, Venetian, and Ottoman cultures as you stroll through historic alleys and explore the Orthodox, Muslim, and Jewish quarters. Book now!
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Chania Town - Tour Chania old town and visit various landmarks and historic sites
- Old Venetian Harbor - Tour Chania old town for 3 hours, visit the landmarks and historic sites.
- Lighthouse of Chania - Chania lighthouse is the oldest light house in the Mediterranean, built in 1864. The lighthouse is the main landmark of Chania. The tower is 21m high and is built on a stone base, located at the end of the old harbour’s pier opposite to the fortress of Firkas. Visitors are not allowed to enter the lighthouse. Chania lighthouse was first constructed by the Venetians around 1600, destroyed in the siege of Chania and it took its final form, in the shape of a minaret, during the Egyptian occupation. It was restored in 1996.
- Firkas Fortress - The fortress of Firkas on the northwest side of the port of Chania was constructed between 1610 and 1645 to protect the Venetian harbour entrance from raiders. The fall of the city of Chania in the hands of the Turks in 1645, meant automatically that the fortress belonged to the new conquerors. That is when it got its current name, because “Firka” in Turkish means “barrack”. On the northern side of the Firka fortress were six consecutive domes, that sheltered the large cannons, so that they would face the entrance of the harbor and face any possible attacker. The Firka Fortress was used as a prison since then and up to the Greek civil war of the 20th century. During the Ottoman rule, the Firka Fortress constituted the seat of the military governor of the city. It is the place where the Greek flag was raised, in 1913, the year of the reunion of Crete with Greece. Today, at the entrance of the Fortress is situated the Maritime Museum.
- Cathedral of Eisodion tis Theotokou - The Orthodox Cathedral of Chania or church of Trimartiri is situated in Halidon street. The present temple was built on the place of an older church of Virgin Mary which dated back to the 14th century. In 1645, during the Ottoman occupation, the temple was converted into a soap factory , owned by the Turkish official Moustafa Pasha Giritli. The reconstruction of the church was completed in 1860 in the style of a three aisle Basilica, and was donated by the local pasha to the local community. On the northeast side of the temple there is the high bell-tower. The church features three aisles with the central one dedicated to the Virgin Mary (celebrated on November 21st), the north aisle one dedicated to Saint Nicholas and the southern one to the Three Hierarchs.
- Etz Hayyim Synagogue - 3 euro entrance fee per person. Etz Hayyim was converted into a Synagogue in the 17th century, when the Jewish community of Chania purchased the Church of St. Catherine, an empty 15th-century Venetian church. The synagogue, which suffered serious bombardment, was abandoned after the end of World War with the perishing of the Jewish community and reopened in 1999, with the support of the World Monument Fund (WMF), in co-operation with the Central Israeli Council of Greece. Nowdays the Etz Hayyim Synagogue is the only active synagogue that has survived on the island.
- Hassan Pascha Mosque - One of the first Ottoman buildings of the island is Mosque of Hasan Kucuk or Yali Tzamisi. The mosque was built in honour of Kioutsouk Hassan Pasha, the first Ottoman military commander of Chania, while the Yali Tzamisi name translates as “mosque of the sea”. The building is an example of Islamic architecture Renaissance designed form an Armenian architect, dating from mid 17th century. The mosque operated as a mosque until 1923. It is a cubic building covered by a large dome supported by four stone arches, while the west and north side is surrounded by an arcade roofed with seven small domes. In the southwest corner there was a minaret from which saved only the base. Today the building operates as an exhibition for cultural events and visual art exhibitions.
- Venetian Neoria - During the Venetian occupation (1204-1669) Neoria, the shipyards were built. In 1467, Venice ordered the construction of 16 shipyards. During the Turkish occupation shipyards were converted in military warehouses. Today 7 shipyards survive, entrance is not allowed as they need repair.
- Minoan Excavations - Chania is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. The Minoan civilisation dates before 3000BC and it somehow violently ended in 1250BC when there was a destructive earthquake and Tsunami. Many researches believe that the Minoan civilisation was destroyed after the eruption of Santorini volcano. At Kasteli hill archaeological excavations the foundations of buildings, streets and sewage networks can be seen. The excavations are ongoing. Kydonia was the name of Chania during the Minoan era.
- Souda - Its a shore excursion tour, pick up and return to Souda port. Souda is 20-minute drive from Chania, one way.
- Municipal Market of Chania - The Municipal Market of Chania, is the “heart” of the city. Its foundation started on August 14, 1911, at the place that was the main rampart of the fortification during the Venetian period, and the construction of the building was completed during the second half of 1913. The Municipal Market is cross shaped and has four doors, one in each ward, that close to provide security at the shops that are hosted there. Today at the building of the Municipal Market are hosted many shops that sell local products and souvenirs. The Municipal Market constitutes an architectural jewel for Chania and is one of the most impressive markets in Balkans.
- Church of Agios Nikolaos - The church of Agios Nikolaos, which was built around 1320, during the Venetian Period, was originally a part of the monastery of the Dominican Order. It is quite special as it is equipped with a tower as well as a minaret. During the Venetian period it constituted the most important church in the city. After the predominance of the Turks in Chania the temple was turned into a mosque and was named Hiougkar Tzamisi (mosque of the Emperor), in honor of the sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Its importance is highlighted by the existence of two balconies instead of one on the minaret. In 1928, after being seized by the Christians orthodox, the mosque was once again turned into a church, dedicated to Agios Nikolaos.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Guiding Services
What's Not Included
- 20 euro for lunch per person in a local restaurant (optional)
- Shopping around Chania Old Town (optional)
Additional Information
This is an exclusive tour designed for a maximum of 6 guests, utilizing a spacious 7-seat van. Pick-ups will be done from Souda port or hotels situated near the western coast of Chania.
The historical charm of Chania’s Old Town has been preserved since the Minoan Civilization era that dates back to 5000BC. It has remained a thriving hub of growth and affluence, directly shaped by multiple cultural influences from Romans, Arabs, Jews, Venetians, and Ottoman Turks. Our tour guides you through the historical labyrinth of streets where you can observe the Byzantine and Venetian/Ottoman Walls and Fortifications. As we navigate through the principal lanes, we witness the chronicles of history unravel, from the archeological revelations of Minoan era to the Medieval and Modern Ages echoed in ancient buildings, churches, synagogues, and mosques. We will be exploring the Orthodox, Muslim, and Jewish Districts, and delve into the dynamics of cohabitation through various peaceful and tumultuous eras. The tour wraps up with an option for a delightful meal at a local restaurant.
- You must be able to get in and get out of the car. Some places are not wheelchair accessible and we have to follow different route
- In case of traveller’s serious health problems or other medical concerns please notify us
Location
Chania Town
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(28 Ratings)
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Bethjam1023
May 22, 2024
Pleasant day in Crete - Sofia and Ariadni were lovely. Easy group of people to deal with. Crete is underrated. Very nice day
Review provided by Viator
Scarter004
May 5, 2024
Crete - Going to the Island of Crete has been on my bucket list for over 60 years. It did not disappoint. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided us with great information.
Review provided by Viator
Monisha_m
Feb 27, 2024
Rustic Crete - Great tour by George. Kept our young kids engaged. Ntounias was awesome. Highly recommended this private tour for families with young kids
Review provided by Viator
Eschwa3487
Oct 22, 2023
Great Chania tour. - George met us promptly at our cruise ship. He proceeded to give us a comprehensive tour with amazing facts and descriptions of Chania. When I inquired about the Jewish population and history in Chania, he took us to the small historic synagogue where the few Jews remaining still pray. He was a terrific guide and gave us so much to treasure in our memories about this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Kim_b
Oct 12, 2023
Good guide in Chania - Our guide, Petros, contacted m directly and arranged a convenient pick up spot. He was very knowledgeable about the history and sites. I would recommend him highly.
Review provided by Viator
Chuck_l
Sep 23, 2023
Great tour - George was a great guide and very knowledgeable about Chania. I would highly recommend this tour as George went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time and that we got back to the port safely and on time.
Review provided by Viator
Nancy_a
Jul 20, 2023
One of the best tours we've had! - George was professional, personable, knowledgeable, and fun! He was attentive, making sure we were comfortable, tailoring the tour to us. You could tell he loves what he does and really showed us the best of Chania. Probably one of the best guides we've ever had.
Review provided by Viator
Kbnunez
Jul 10, 2023
Must Do! - George was amazing. He picked us up from the port on time and was with great communication. Took us to so many places, told us all about the history of the area, pointed out many interesting architectural points (which we definitely would have missed on our own) and accommodated my moms limited mobility. This is a must do tour in Crete. Added plus is he’s a great photographer!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephanie_p
Jun 28, 2023
Our tour guide Peter was... - Our tour guide Peter was so knowledgeable about Crete. He was on time picking us up and taking us back to our ship. The tour gives you a great introduction of the Roman Empire. Really the whole tour was enjoyable!
Review provided by Viator
Lenore_d
Jun 23, 2023
Best tour of Chania Old town - George’s knowledge of the history of the area was amazing. He provided a walking tour that was very interesting and took into account the physical limitations of the group. He included places we wanted to go to and took us to a wonderful restaurant.
Review provided by Viator
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