Chania is the capital of the prefecture of Chania and one of the most important ports of Crete.
It is located northwest of Crete and is a beautiful seaside town. The city of Chania is the second largest city in Crete, with rich history and attractions that attract even the most demanding travelers.
Chania is one of the most popular destinations in Greece as it combines history and magical beauty.
The city of Chania consists of the Old Town and the New Town. In the Old Town lies the Venetian harbor and is characterized as the “Venice of the Mediterranean” as it is admittedly one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the Mediterranean.
In the center of the Old Town of Chania there is also Kasteli hill and other archaeological sites dating from the Minoan era. On the sea side you can see Venetian fountains but also by boat you can visit the Venetian castles of Gramvousa and Saint Theodoroi.
In the New Town of Chania there are the shops of the city. But there is also the nightlife of the city of Chania. Numerous traditional taverns, restaurants, cafés and bars meet all the requirements of the guests.
In the New Town is also the municipal garden, the municipal summer cinema and the municipal market. Here, as in the Old Town, there are numerous museums (such as the Archaeological Museum, the War Museum, the Historical Archive of Crete, etc.) as well as several churches and monasteries of particular beauty and historical value.
In the Prefecture of Chania there are several gorges of exceptional beauty, the most important is Samaria Gorge wich is 16 kilometers. Chania also has the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) which offer hiking with the highest peak reaching 2453 meters.
One of the most important sights in the prefecture is the medieval castle, Frangokastello, which is famous for the Drosulites, an inexplicable phenomenon that occurs every year in late Spring. Drosulites are traditionally shadows of warriors (sometimes on horses) that appear every morning. The period the Drosulites appear coincides with the battle fought by locals with Turkish troops in May 1828, although scientific studies attribute the phenomenon to reflection or illusion.
In the prefecture of Chania one can find beautiful picturesque and traditional villages. Some of them are Omalos, Kissamos, Chora Sfakion, Agia Roumeli etc. Many of the villages of the prefecture of Chania have kept their traditions alive while still wearing the traditional Cretan costume and maintaining the authentic Cretan dialect.
The most beautiful beaches of Crete are in Chania Prefecture. Balos, Gramvousa, Elafonissi, Kedrodasos, Falasarna, Platanias, Golden Coast and Georgioupolis are some of them that really remind of beaches of exotic islands.
