Chania Old Town, Chania: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Chania's Old Town occupies the area behind the Venetian harbor on the northwest coast of Crete, Greece, a district reflecting centuries of rule by Venetians, Ottomans, and Egyptians. The Venetian Lighthouse, built in the 16th century on the harbor's breakwater, marks the entrance to the horseshoe-shaped port. The Mosque of the Janissaries, a domed Ottoman structure from 1645, anchors the harbor's eastern edge and is the oldest surviving Ottoman building on Crete. The narrow streets behind the waterfront contain Venetian-era mansions, Ottoman bathhouses, and a 14th-century Jewish quarter. is just one of many options in Chania. Major attractions worth considering include Ancient Aptera, Archaeological Museum of Chania, and Arkadi Monastery (Moni Arkadiou).