Old Venetian Harbour of Chania

The Old Venetian Harbour of Chania is the picturesque heart of Crete's second-largest city, curving along the northwest coast of the island. Built by the Venetians who ruled Crete from the 13th and 14th centuries onward, the harbour was conceived as a sheltered base for their fleet and a hub for Mediterranean trade. Centuries of Venetian, Ottoman and Egyptian influence are layered into the waterfront today, making it one of the most atmospheric and photographed places in all of Greece. The harbour's most famous landmark is its lighthouse, which stands guard at the end of a long stone breakwater. The original tower was raised by the Venetians in the late 16th century to guide ships safely into port; a chain could once be stretched from its base across to the Firkas Fortress on the opposite side to seal the harbour against hostile vessels. After falling into disrepair under Ottoman rule, the structure was rebuilt in roughly minaret-like form during the 1830s, in a period when Egyptian forces under Mehmet Ali administered Crete on behalf of the weakening Ottoman Empire. For this reason it is widely nicknamed the Egyptian lighthouse, even though its foundations are Venetian. Standing about 21 metres tall and counted among the oldest surviving lighthouses in the world, it was extensively restored in 2005 after suffering damage from wartime bombing and earthquakes. Walking the waterfront, visitors pass a string of historic monuments. The domed Mosque of the Janissaries (Kioutsouk Hasan), dating from the Ottoman takeover, sits right on the quay and is one of the oldest Ottoman buildings on the island. The long arched Venetian arsenali, or shipyards, where galleys were once built and repaired, line the eastern end of the harbour. Pastel-coloured townhouses, tavernas and cafes rise behind the promenade, their tables spilling out toward the water. There is no entrance fee to enjoy the harbour itself. Most people simply stroll the breakwater out to the lighthouse for sunset views back across the bay, browse the narrow lanes of the old town behind the front, and settle in for fresh seafood at a waterside taverna. Horse-drawn carriages, small tour boats and the gentle bustle of the quay add to the romance of the setting. The harbour lies in the centre of Chania's old town and is easily reached on foot from anywhere in the historic core; the main bus station and the port of Souda are both a short taxi or bus ride away, while Chania (Daskalogiannis) Airport on the Akrotiri peninsula is roughly 15 kilometres distant. It suits absolutely everyone, from couples seeking sunset photographs to families wandering the lanes and history lovers tracing Crete's complex past.