General
Chania prefecture is one of the four prefectures of Crete, Greece. It covers the westernmost quarter of the island. The capital is the city of Chania. Chania borders only prefecture, the Rethymno Prefecture to the east. The Cretan Sea is bounded to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the west and south. The prefecture includes the southernmost point and island in Europe, Gavdos.
Geography
The city of Chania lays at the east end of the Gulf of Chania which is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and the Spatha peninsula also called Rodopos. It covers a significant part of the small Plain of Chania and borders with the hilly suburbs of Profitis Ilias, Agios Matthews and Kounoupidiana towards the east, with the villages of Vamvakopoulo, Nerokourou, Mournies and Perivolia towards the south and with the coastal areas of Chryssi Akti and Agioi Apostoloi towards the west.
The climate of the city is mild and typical mediterranean, with sunny dry summers and mild rainy winters. During the period April-October fine weather is almost an everyday feature with very few interruptions. Sunny days are frequent during the winter as well, but windy and rainy weather is the basic feature of that period. Snow and extreme temperatures are rare near the coast, with very few exceptions like the snowstorm of the 13th of February 2004 when some 30cm of snow were accumulated inside the urban area causing general chaos. However, especially during February and March, such cold days can be followed by much warmer weather, even by heatwaves when a Saharan dust event occurs, something quite frequent during spring.
Description
Chania prefecture, often informally termed Western Crete, is a beautiful and in many parts unspoilt part of the island. Districts include verdant Apokoronas, mountainous Sfakia, and Selino in the far South West corner. Some other notable towns in the Chania prefecture are: Hora Sfakíon, Kastelli-Kissamos, Paleochora, Maleme, Vrisses, Vamos, Georgioupolis and Kalives.
The natural park of Samaria Gorge, a major tourist attraction and a refuge for the rare Cretan wild goat or kri kri, is in the South of the prefecture of Chania. The White Mountains or Lefka Ori, through which the Samaria, Aradena, Imbros and other gorges run, are the limestone peaks topped by snow until May that occupy much of Chania prefecture. They contain more than 40 peaks over 2,000 meters high. The highest peak in this area is Pahnes, at 2,452 meters above sea level.
Western Crete is popular with tourists for its spring flowers that linger on into early May in the mountains. Birdwatching is also popular, with the lammergeier and golden eagle especially sought for. As an island, Crete has many endemic species of plant and animal.
Crete’s only freshwater lake, Lake Kournas, is in the prefecture close to the border with Rethymno Prefecture, 47 km from Chania. It is relatively large, with a perimeter of 3.5 km. The lake used to be called Korisia after ancient Korion, a city thought to be in the area with a temple to Athena. The lake used to be reportedly full of eels but now is better known for its terrapins and tourists. Tavernas and pedalo rental shops line part of the shore. Overall, however, the lake retains its beauty, the White Mountains reflected in the mirror-like waters.
Climate
The morphology of the landscape and the location of Crete in the center of the Mediterranean have a direct effect on the climate of the prefecture of Chania which is characterized as temperate Mediterranean and particularly dry with sunlight 70% of the year. Winter is mild and the climate from November to March is characterized as cold, but not frosty with frequent showers. A white carpet of snow may often be seen covering the peaks of the White Mountain range at the beginning of November that lasts until the end of May but rarely will it be observed in the plains.
The weather in April is sweet and pleasant and few are the times when the sunlight is suddenly replaced by light rain. In October it rarely rains, the weather is still warm and mild and a dip in the sea is still a pleasant one. May and September are usually sunny, but not excessively warm. The summer however is quite hot and arid with June and July being the hottest months of the year and without rainfall. In the semi mountainous and mountainous regions of the prefecture the temperatures are lower, whereas in the southern coast and in the inland plains it is higher by a few degrees.
Another important characteristic of the region is the fact that the sea temperatures in the southern coast during the winter are almost the same as the sea temperatures in northern Europe in the summer. Consequently, winter swimming has gained in popularity in recent years.
The morphology, geography and the climate make for an idyllic land where nature’s balance reigns and monotony is conspicuous only by its absence. It combines the tall, unscalable and harsh mountain ranges with the fertile plains, the large ports with the quaint bays, the bustling north with the serene south, the peninsula with the sea, the snow and the rain with the abundant sunlight. A land which could indisputably be characterized as the island of the Makares or paradise according to the ancient Greeks.
Culture
The cultural background of Chania is very rich, first of all due to the town’s long history and its interaction with many diverse civilizations in the past. Furthermore the location of Crete (immediately connected to Athens situated between Europe, Asia and Africa) as well as the cosmopolitan atmosphere that tourism creates, have generally kept the town up-to-date with modern advances in art and knowledge. Currently, there are several museums, art galleries, theatre and music groups, educational and research institutions within the city.
The Archaeological Museum located in the Old Town, houses findings from different parts of the county and from several historical and prehistorical periods of the local history (Neolithic to Roman). Within the Old Town, there is also a Naval History Museum as well as the Byzantine/Post-Byzantine Collection and a Folklore Museum. Also, the city boasts its Historical Archive (the second most important in Greece), a War Museum, the House of E. Venizelos and the Municipal Gallery. Several theatre groups are active in Chania with the most important being the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Crete. The repertoire includes old and contemporary plays from Greek and foreign writers. The Venizelian Conservatory of Music (established 1931) is also one of the most important cultural societies in Crete. A recent attempt from the municipality to create a chamber music group named Sinfonietta has been successful and its performances throughout the year have enriched the cultural event calendar of the city.
During the summer period a variety of cultural events take place on a daily basis. Theatrical plays, concerts and several exhibitions from Greek and foreign artists are orginized either by the municipality or by individuals. A venue which hosts many of these events is a theater located in the east bulwark of the Old Town. Also, several festivals, conferences or sport events take place in Chania especially between May and September. The Venizeleia athletics competition is one of the most noteworthy events of the year.
Cultural life throughout the wintry period of the year (November-March) is not as rich as in the summer, but it is certainly maintained to a good standard. During the last years there has been a substantial effort by both the city councils and by the locals to create the background for the city to be in the centre of interest throughout the year. Towards this direction, the increasing number of students moving to Chania for their studies has proved to be helpful. There is also some effort to promote Crete as a tourist destination for all seasons - a role that the island could easily hold - which would also support both the local economy and culture.
The primary educational institution of Chania is the Technical University of Crete. The studies that the university offers are related to electronic engineering, environmental engineering, production engineering, mineral resources, scienes and architecture. Other educational institutions located at the greater area of the city are the Chania branch of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania. Other research and intellectual insitutes and societies in Chania are: the National Research Foundation Eleftherios K. Venizelos, the Mediterranean Architecture Centre (KAM), the Institute of Olive Tree and Subtropical Plants of Chania, the Philological Society Chrisostomos, the Institute of Cretan Law and the Historical, Laographical and Archaeological Society of Crete.
The old town
Despite being heavily bombed in World War II, Chania’s old town is considered Crete’s most beautiful urban district, especially the crumbling Venetian harbour with its 15th century lighthouse Faros and the Mosque of the Janissaries Giali Tzamissi, built 17th century. Many of the old buildings have been restored as hotels, restaurants, shops and bars, making the old town a lively and colourful place during the tourist period especially May-September. The Splantzia quarter behind the inner harbour and the Venetian Arsenals is still largely untouched and very atmospheric. This atmosphere prevails throughout the old town during the less busy period of the year November-March.
The 1860 Greek Orthodox Cathedral Trimartyri is located in a square facing the entrance to the 1879 Roman Catholic cathedral across Halidhon street. The Synagogue - Etz Hayyim in the Topanas District, has been restored in recent years after falling into disrepair during the post World War II era. The 1913 indoor market Agora, a large building based on the market of Marseille, is on the edge of the old town and is popular with tourists and locals alike. Other interesting sights within the old town are the Kasteli Archeological Area Kanevaro, the Great Shipyard Megalo Neorio/Arsenali, the Fort Firca, the Gate and Bulwark Subbionara, The Gate of the Renier Mansion and the Turkish Minaret of Achmet Aga.
The modern part of the city
The modern part of Chania is where most locals live and work. It is less traditional than the old town, but there are still areas of charming beauty or of some historical interest. The oldest district early 18th century of the modern city is Nea Xora which is located beyond the west end of the old town. It is a developing area, but also a very picturesque one, with narrow old lanes leading to a small fishing harbour. During the same era the district of Halepa begun to grow to the east of the city and used to be home for the local aristocracy. Some of the historical buildings of the area (including old consulates of foreign countries) had been destroyed or abandoned during the later decades of the 20th century, and it was only recently when some interest was shown for the restoration of the remaining ones.
Other historical buildings in the area include Eftherios Venizelos’s House (built 1876-1880), the old French school (now property of the Technical University of Crete), the Church of Agia Magdalini (built 1901-1903), The Palace (built 1882, house of Prince George) and The Church of Evangelistria (built 1908-1923). Part of the marine area of Halepa is called Tabakaria, where a unique architectural complex of old leather processing houses is situated. The district of Koum Kapi (the Venetians had first named it Sabionera, which means the Gate of the Sand) situated beyond the walls at the eastern part of the old town, was also one of the first places to be inhabited outside the fortification walls. Initially, it was home for the Halikoutes, a group of bedouins from North Africa who had actually settled there since the last years of the Turkish occupation. Nowadays it is a developing area with many trendy cafes, bars and restaurants on its picturesque beach.
Apart from the previously mentioned older districts of the modern part of the town, several new residential areas have been developed during the 20th century, like Agios Ioannis, Koumbes, Lentariana etc. Some part - but not the biggest- of the city centre is dominated by colourless medium-height block buildings, typical of the urbanization period of Greece (1950-1970). However, there are still some beautiful neoclassical houses especially at the eastern part of Chania and some of the neighbourhoods surrounding the centre are quite picturesque. The plan of the central area is very good, there are some nice parks and several sports grounds, the most important being the Venizeleio Stadium of Chania. Some of the most important sights of the newer urban area are the The Court House (Dikastiria, built late 19th century), The Public Gardens (Kipos, created 1870), The Garden Clock-Tower (Roloi, built 1924-1927), The Episcopal Residence (Despotiko, built early 19th century) and the House of Manousos Koundouros (built 1909). The central squares of Chania are the Market Square (Agora), the Court House Square (Dikastiria) and the 1866 Square.
The last two decades there is a profound movement of Chania residents towards the suberbs as well as towards areas around the city which used to be rural, mainly the Akrotiri Peninsula.
Transport
The city has an international airport (code CHQ) on the Akrotiri Peninsula named after Daskalogiannis, a Sfakiot hero who was skinned by the Turks in the 18th century. There are several flights a day from Athens to Chania, with Aegean Airlines or Olympic Airlines. From April to early November, there are many direct charter flights to Chania from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia and other European countries. Domestic flight schedules
Souda, some 7 km from Chania, is the city’s port, with daily ferries to Piraeus and a NATO naval base. ANEK Lines Ferry schedules
Municipalities of the county of Chania
Akrotirio, Armenoi, Asi Gonia, Bamos, Chania, East Selino, Eleftherios Venizelos, Fre, Gavdos, Georgioupoli, Innachoir, Kantanos, Keramos ,Kissamos ,Kolymvari ,Krionerida ,Mithimna ,Moussouro ,Nea Kidonia ,Pelekanos ,Platanias ,Sfakia ,Souda ,Therisos ,Voukolioi.
Photos from Chania
