Old Venetian Harbor, Chania (must see)

A harbor of sorts has always existed in the area of Chania. A Minoan settlement was there long before the Dorians arrived in 1100 BC. The harbor, as we see it today, was built by Venetian occupiers over a period of 300 years. Construction started in 1320.

The harbor has two basins, west and east. The west side is where ship-borne goods were unloaded into warehouses. The east side was docklands, lined with "Arsenals," long dockside sheds used for shipbuilding and repairs. The commodious harbor was protected by a long mole with a lighthouse at the harbor entrance.

The Arsenals were built between 1467 and 1599. Seventeen structures were on a terrace on the eastern shore. Three additional ones, the "Docks of Moro," built in 1607, were at the eastern end of the harbor. The Arsenals were 164 feet long and 30 feet wide and open at the sea end. Ships were hauled out of the water to be worked on.

The Grand Arsenal was built last, with thicker walls. Today it is a venue for exhibitions and events. It is home to the Center of Mediterranean Architecture. The west basin shore is lined with cafes, shops, restaurants, and small hotels. In summer, excursion boats anchor offshore.

The Chania Marina holds small boats and pleasure crafts. Fishing boats anchor there. At the water's edge between the arsenals are tavernas familiar to fisherfolk, locals, and foreigners. Yali Tzamii, a restored mosque of the Ottoman period, is about a thousand feet further.

The Nautical Museum is located in the red-tinted Firkas Fortress. One of the Moro Docks houses a fine replica of a Minoan ship. Past the Saint Nicholas bastion, stroll along the mole to the iconic Egyptian Lighthouse. Do it at sunset and watch the Cretan sun go down.