Venizelos Graves, Chania

The Venizelos Graves in Chania are a significant historical site that attract many visitors. They are located on a hilltop on the way from Chania Town to Akrotiri and the airport, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the town, the Aegean Sea, and the White Mountains. The tombs are dedicated to two great politicians of Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos and his son, Sophocles Venizelos.

Eleftherios Venizelos was born in Crete in 1864, during the Ottoman occupation of the island. He played a vital role in the liberation of Crete and negotiated with the Turks on behalf of the locals. He served as prime minister of Greece seven times and was a key figure in modernizing the country and expanding its territories. Venizelos died in 1936 while living in self-imposed exile in Paris. He had expressed a desire to be buried on the hilltop overlooking Chania, and his wish was granted.

Sophocles Venizelos was the son of Eleftherios Venizelos and also served as prime minister of Greece, from 1943 to 1952. He is buried next to his father's tomb on the same hilltop. The site is of great significance to the people of Crete and Greece, who hold Eleftherios Venizelos in high regard for his contributions to the country's modernization.

The Venizelos Graves are located near the Monastery of Prophet Elias, which dates back to the 16th century. The monastery played a role in the last Cretan revolution in 1897, when the flag of the revolution was raised at its bell tower. In memory of this event, there is a statue of Spyros Kayales or Kayaledakis, a fighter who used his body as a flagpole to hold the Greek flag during the bombardment of the revolutionaries by the Great Powers.

Visitors to the Venizelos Graves can take in the stunning views of Chania and its surroundings while paying their respects to these two great politicians of Greece. The site is a testament to the legacy of Eleftherios Venizelos and his family and the important role they played in the country's history.