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Neighborhood · Chania, Creta
Cidade velha de Chania
The old town behind the port: Topanas, with Venetian and Ottoman houses, the old Jewish quarter with the synagogue Etz Hayyim, Splantzia and the hill of Kastelli, where Chania began.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cidade velha de Chania
The old town of Chania is a maze of narrow lanes between the Venetian walls and the harbor, with stone houses, Ottoman wooden balconies and bougainvillea. Each quarter has its own story. Topanas, to the west, was the Christian neighborhood during the Ottoman period; the name comes from the Venetian ammunition depot (top-hane, in Turkish). Its streets, like Theotokopoulou and Angelou, keep the most beautiful facades in the city.
Behind the quay, within Topanas, is the old Jewish quarter (Evraiki). The synagogue Etz Hayyim, in a 15th-century Venetian church converted in the 17th century, is the only remnant of Chania’s Romaniote community, deported in 1944 and killed when the ship carrying them was sunk. Restored in 1999, the synagogue is active and welcomes visitors, with a quiet courtyard and the mikvé.
To the east, Kastelli is the hill where the Minoan city of Kydonia was founded, with an open-air archaeological site amid houses. Splantzia, further on, is the most authentic neighborhood: plaza 1821, with the church of Agios Nikolaos, which has both a bell tower and a minaret, and the church of Agii Anargyri, the only one that remained Orthodox throughout the Venetian and Ottoman periods. Between the two neighborhoods, rua Chalidon leads from the port to the market, passing the cathedral and the old mosteiro de São Francisco.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours to walk through the neighborhoods; longer if you include the synagogue and the churches.
Best time
In the morning, before 11 a.m., and in the late afternoon, when the narrow streets are in shade. At midday in summer the stone alleys heat up. At night Splantzia and Topanas fill with tavern tables.
How to get there
Everything is behind the Venetian port, within walking distance. The synagogue Etz Hayyim is on rua Parodos Kondylaki, two minutes from the pier, in Topanas. Splantzia is about a 10-minute walk to the east.
Tip
At the synagogue, cover your shoulders and knees and check the visiting days, which are limited. Walk up rua Theotokopoulou to the wall to see the neighborhood from above. In Splantzia, the tavernas on plaza 1821 are among the most popular with locals.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cidade velha de Chania
What to see in the old town of Chania?
The Topanas quarter, with Venetian and Ottoman houses; the old Jewish quarter with the Etz Hayyim synagogue; the hill of Kastelli with Minoan ruins; and Splantzia, with the 1821 square and the church of Agios Nikolaos.
Can you visit the Etz Hayyim synagogue?
Yes. It is an active synagogue, open to visitors of all religions on set days and times. Check before you go and dress with shoulders and knees covered.
Why does the church of Agios Nikolaos have a minaret?
Because it was a mosque during the Ottoman period. When it returned to being a church in 1918, the minaret was kept next to the bell tower.
Is the old town of Chania completely flat?
Almost. Only the hill of Kastelli and the streets alongside the Topanas walls rise a little. The paving is stone and in some stretches uneven.