Chania is the second largest city on the island of Crete. It is built on the site of the ancient Greek city of Kydonia, the most powerful city in western Crete and from which, the remains of a Minoan Palace have been excavated on the Kastelli Hill.  

Chania was regularly involved in conflicts with the cities of central and eastern Crete, above all Knossos and Gortyn, with a particularly fierce battle taking place in the Hellenistic era (171BC).  Chania enjoyed a period of prosperity under Byzantine rule when houses, churches and chapels were built together with a protective wall which surrounds the city, and it was called Kastelli (after the name Castello Vecchio given by the Venetians).  The Venetians established a flourishing port in 1252 called La Canea after the Byzantine Chania.
 

Under Venetian rule, the city of Chania enjoyed cultural and economic prosperity.  Several of the tavernas with terraces overlooking the harbour, which provide visitors and residents alike with a warm welcome, were built during Venetian rule.  The Phirkas Fortress on the port has now been turned into a Maritime Museum while the Hassan Pasha (Janissaries¢ Mosque) with its small domes, is a reminder of the long years of Turkish occupation.  The minareted lighthouse on the harbour wall was built during the brief ruling by the Egyptians (1830 – 1840).
 

Akrotiri Peninsular
 

The Akrotiri peninsular, which protects Chania and ends in the Bay of Souda, was important in ancient times and is the site of two monasteries which have remained unchanged since their foundation.
 

The Monastery of Agia Triadha (Holy Trinity) was founded in 1608 – 1620 by Orthodox Venetians the Tzangaroli brothers.  It is built around a church strongly influenced by the Venetian Renaissance with a high bell tower and carved portal.  An inscription records the consecration of the church in 1632.  The monastic buildings surrounding the church which is dedicated to the Trinity, give the appearance of a fortress.  The monastery was partially destroyed during the rebellion against the Turks in 1821 but has since been rebuilt and is now home to one of the most celebrated theological colleges in Greece.
 

The Monastery of St John of Gouverneto was founded in the sixteenth century under Venetian rule in honour of the Virgin “Mother of the Angels”.  At the centre of the monastic buildings is a church built in 1548 in the Venetian style. The monastery was also partly damaged during the revolt against the Turks.
 

Close to the monasteries, is the impressive Cave of Arkoudia which is a natural cave where Artemis worshipped in the form of a bear. The cult probably drew inspiration from the strange shapes of the stalagmites in the cave, the profile of one is distinctly like a bear.  During the Byzantine period, a chapel was built in honour of the Virgin Mary Arkoudiotissa, as evidence of religious continuity and the survival of an ancient cult.
 

Tomb of Venizelo

On the hill of Prophitis Ilias overlooking Chania, stands the tomb of the statesman Eleftherias Venizelos.  The statesman, whose name means “ Liberty”, was emblematic of his life¢s struggle for the freedom of Crete and its people.  Venizelos was forced into exile in Greece after the 1888 revolt against the Turks, only to return for the victorious 1897 rebellion after which he became a member of the provisional government. 
 

He tirelessly worked for Cretan independence with support from Prince George of Greece.  However, following many disagreements with the Prince, he established an independent council and proclaimed Crete¢s union with Greece in 1905, a move which led to the defeat of Prince George. Venizelos became responsible for reforms and the strengthening of the Cretan army and navy.  He was still in power during the First World War and his efforts to protect the island from enemy attack led him into conflict with Greece and he was condemned to death in his absence.  Venizelos died in exile in Paris in 1936.
 

The Gorge of Samaria is the longest and most beautiful gorge in Europe and runs from the Omalos Plateau in the north for 18 kilometres through the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) to the southern coast village of Agia Roumeli.  This stunning gorge was created by the erosion from the waters from the main summit of the White Mountains (2,452 metres) to the east and the torrents from Mount Volaki (2,116 metres) to the west.  The sides of the gorge reach towering heights of over 600 metres and in places, can be as narrow as a metre apart.  Half way along the gorge is the village of Samaria which is now part of the Samaria National Park.
 

Battle of Crete
 

During the Second World War, following the successful German invasion of the Balkans and the capture of mainland Greece, attention turned to the strategic island of Crete. The island was Britain¢s last foothold in the north east Mediterranean and was perceived as being pivotal to the ongoing defence of the Middle East and the crucial sea lanes leading to the Suez Canal.
 

By early 1941, the British position in the Mediterranean was faltering. German forces launched an airborne attack against Crete in late May 1941.  Churchill had decreed that the defence of the island was paramount and the garrison was strengthened.  However, despite strong defence by the British Forces, air supremacy and poor Allied communications resulted in a German victory.
 

The Battle for Crete was a major setback for the British but it¢s impack was even greater on Germany.  Heavy losses among the German paratroopers meant that this would be the last time the Germans would launch such an airborne invasion.  The battles in Greece and Crete seriously delayed the launching of the German invasion of Russia.  It is argued that, as the delay materially affected the attempted capture of both Stalingrad and Moscow, the battle fought around the north eastern Mediterranean had an effect upon the outcome of the war out of all proportion to their individual importance at the time.