Crete: Chania

Chania is a rather attractive city, with its cozy harbor, city walls, and hilltop fort. Between 1851 to 1971, it was the capital of Crete. The Old Town suffered less heavy bombing than Heraklion did during WWII. Vestiges of Venetian and Ottoman are still visible.

For example, Agios Nikolaos was Roman Catholic with a bell tower, then Islamic with a minaret, now Orthodox with both (1st below). While the hilltop was badly damaged from bombing, excavations revealed Minoan remains (2nd below).





On our one whole day in Chania we had a hike on the Akrotiri Peninsula (see photos farther below). To start we took the bus to Stavros Beach, walked to the Gouverneto and Triada monasteries, originally established by Catholic monks during Venetian rule. We returned to Chania by walking to the airport to catch the Airport Bus. Whew, a long but rewarding day.

The Old Town is busy in the evenings with folks strolling on the main drag. And later the whole area around the harbour turns into one big seafood restaurant.






The Cozy Old Harbour in daytime and at night.




Here are some photos from our walk which started at Stavros Beach and ended at the airport. Stavros was easy to reach by bus and there was a useful map at the trailhead.


We circled around the big hill, found a spot with a view of the mountains, sat down, and ate our packed breakfast.


As we continued following the red trail markers we were happy to come across many dragon lilies, some of which had been "trimmed"by goats.




After ascending through a gully (1st and 2nd below), and continuing on a pleasant downhill (3rd), we turned sharply right, leaving the trail, and bushwacking (4th) up past the abandoned Monastery of St. Anthony (5th) to the Gouverneto Monastery (6th below).












The Gouverneto Monastery was very beautiful. And the faces in 3D relief near the entrance were amazing.


After passing more dragon lilies and a vineyard or two, the airport was in view. And a few kilometers later we were on the Airport Bus back to Chania.






A few more views of the old Venetian Harbour. The lighthouse (1st below) and the Arsenali (Shipyards) second.




Bonus panorama of the Old Harbour.

Crete: Heraklion and Knossos

From Istanbul (see a photo of the spiffy Istanbul Airport first below), we flew to Heraklion, Crete.



We arrived in Herakion in a light rain, and in the next 60 hours we had more than 10% of their annual rainfall. So we scrapped our plan to visit the archeological sites of Minoan Phaistos and Roman Gortyna.

We did manage to begin to learn about the Minoans at the Heraklion Archeological Museum (photos below) and the partially reconstructed site of the Palace of Knossos. I really struggled at Knossos. Halfway through the visit, it dawned on me - this is my first Minoan site (see photos way below). These unfathomable Minoans had multi-story buildings, making it more difficult for me to comprehend, let alone for archaeologists to reconstruct.

There was amazing stuff at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum; for example, this beautiful 2000 BC pottery..


A ceramic vessel showing the Minoan Cult practice of "bull-leaping". The Minoans deified and venerated the bull.


Ivory Bull-Leaper (1600-1450 BC, Palace of Knossos, and Minoan Cult Model of a Chariot Drawn by Bulls (from Karphi).




Bull-Head Rhyton (Vessel) from the Palace of Knossos.


The "Ancient Minoan Board Game" found at Knossos. Notice how the pieces at far right "fit" the circles on the board.


The Phaistos Disc is one of the great unsolved mysteries of archaeology. The symbols are a text in an unknown script and language.


Minoan Ceremonial Double Axes.


The "Harvester Vase" was discovered at the ancient Minoan site of Hagia Triada.


This Limestone Hagia Triada Sarcophagus was found at Hagia Triada.


And some painted stone reliefs uncovered at Knossos, and moved to this museum: Prince of the Lilies (1st), La Parisienne (2nd), Ladies in Blue (3rd).






Sculpture Hall of ancient Greek and Roman statues.




We stayed near Heraklion Port (1st below) and one night wandered down to the Venetian Shipyards (Arsenali - 2nd), and Fort (3rd below).






Then to Saint Titus Cathedral and Morosini Fountain




And our short stroll ended at Veganato Restaurant with a Top Ten Tasty Falafel Wrap with Fries.


The Palace of Knossos is about 15 minutes by bus south of Heraklion Port. The site was "discovered" and excavated between 1900 and 1905 by Arthur Evans. His subsequent disputed restoration of the site continued until 1931.


Throne Room Video.


Grand Staircase (1st and 2nd below) and a courtyard at the lower level (3rd and 4th below).








North End of the site.


And finally, we returned from Knossos to find ourselves in the middle of the celebration of OFI Crete F.C. winning the 2025–26 Greek Football Cup!