VENETIAN BUILDINGS IN CHANIA
- Of the Venetian city of Hania one whole neighborhood remains,
while of the fortifications (early 13th century), the bastions,
moat and ruins of the walls surrounding the city have survived.
Other monuments from that era are the Loggia (once a gentlemen's
social club), the Hiones (Neoreia) (16th century), the
breakwater of the Venetian harbour and the churches of San
Frencesco (the Archaeological Museum), San Rocco and of the
Saviour (tou Sotiros).
- District of Hania Southwest of Kissamos,
43 km. west of the city, near the village of Kalathenes (A1), is
the Villa Rotonda. most probably the country estate of some
Venetian feudal lord, dating to the 16th or 17th century.
- At Agria Gramvoussa (A1), a remote islet in the northwest part
of the district, are the remains of a Venetian fort. Getting to
the islet is difficult, and can only be done by caique from
Kissamos, weather permitting, departing early In the morning
during the summer.
- At Paleohora (C1-2), washed by the waves of the Libyan Sea, 73
km. south of Hania, the ruins of Castel Selino rise out of the
shore. This fortress was built in 1279 by Duke Marino Gradenigo,
governor of Crete.
- Frangokastello (C4) about 11 km. east of the Hora Sfakion
(Sfakia), is the site of the old "Castel Franco" (Frankish
Castle), built by the Venetians in 1371 as a defence against
pirates and Cretan rebels.
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