Nautical Museum of Crete, Chania (must see)
Also called the Maritime Museum of Crete, the Nautical Museum was founded in 1973 by Vice Admiral Giannopolous H.N. The foundation date was also the anniversary of the Battle of Crete in 1941. The main collection of the museum is housed in the Firkas Fortress on the west side of Chania Harbor, close to San Salvatore Bastion.
"Firkas" means "barracks" in Turkish. The fortress was built in 1620 to protect the harbor entrance. A ship-stopping chain could be rigged between the Firkas and the Lighthouse at the end of the mole. Cannons could be zeroed in through arched gaps low in the walls to hit ships at water level.
The exhibits on the first floor of the Firkas include model replicas of ancient ships, and a scale model of Venetian Chania showing ship repair sheds with an oared galley inside. The second floor has models of modern Greek navy ships, including destroyers, missile frigates, and naval ships LSTs. One exhibit is a full bridge setup of a destroyer.
The Moro Shipyard part of the museum is at the east end of the harbor. Here is a special exhibition of ancient naval architecture. There is a 56-foot replica of a Minoan ship built between 2001 and 2004 and sailed from Piraeus to Crete. The museum is operated by the Municipality of Chania and the Naval Base of Crete.
"Firkas" means "barracks" in Turkish. The fortress was built in 1620 to protect the harbor entrance. A ship-stopping chain could be rigged between the Firkas and the Lighthouse at the end of the mole. Cannons could be zeroed in through arched gaps low in the walls to hit ships at water level.
The exhibits on the first floor of the Firkas include model replicas of ancient ships, and a scale model of Venetian Chania showing ship repair sheds with an oared galley inside. The second floor has models of modern Greek navy ships, including destroyers, missile frigates, and naval ships LSTs. One exhibit is a full bridge setup of a destroyer.
The Moro Shipyard part of the museum is at the east end of the harbor. Here is a special exhibition of ancient naval architecture. There is a 56-foot replica of a Minoan ship built between 2001 and 2004 and sailed from Piraeus to Crete. The museum is operated by the Municipality of Chania and the Naval Base of Crete.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chania. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Nautical Museum of Crete on Map
Sight Name: Nautical Museum of Crete
Sight Location: Chania, Greece (See walking tours in Chania)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Chania, Greece (See walking tours in Chania)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Chania, Greece
Create Your Own Walk in Chania
Creating your own self-guided walk in Chania is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Chania Introduction Walking Tour
The Dorians arrived in Crete circa 1100 BC. Before then, there was a Minoan settlement called Kydonia. Its remains was excavated in today's city of Chania.
In 69 BC Roman Consul Caecilius Metellus conquered the city. In 395, the Byzantines took over, replaced by Arabs in 824. The Byzantines returned in 961. Enter the Venetians in 1252. The ever ubiquitous Ottomans took the reins in 1645.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
In 69 BC Roman Consul Caecilius Metellus conquered the city. In 395, the Byzantines took over, replaced by Arabs in 824. The Byzantines returned in 961. Enter the Venetians in 1252. The ever ubiquitous Ottomans took the reins in 1645.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles