Evraiki district
Also called the “zudecca” in the Venetian period, or Jewish ghetto (evraiki meaning Hebrew). Main curiosity of the district: the synagogue Etz-Hayyim, the street Kondilaki, which remains the only Jewish place of worship on the island, the only witness of the presence of this community in Crete since almost 25 centuries. More touristic is the street Halidon, with its numerous workshops. It is nevertheless in this very tourist street that is situated a real small museum of the traditional life: the Cretan house ” Kritiko spiti “, a place which reconstitutes the inside of a Cretan house during the 19th century, with its small handicrafts. In Halidon street is alsolocated the Basilica San Francesco (XIVth century), the biggest of the Venetian churches of the island, which shelters today the archaeological museum of Chania.
Kastelli district
The oldest district of Chania, built inside the first Byzantine than Venetian walls, and situated on a small hill overhanging the old harbor. It is the district remained quiet, traditional, but that strongly suffered German bombardments during the battle of Crete, during the Second World War. Few tourist businesses in the area, but a curiosity, in the bend of the street Canevaro: the ruins of 4 villas of the old minoan city of Kydonia, whose major discoveries are exposed to the archaeological museum (street Halidon) and the tracks of one Acropolis.
Ovriaki district
South district of Chania, where is situated the famous ” odos Skridlof “, the “leather street” because of its ancestral activity of tanned leather and keather trades. There are still some tanners in service, but the major part of shops became more tourist. It is nevertheless a place always appreciated for its purchases of leatherwork.
