Editing Chania (section)

==Geography==
{{Hatnote|See [[Chania (regional unit)|Chania Region]] for maps}}
[[File:Lighthouse of Chania in November.jpg|thumb|Chania lighthouse at the port]]
The city of Chania lies around {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the west end of Crete.  By road, the distance is approximately {{convert|52|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rlz=1T4SUNC_en___GB365&q=chania,+crete,+greece+to+falasarna,+greece&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl|title=Google Maps|access-date=25 March 2016}}</ref>

===Cityscape===
The city of Chania can be divided into two parts: the old town and the modern city which is the larger one. The old town is situated next to the old harbour and is the matrix around which the whole urban area was developed. It used to be surrounded by the [[Fortifications of Chania|old Venetian fortifications]] that started to be built in 1538.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |url=https://www.chaniatourism.gr/neighborhoods/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |language=en-US}}</ref> Of them, only the eastern and western parts have survived. From the south, the old town is continuous with the new, and from the north the physical border is the sea. The centre of the modern city is the area extending next to the old town and especially towards the south.

==== The old town ====
[[File:La vieille ville vénitienne et turque (La Canée, Crète) (5743879845).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Traditional street in the old town.]]
[[File:Alley in Chania's old town.jpg|thumb|right|Colors of the old town]]

The borders of the Old Town are the partly destroyed [[Fortifications of Chania|old Venetian wall]] (and bulwarks) and this has been the cradle of all the civilizations which were developed in the area. The central part of the old town is named Kasteli and has been inhabited since [[Neolithic]] times (ancient [[Kydonia]]). It is located on a small hill right next to the seafront and has always been the ideal place for a settlement due to its secure position, its location next to the harbour and its proximity to the fertile valley in the south. Nowadays it is a bit more quiet than the neighbouring areas of the west part of the district. The Splantzia quarter (next to the east part of Kasteli) is also largely untouched.

The main square of the Old Town (next to the west end of Kasteli) is [[Eleftherios Venizelos]] Square, also known as ''Syntrivani'' (from Turkish ''şadırvan'' 'fountain'). It is the heart of the tourist activities in the area. Next to this (on the west side) lies the Topanas district, which was the [[Christians|Christian]] quarter during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] period. Its name comes from the Venetian ammunition warehouse (Turkish ''tophane''), which was located there. The [[Jewish]] quarter (''Evraiki'' or ''Ovraiki'') was located at the north-west of the Old Town, behind the harbour and within the borders of Topanas. The Topanas area has many narrow alleys and old buildings, some of which have been restored as hotels, restaurants, shops and bars. This makes it a popular place especially during the warm period (April–October). In the winter, it still remains a centre of activities (especially for nightlife).

Finally, a very distinctive area of the Old Town is the [[harbour]] itself and generally the seafront. Akti Tompazi, Akti Kountouriotou and Akti Enoseos ([[marina]]) all feature several historical buildings and nightlife. The main street that combines the modern town with the old town is Halidon Street.

==== The modern city ====
[[File:Fountain in Chania, Crete 002.jpg|thumb|250px|The fountain in Eleftherios Venizelos Square]]

The modern part of Chania is where most locals live and work. It is less traditional than the old town, but there are still areas of some historical interest. 

The oldest district (early 18th century) of the modern city is Nea Hora (meaning "New Town") which is located beyond the west end of the old town. It is a developing area with narrow old lanes leading to a small fishing harbour. 

The district of Koum Kapi (the Venetians had first named it "Sabbionara", which means "the Gate of the Sand", the same as "Koum Kapi") situated beyond the walls at the eastern part of the old town, was also one of the first places to be inhabited outside the fortification walls. Initially, it was home for the "Halikoutes", a group of Bedouins from [[North Africa]] who had settled there in the last years of Ottoman rule.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-29|title=Koum Kapi - A pretty quarter in Chania city full of history|url=http://www.chania-holidays.gr/koum-kapi-chania-crete/|access-date=2020-03-06|website=Chania Holidays|language=en-US}}</ref> Nowadays it is a developing area with many cafes, bars and restaurants on its beach. 

In the same era the district of [[Halepa]] began to grow to the east of the city and used to be home for the local aristocracy. Some of the historical buildings of the area (including old [[embassies]] of foreign countries) had been destroyed or abandoned during the later decades of the 20th century, and it was only recently when some interest was shown for the restoration of the remaining ones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |url=https://www.chaniatourism.gr/neighborhoods/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Chania harbour.jpg|thumb|250px|left|View of the promenade.]]

Other historical buildings in the area include [[Eleftherios Venizelos]]'s House (built 1876-1880), the old French school (now property of the Technical University of Crete, housing the Department of Architecture), the Church of Agia Magdalini (built 1901-1903), The "Palace" (built 1882, house of Prince George during the period of the Cretan independence) and The Church of Evangelistria (built 1908–1923). Part of the marine area of Halepa is called Tabakaria, where a unique architectural complex of old leather processing houses is situated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |url=https://www.chaniatourism.gr/neighborhoods/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:Chania Kastelli.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Castelli district.]]

Apart from the previously mentioned older districts of the modern part of the town, several new residential areas have been developed during the 20th century, like Agios Ioannis, Koumbes, Lentariana, Pachiana and Pasakaki. Sections of the city centre are dominated by colourless medium-height block buildings, typical of the urbanization period of Greece (1950&ndash;1970). However, there are still some [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] houses, especially in the eastern part of Chania. There are some parks and several sports grounds, the most important being the Venizeleio Stadium of Chania and the Swimming Pool at Nea Hora. The 1913 indoor market ("Agora"), is on the edge of the old town and is popular with tourists and locals alike. Some other important sites of the newer urban area are The Court House ("Dikastiria", built late in the 19th century), the Public Gardens ("Kipos", created in 1870), the Garden Clock-Tower ("Roloi", built in 1924–1927), the Episcopal Residence (Bishop's residence, "Despotiko", built in the early 19th century) and the House of Manousos Koundouros (built in 1909), the Cultural Centre ("Pnevmatiko Kentro"). The central largest squares in Chania are the Market Square ("Agora"), the Court House Square ("Dikastiria") and the "1866 Square".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |url=https://www.chaniatourism.gr/neighborhoods/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Chania - A City Of Many Tales |language=en-US}}</ref>

Since the 1990s, there has been a profound movement of Chania residents towards the suburbs, as well as towards areas around the city which used to be rural, mainly around [[Kounoupidiana]] in the [[Akrotiri Peninsula (Crete)|Akrotiri Peninsula]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-15 |title=Ραγδαία αλλά "άναρχη" ανάπτυξη στα Κουνουπιδιανά - Χανιώτικα Νέα |url=https://www.haniotika-nea.gr/ragdaia-alla-quot-anarchi-quot-anaptyxi-sta-koynoypidiana/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |language=el}}</ref>

{{wide image|Harbor, Venetian shipyards and Lighthouse in Chania. Crete, Greece.jpg|1000px|The marina in the old harbour.}}
{{wide image|Chania banner.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panorama of the port.}}

===Climate===
{{climate chart|[[Chania, Greece]]
|7.5|14.4|141.7
|7.7|14.9|112.4
|8.6|16.6|80.7
|11.1|20.1|31.8
|14.5|24.4|13
|18.5|28.7|4.6
|20.6|30.3|1.3
|20.5|29.9|1.6
|18.2|27.3|18.7
|15.1|23.1|80.1
|11.9|19.6|72.8
|9.3|16.2|93.9
|float=right
|source=<ref>[http://www.hnms.gr/ ΕΜΥ]</ref>
}}

The city has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Csa''), with sunny dry summers and mild rainy winters. During the period between April and October, clear-sky weather is almost an everyday feature. The atmosphere is always warm, but strong heat waves (temperatures above 38 °C) are not very common, since the prevailing [[etesian]] winds ("Meltemia") blow from the [[Aegean Sea]] and pleasantly moderate the conditions. Intervals of sunny days are frequent during the windy and rainy winter as well. Snow and frost are rare near the coast, with very few exceptions, like the snowstorm on 13 February 2004, when {{convert|25|-|75|cm|abbr=on}} of snow accumulated in the greater regional area, causing general chaos.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Κρήτης |first=Αγώνας της |date=2017-02-12 |title=13 Φεβρουαρίου 2004: Όταν όλη η Κρήτη από τις παραλίες ως τα βούνα της ντύθηκε στα άσπρα {{!}} Φωτός+Βίντεο |url=https://agonaskritis.gr/13-φεβρουαρίου-2004-όταν-όλη-η-κρήτη-από-τις/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Αγώνας της Κρήτης |language=en-US}}</ref> The last significant snowfall occurred on 8 January 2017 when the whole city and the old harbor were covered by snow. However, such cold days can be followed by much warmer and sunny weather. [[Heat wave|Heat waves]] can occur from as early as March, oftentimes accompanied by [[Saharan dust]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khamsin and Foehn winds lead a major dust outbreak in Crete |url=http://www.beyond-eocenter.eu/index.php/news-events/104-khamsin-and-foehn-winds-lead-a-major-dust-outbreak-in-crete |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=www.beyond-eocenter.eu}}</ref> whose main feature are the hot [[katabatic wind|katabatic winds]] ([[Foehn wind|foehn winds]]) blowing from the south, also called [[Sirocco|Sirocco (Σιρόκος)]] or "Livas" (the wind from [[Libya]]) by the Greeks.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

The adjacent climate chart is based on data recorded during 1958–1997. The absolute maximum temperature recorded during this period was {{convert|42.5|°C|0|abbr=on}}, while the absolute minimum recorded was {{convert|0|°C|0|abbr=on}}.{{cn|date=March 2024}} 

However, the record minimum was broken on 13 February 2004 when the temperature dropped to {{convert|-1|°C|F|abbr=on}} in the nearby [[Souda Air Base|airport]] of [[Souda]] and the record maximum was broken on 1 July 2021 when the temperature reached {{Convert|44.3|C|F}} in the city station operated by the [[National Observatory of Athens]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-04|title=Ο μακρύς πρώτος φετινός καύσωνας σε αριθμούς και ρεκόρ|url=https://www.haniotika-nea.gr/o-makrys-protos-fetinos-kaysonas-se-arithmoys-kai-rekor/|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Χανιώτικα Νέα|language=el}}</ref>

The climate in Chania is further complemented due to the terrain and can vary throughout its regions and elevations and according to its topography. At the south lies the mountain range of [[Lefka Ori]]. Furthermore, prevailing winds, such as those of the West side and South of Crete, in addition to the North side—all interact to form its climate.

{{Weather box
| location = Chania Airport ([[Souda]]) 1971–2000
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 14.0
| Feb high C = 14.3
| Mar high C = 16.1
| Apr high C = 19.9
| May high C = 24.5
| Jun high C = 29.0
| Jul high C = 30.5
| Aug high C = 30.0
| Sep high C = 27.5
| Oct high C = 23.4
| Nov high C = 19.0
| Dec high C = 15.6
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 10.8
| Feb mean C = 11.0
| Mar mean C = 12.4
| Apr mean C = 15.8
| May mean C = 20.1
| Jun mean C = 24.7
| Jul mean C = 26.6
| Aug mean C = 25.9
| Sep mean C = 23.2
| Oct mean C = 19.4
| Nov mean C = 15.3
| Dec mean C = 12.4
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 8.1
| Feb low C = 8.0
| Mar low C = 8.9
| Apr low C = 11.7
| May low C = 15.2
| Jun low C = 19.2
| Jul low C = 21.4
| Aug low C = 21.3
| Sep low C = 19.1
| Oct low C = 15.9
| Nov low C = 12.4
| Dec low C = 9.7
| year low C = 
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 126.4
| Feb rain mm = 101.9
| Mar rain mm = 81.2
| Apr rain mm = 26.9
| May rain mm = 11.2
| Jun rain mm = 2.0
| Jul rain mm = 1.4
| Aug rain mm = 1.4
| Sep rain mm = 15.2
| Oct rain mm = 61.5
| Nov rain mm = 86.7
| Dec rain mm = 98.9
| unit rain days = 0.1 mm
| Jan rain days = 17.0
| Feb rain days = 14.7
| Mar rain days = 12.0
| Apr rain days = 7.8
| May rain days = 3.9
| Jun rain days = 1.4
| Jul rain days = 0.2
| Aug rain days = 0.6
| Sep rain days = 2.6
| Oct rain days = 9.8
| Nov rain days = 10.8
| Dec rain days = 15.8
| Jan sun = 118.1
| Feb sun = 135.6
| Mar sun = 188.0
| Apr sun = 240.9
| May sun = 303.0
| Jun sun = 355.4
| Jul sun = 376.7
| Aug sun = 355.7
| Sep sun = 281.9
| Oct sun = 208.7
| Nov sun = 138.0
| Dec sun = 111.7
| source 1 = Climate Atlas-Hellenic National Meteorological Service.<ref name="climate_data">{{cite web | url=http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/ |script-title=el:Κλιματικός Άτλαντας της Ελλάδας |trans-title=Climatic Atlas of Greece |script-website=el:Εθνική Μετεωρολογική Υπηρεσία |trans-website=Hellenic National Meteorological Service |language=el}}</ref>
| date = May 2018
| source = 
}}