Historical Museum & Archives

Hania


The Historical Museum & Archives of Hania, about a 1.5km walk southeast of the old harbour, traces Crete’s war-torn history with a series of exhibits focusing on the struggle against the Turks. There is a section on WWII displaying an execution pole used by the German army and a katsouna (wooden crook) local Cretans used to kill German paratroopers. There are also belongings of national hero Eleftherios Venizelos (1864–1936), the Cretan leader and Greek prime minister, plus a folklore collection.

There's an English brochure and some English signs throughout.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Hania attractions

1. Greek National Football Museum

0.45 MILES

This tiny museum might look like a shop, but it's actually crammed with more than 2000 items of soccer memorabilia. Run by Nikos, the passionate president…

2. Ahmet Aga Minaret

0.47 MILES

Soaring above the rooftops of the charismatic Splantzia quarter, the Ahmet Aga Minaret is one of Hania’s two remaining minarets from the Ottoman era.

3. Church of Agios Nikolaos

0.5 MILES

One of Hania’s most intriguing buildings is this Venetian-era church with both a bell tower and a double-balconied minaret – the latter replaced a second…

4. Church of San Rocco

0.53 MILES

This 17th-century Venetian church was probably built following an outbreak of plague and was turned into a military guardhouse under the Turks. Restored…

5. Greek Orthodox Cathedral

0.58 MILES

This three-aisled basilica with its prominent bell tower is dedicated to the Virgin of the Three Martyrs, Hania's patron saint. The present structure was…

6. Municipal Art Gallery

0.59 MILES

Hania’s modern art gallery evokes the interior of a boat and presents temporary exhibitions of contemporary works by local and national artists on three…

7. Cretan House Folklore Museum

0.62 MILES

Hania’s interesting Folklore Museum contains a selection of crafts, including weavings with traditional designs; local paintings; and several rooms of a…

8. Hania Archaeological Museum

0.62 MILES

The setting alone in the beautifully restored 16th-century Venetian Church of San Francisco is reason to visit this fine collection of artefacts from…