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Hania
due to its favorable position has been inhabited in Neolithic times.
Recent research reveals that it flourished during the Minoan civilization.
Known with the name Kydonia, Hania was always one of the most important
towns in Crete.
Hania
was rebuild in 1252 in the vicinity of the Byzantine castle (Kasteli)
and was surrounded by big walls made of stone. Around the city existed
the Venetian monasteries of St. Francis (the greatest and
most splendid Venetian church of the island which nowadays houses
the Archaeological Museum), of St. Nicolas in Splanzia Area
(today the location of an orthodox church), of St. Salvatore,
etc.
After
the middle of the 16th century the external walls of the city were
built based on the design of the Italian engineer Michelle Sanmichielli.
They had an orthogonal shape with many parapets. The most important
parts which are found today are: the Firkas Fort (which houses
the Naval Museum), the southwest and northeast parapet and the Lighthouse.
 The
influence from all these civilizations are obvious in the architecture
of Hania's buildings (Byzantine, Venetian, Turkish and Neoclassic).
The narrow streets of the Old Town, the well-kept traditional
houses, the taverns and the tourist shops are just a small part
of the famous and exceptionally beautiful Venetian harbour of Hania.
At the
end of the last century when Hania was the capital of Crete, the
town quickly developed around the Old town and outside the walls.
In the suburb of Halepa one can see the building of the former French
School (today it houses the conference center of Technical University
of Crete), the house of Eleftherios Venizelos, the old
palace of Prince George, and many other neoclassical buildings.
 Other
neoclassical buildings in Hania are: the Municipal Market,
the Town Clock, the Prefecture (which used to be a
turkish hospital), the Historical Museum of Crete which is
housed in the same building with the Folklore Museum, etc.
The town
of Hania is characterized by an intense cultural activity, life
and tourism, particularly in the area of the old town. Hania has
a composite character; while retaining its Cretan tradition it fully
participates in the evolution of Europe.
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