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Yiali Tzamisi

Yiali Tzamisi (Yialou mosque) is the only surviving mosque in the town and is located in the Old Port of Chania, directly opposite the Egyptian Lighthouse. It was dedicated to the first commandant of Chania, Kioutsouk (small) Hasan (as many call it), and is one of the few remaining examples of Islamic art of the Renaissance. Built in the second half of the 17th century, the striking cubic building, which attracts the admiration of onlookers, is overlapped by a semi-spherical dome with no drum. In the west and north wing there is an open passage, as with all mosques. In about 1880 it was enclosed with neoclassical style arches. Yiali Tzamisi, which functioned as a mosque until 1923, is the work of an Armenian architect. Its use has been changed many times, occasionally housing the Archaeological Museum, EOT Tourist Information Office and the Museum of Folk Art.

During the Turkish period Revellino was used as barrack (Firka = barrack), for that reason the name Firka is still used today. The arched openings were used as prisons from the Turkish period to the civil war. On the corner watch tower of the Fortress the Greek flag of the Unification of Crete was raised on December 1st 1913 in an official ceremony. Today, at the entrance of the Fortress is situated the Maritime Museum of Crete.
The district of Splantzia is located to the East ot the Byzantine fortification wall and used to be the Turkish quarter of the town. It has many nice narrow alleys that you can wander through. Its main point of interest is Splantzia Square (officially name Square 1821) where you will now find pleasant coffee shops in the shade of a large plane tree.
Saint Francis’ Church (Archaeological Museum of Chania) … It has operated continuously since then, as the Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Crete.