There was a prosperous Jewish community, from many years in the old town of Chania. They were mostly merchants and managed to survive all the different conquerors of the island. That till the Germans came in WWII. A few managed to survive, protected by the local christian population, but most fled the incoming invasion or were perished in the concentration camps or the firing squads. The neighborhood, close to the port, is still known with the old name, denoting the inhabitants, and the old synagogue was reopened recently.
Υπήρχε μια μεγάλη και ακμάζουσα εβραική κοινότητα πρίν από τον πόλεμο στα Χανιά. Ήταν κυρίως πλούσιοι έμποροι και κατάφεραν να επιζήσουν επί πολλούς αιώνες, όποιος και να ήταν ο κυρίαρχος του νησιού. Μέχρι που ήρθαν οι Γερμανοί στον Β΄ ΠΑγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Λίγοι επιβίωσαν κρυμμένοι από τους ντόπιους χριστιανούς, πολλοί έφυγαν και οι υπόλοιποι εξολοθρεύτηκαν στα στρατόπεδα συγκέντρωσης του Χίτλερ. Η γειτονιά τους, που άρχιζε από το λιμάνι και εκτεινόταν προς τα νότια της παλιάς πόλης, ακόμη και σήμερα είναι γνωστή σαν "Οβριακή". Η παλιά συναγωγή ανακινίστηκε και ξανάνοιξε πρόσφατα.
Very interesting post. The photographs are very evocative.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - I love those narrow old streets. What a sad history those stones have witnessed.
ReplyDeleteexcellent!!
ReplyDeleteSuch fantastic captures, Costas! It's like walking down each of those narrow little streets, seeing and feeling the history of the area! Thanks as always for a lovely tour and such interesting information! Enjoy your weekend1
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Great scenes and captures.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
What a neat little town. Where in Greece is it?
ReplyDeleteI guess it is in Crete, right?
ReplyDeleteThe last one is haunting...
ReplyDeleteΕίχε πάρει φωτιά
ReplyDeleteαλλά τη βλέπω μια χαρά τώρα!
Πόσα βράδια δεν σεργιανίσαμε
στα στενά αυτά!
Φιλιά
Love the narrow ally ways, the natural colours of the bricks, the blue skies and,of course, the water, This area of Chania has so much charm.
ReplyDeleteFascinating neighborhood, your pictures show all the interesting architectural details. Looks like the area is still thriving.
ReplyDeleteI am loving this photo tour of Chania.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots of a beautiful location.
ReplyDeletethose naroow streets are the ones I cna only see in movie, it's amzing... beautiful captures and colorful too
ReplyDeleteI always love your photos, and thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch an informative post!
Hope you have a great weekend!
B
I've put today my birthday photos if you liked to see ;o)
Ooops BETTY FOR BETTY MANOUSOS
ReplyDeleteI love the B&W
ReplyDeleteand the wonderful wood door
and the small blue window
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful photographs. Full of symbolism and color.
Greetings.
I love the narrow streets and alleys. The town still looks much as it did hundreds of years ago.
ReplyDeletethanks!
sometimes my heart breaks a little with joy.. over your wonderful photos and writings
ReplyDeleteI find all you write fascinating
and I appreciate the artist's heart that beats within you
Wow. These are amazing photos of a beautiful and amazing place.
ReplyDeleteThe Jewish quarters are always fascinating and sometimes sad and poignant. They are always well worth a visit.
ReplyDeletehi Costas, your pictures are so beautiful. This must be a very interesting neighborhood to visit.
ReplyDelete