Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Walking the streets of the old town of Chania (I). Περπατώντας στους δρόμους της παλιάς πόλης των Χανίων(Ι)

Old buildings, old streets, different cultures, different civilizations, different religions, traces of others. All those you can find while walking on the narrow streets of the old town. Lets walk them together.
Παλιά κτίρια, σημάδια και ίχνη άλλων πολιτισμών, άλλων θρησκειών. Όλα μπορείς να τα δείς όταν περπατάς στα στενάκια της παλιάς πόλης των Χανίων. Ας τα περπατήσωμε μαζύ.














This is the high school I was attending it the 60.s. It was built in the beginning of last century and used as barracks for the occupation forces of the foreign powers who were ruling Crete after the Turks left and before the Union with Greece.
Το γυμνάσιο που παρακολουθούσα την δεκαετία του 60. Είχε χτιστεί στις αρχές του περασμένου αιώνα και είχε χρησιμοποιηθεί σαν στρατώνας των ξένων δυνάμεων που σταθμευαν στην Κρήτη μετά την αποχώρηση των Τούρκων και πριν την Ένωση με την Ελλάδα.














The Minaret of Ahmet Aga behind the high school. There was also a mosque next to the Minaret but has been destroyed long ago.
Ο μιναρές του Αχμέτ Αγά, πίσω από το Γυμνάσιο. Το τζαμί που υπήρχε εκει έχει καταστραφεί πριν πολλά χρόνια.

The little square and the plane tree. It was on this tree where the Turks hanged Bishop Melchizedek during the revolution of the Christians in 1821.
Η πλατεία της Σπλάντζιας με τον πλάτανο από τον οποίο κρέμασαν οι Τούρκοι τον Επίσκοπο Μελχισεδέκ κατά την επανάσταση του 1821.
The Church of St. Nicholas with the Turkish Minaret on the same square. When the Turks occupied Crete in 1645, many old churches were turned into mosques. This old church was used as military installation also. After the Turks left, it was turned into a church again, the minaret was restored and, as you can see it is a little different from the other as it has two balconies.
Η εκκλησία του Α:γίου Νικολάου, στην ίδια πλατεία. Όταν οι Τούρκοι κατέλαβαν την Κρήτη, το 1645, πολλές εκκλησίες μετετράπηκαν σε τζανιά. Αυτή χρησιμοποιήθηκε και σαν στρατώνας. Ο συγκεκριμμένος μιναρές αποκαταστάθηκε σχετικά πρόσφατα, και έχει όπως βλέπετε δυό μπαλκόνια. 















The catholic church of St. Rocco at the eadge of the same square. Another religious monument on the same square. Built in early 17th century.
Ο καθολικός ναός του Αγίου Ρόκκο στην πλατεία της Σπλάντζιας.



11 comments:

  1. Layers of history side by side -- and then there is your school house from the 60's I wonder what future generations will think about it and say about that school building or if it will even survive the test of time?
    Joan

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  2. I love walking visiually through Chania and seeing all the beauty and learning the history. Your photos are always the next best thing to being there, Costas! Fascinating! Have a great evening and tomorrow!

    Sylvia

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  3. Thank you for the walking tour of Chania. The buildings and history are fascinating. And the tree from 1821 is still there, amazing!

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  4. Para para para poli omorfes fotografies.Mpravo!

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  5. Wonderful again, Costas. Did you grow up here? You say you went to high school... if you did, what a lovely place to call home.

    I can hear the "mamis" calling out to one another down the skinny streets saying, "Come for coffee"!

    Cheers.

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  6. I just traveled to Crete through your pictures and you hometown.
    What a wonderful place to attend high school!
    I can picture myself enjoying a glass of Ouzo in the shady square...

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  7. Πόσες φορές τα χω περπατήσει αυτά τα στενά και πάντα αισθάνομαι σαν να ναι η πρώτη φορά! Φιλιά πολλά

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  8. Bonitas fotos... você visita cada lugar tão lindo!

    Beijos.

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  9. What a magnificent place to walk. Thank you for taking us with you! The old buildings are just gorgeous. The colours are very rich and warm. I would love to walk these streets taking pictures with you!

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  10. I am fascinated and captivated with each picture here. I find myself drawn in to every view! Especially when these photos are enlarged. The detail is incredible!

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