Trimartyri Cathedral

About

Chania's main cathedral.

The cathedral of Chania, known as Trimartyri, is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. It stands on Mitropoleos square in the old town.

The church was built in 1860, on the site of an older church that had been turned into a soap factory by the Ottomans. Inside are fine icons.

The cathedral stands on Athinagora square, off Halidon street. According to tradition, there was a small church here from the 11th century. The Ottomans turned it into a soap factory, and in 1850 the Turkish governor gave the land back to the Christians, who built the present cathedral. It's the seat of the metropolitan bishop of Kydonia and Apokoronas.

The Chania area is the green heart of western Crete. Around the city, olive groves and orange orchards stretch towards the White Mountains, whose peaks stay snowy until late spring. The old town, with its Venetian harbour, the market hall and countless tavernas, is never far away, and the Akrotiri peninsula adds sandy beaches, old monasteries and the Venizelos graves. Food here is a highlight: try boureki (a bake of courgettes, potatoes and cheese), kalitsounia pies and fresh fish, with a glass of local raki to finish.

Anreise

In Chania itself, easy to reach on foot.

On the map

35.51530, 24.01839 · See on map