Municipal Market of Chania

Even though the glory days it saw in the beginning of the 20th century have waned, the Municipal Market of Chania, an architectural gem and one of the most impressive municipal markets in the Balkan Region, is still one of the flagship buildings of the city.

Currently standing where the limits of the city stretched out until the end of the 19th century, the Municipal Market of Chania was erected further to a decision adopted by the Municipality of Chania in 1908 as an antidote to embellish an area that was not in the least attractive for its residents at the time.

Based on the construction drawings that the Chaniot engineer Drandakis prepared along the lines of the vaulted market of Marseille, works for the erection of the edifice commenced in 1911.

The Municipal Market of Chania was inaugurated in 1913 by Eleftherios Venizelos. Chania's Market is a cross-shaped edifice with four gates, one on each wing. At the beginning, the eastern and western part accommodated the butcher shops, the western alley the fishmongers, while the shops selling fruit and vegetables were housed in the north and south wing.

The Municipal Market of Chania was for years the beating heart of the city of Chania. In the years that followed, with the fish market transferred to Souda and the vegetable section outside the city center, the Municipal Market lost much of its vigor while many of the shops in the Market became souvenir shops.

With its unique architecture, its goodies and its precious eating houses serving such irresistible delicacies, the Municipal Market of Chania still manages to cast its spell on every single visitor. It will cast a spell on you too! Don't miss out on this one!