Venetian lighthouse

In the heart of the old port of Chania stands a lighthouse, attracting the attention of all tourists. The history of this lighthouse dates back a very long time, although its current appearance was changed by the Egyptians in the 19th century. The Venetians, before the threat of the spread of the Ottoman Empire in the late 16th century, built very important fortifications all over Crete. They built the bastion of Agios Nikolaos along the middle of the marina, which together with the fortress of Firkas protected the entrance to the port.  The Venetians built the lighthouse on a natural rock at the edge of the marina. The tower of today's lighthouse is based on a trapezoidal base, which is Venetian. During the Ottoman occupation, the port of Chania was destroyed and the lighthouse was disabled. In 1839, the Egyptians (who received Crete as a gift from the Ottomans for their help in various wars) rebuilt the lighthouse and gave it the look we see today. The size of the tower is 21 meters high and can be seen from a distance of 7 miles.