Discover the Neoclassical architecture of Domus Blanc, which once housed the French Consul, Paul Blanc. Like many residents in the Halepa neighborhood of Chania, Blanc had his home built in the Neoclassical style popular in Western Europe. The structure was completed in 1870 and featured wrought-iron balconies, a soft pink façade, and decorative cornices that mirrored the Belle Époque buildings of France.

Discover the historical fortifications built around the island of Crete. Travelers can spot the West Venetian Walls in the harbor that were constructed during the island’s era of Venetian rule 1204 to 1669. Or visit the ruins of Kastelli, a hilltop archaeological site featuring the remains of a Byzantine fortress and its accompanying embattlements.

Discover centuries-old monasteries and mosques across Crete. Monasteries like the Chrissoskalitissa Monastery and Agia Triada Monastery were built in the Byzantine and Venetian eras. Rough stones and fortresses built into the landscape are markers of the vernacular building in these eras. The later Ottoman-era mosques on Crete, like the Mosque of the Janissaries, were built in the 17th century and feature cut stone, tall spires, and domes.