The Venetian Walls of Chania were constructed by the Venetians to protect and secure the city. Initially, they repaired the existing Byzantine walls and restructured the urban layout within these boundaries. However, as the city’s population grew and expanded beyond the original fortifications, further fortification was necessary. In 1536, the city was fortified again under the guidance of the renowned Veronese engineer Michele Sanmicheli. Additional modifications were made in 1563 by G. Savorgan and Admiral Renier.
The Venetian walls featured four bastions, numerous towers, and an outer moat. The fortifications were nearly square, encompassing a perimeter of 3085 meters. A moat ran parallel to the walls, measuring 1942 meters in length, 10 meters in depth, and 50 meters in width. To enhance defensive capabilities, the bastions were supported by smaller structures called ramparts, which were positioned at a higher level than the bastions.
The Piatta Forma bastion was centrally located on the southern side of the Venetian fortifications. It maintained communication with the Santa Lucia bastion to the east and the Agios Dimitrios bastion to the west, while also protecting “Porta Retimiotta,” the city’s main gate. The bastion was rectangular and extended into the moat. Two high ramparts, constructed with solid masonry, flanked its sides. The eastern rampart was known as Santa Maria, and the western one as San Giovanni.
During the era of the Cretan State, there was a need to connect the old city with the new city, leading to the decision to demolish the Piatta Forma bastion. The demolition was decided in 1903 and began in 1908 to make way for the construction of the Municipal Market.
Means of Access:
- Car
- On Foot
Disabled Access:
- Yes
