Agios Nikolaos in Splantzia, Chania, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Agios Nikolaos is an Orthodox church on Splantzia Square in the old town of Chania, on the Greek island of Crete. It began as a Dominican church under the Venetians, became a mosque under the Ottomans, and is now known for having both a bell tower and a minaret. That makes it one of the clearest places in Chania to see the city's layered history in a single building.

The story behind it

Crete has passed through many hands over the centuries, from the Romans and the Byzantines to the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire, before it joined modern Greece in the early twentieth century. Agios Nikolaos carries traces of several of these periods. It was first built by Venetian friars of the Dominican Order, and when the Ottomans took control of Chania, the church was converted into a mosque, which is when the minaret appeared.

After the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in the early 1920s, the Muslim community left and the building returned to Christian worship as an Orthodox church. The minaret was left standing next to the bell tower. The church is often described as the only one in Greece to have both.

What to look for

• The minaret and the bell tower side by side, a pairing that sums up the building's long and varied history.
• The overall form of the building, which reflects its origins as a monastery church built by Venetian friars.
• The lively Splantzia Square in front, ringed with cafes and tavernas, which gives the church its everyday setting.
• The narrow lanes of the surrounding Splantzia quarter, where old stone houses and small shops lead off in every direction.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 15 to 20 minutes for the church and the square, longer if you want to sit at a cafe and watch the neighbourhood.
• It is a working parish church, so dress modestly if you plan to go in, and check current opening hours as they can vary.
• Late afternoon and evening are pleasant times, when the square fills with locals and the light softens on the stonework.
• The Venetian harbour and the rest of the old town are a short walk away, so it pairs easily with a wander toward the waterfront.

See it on a quest

The quest Charming Chania: In Quest of True Love is a good way to see this church as part of the wider old town rather than as an isolated stop. You walk to it on foot as one stop on a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It suits couples, friends or families, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.