At the entrance of the port of Chania is situated the Fortress FIRKA, which was constructed by the Venetians (1204-1669), in order to establish the local guard and at the same time to use it as a prison for the persons condemned to death.Later on the Turks (1669- 1898) used it for the same purpose and established there the Division Command. The name FIRKA, which in the Turkish language means DIVISION, remained since then.
Today, at the entrance of this Fortress is situated the Maritime Museum of Crete, which holds a concessive position since here, on December 1st 1913, the Greek flag has been hoisted, sealing the UNION OF CRETE with the motherland Greece.
The museum is easily accessible by car and there is parking space available in the area. Also, one can combine a visit to the museum with a pleasant walk around the Venetian Harbor and the Old Town.
Foundation
The Maritime Museum of Crete was founded in 1973 in order to accommodate and present our naval traditions, and especially those of Crete , which they constitute a part of the national glory. These are the traditions that the Greek waves have made a chantey throughout the centuries and our national conscience bequeaths from generation to generation. The M.M.C. in Chania is located in the beneficial area at the entrance of the Fortress of Firka, where on December 1 st 1913 the Greek flag has been hoisted as the crowning of the Union of Crete with the Motherland Greece.
The local press pointed out during the opening day of the museum: the Maritime Museum is a great proof of the interest and love for our glorious Greek Navy, which continuing its wonderful traditions in war and peace, bequeaths to this provincial city of Greece a cultural space congruent with the best ones of that type in Europe.
The MMC is the second maritime one in antiquity in Greece, after the Maritime Museum of Greece in Piraeus and it welcomes approximately 36,000 visitors per year.
The museum is separated in different rooms, dedicated to a cretan period: Bronze Age, Byzantine period, Balkan Wars, Independance Struggle, Wordl War II, Country Shrive, Post War period, Greek destroyer brifge model, Marchant navy.