The Ahmet Aga Minaret rises above Chania’s Splantzia quarter on Chatzimichali Ntaliani Street. It is one of only two minarets left in the city, a remnant of more than 200 years of Ottoman rule in Crete. The minaret belonged to Aga Tzami, an Ottoman mosque; some of the mosque’s buildings survive nearby. Stop to look up at its place among the neighbourhood’s rooftops and to consider the layers of Chania’s past. Views from the minaret overlook Splantzia.
A remnant of Aga Tzami
The minaret is the surviving feature of Aga Tzami, an Ottoman mosque on what is now Chatzimichali Ntaliani Street. Some of the mosque’s other buildings remain, and now house a knitwear factory. The minaret and these buildings offer a glimpse of the site’s earlier use.
Ottoman traces in Chania
The minaret recalls more than two centuries of Ottoman rule in Crete. It is one of only two surviving minarets in Chania. Nearby, Agios Nikolaos in Splantzia Square has both a Christian bell tower and an Ottoman minaret; the church dates to 1320.
Häufige Fragen
Where is the Ahmet Aga Minaret?
It is on Chatzimichali Ntaliani Street in Chania’s Splantzia quarter.
How many minarets remain in Chania?
The Ahmet Aga Minaret is one of two surviving minarets in the city.
When is a good time to visit?
Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon for fewer crowds and softer light for photos.
What can I visit nearby?
The Agora Market is a nearby stop to combine with the minaret.
