# Chania

> city in Crete, Greece

**Wikidata**: [Q182299](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q182299)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chania)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chania

## Summary

Chania is a city on the island of Crete in Greece, serving as the capital of both the Chania Regional Unit and Chania Municipality. With a population of 54,559 as of the 2021 census, it occupies an area of 12.56 square kilometers at coordinates 35.516666666667°N, 24.016666666667°E. Historically known as Kydonia, the city connects to the European route E65 and maintains an official website at chania.gr.

## Key Facts

- **Classification**: City (large human settlement) in Crete, Greece
- **Population**: 54,559 (2021 census, preferred value); 55,838 (2001); 53,910 (2011); 51,710 (1991)
- **Area**: 12.56 square kilometres
- **Coordinates**: 35.516666666667°N, 24.016666666667°E
- **Elevation**: 13 metres above sea level (preferred); also recorded at 184 metres
- **Native name**: Χανιά (with pronunciation available)
- **Capital of**: Chania Regional Unit, Chania Municipality
- **Located in**: Chania Municipality, Commune of Chania
- **Replaces**: Kydonia (historical predecessor)
- **UN/LOCODE**: GRCHQ
- **Postal codes**: 73100, 73131, 73132, 73133, 73134, 73135, 73136, 73200, 73300
- **Local dialing code**: 2821
- **Connects with**: European route E65
- **Shares border with**: Nea Kydonia Municipal Unit
- **Owner of**: Perivolia Municipal Stadium
- **Significant event**: Siege of Chania
- **Official website**: https://www.chania.gr/ (Greek); https://www.chania.gr/el/ (Greek, preferred)
- **Sister cities**: Wellington City, Paphos, Žilina
- **Different from**: Charnia
- **Wikipedia presence**: Available in 66+ languages including English, Greek, Arabic, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese
- **Sitelink count**: 74
- **Topic's main category**: Category:Chania
- **Categories**: Category:Births in Chania, Category:People from Chania, Category:Views of Chania (town), Category:Maps of the municipality of Chania
- **GND ID**: 4090320-5
- **VIAF ID**: 125517146
- **FAST ID**: 1222641
- **GeoNames ID**: 260114
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0g86h
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n82155125
- **National Library of Greece ID**: 12245
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID**: place/Chania (as "Chaniá")
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 31376615
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: be8f8605-628d-43d8-a62f-b71afb528e64
- **ELSTAT geographical code**: 7401010101
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -820164
- **Who's On First ID**: 101752343
- **WorldCat Entities ID**: E39PBJy4jPjyM7cWR9rPcCcVmd
- **Image**: Aerial view of the Old Venetian Harbour in Chania, Greece
- **Page banner**: Chania_banner.jpg
- **Locator map**: 2011_Dimos_Chanion.png

## FAQs

**Where is Chania located geographically?**
Chania is situated on the island of Crete in Greece at coordinates 35.516666666667°N, 24.016666666667°E. It lies within the Chania Municipality and Commune of Chania, sharing a border with the Nea Kydonia Municipal Unit.

**What is the current population of Chania?**
The city has a population of 54,559 according to the 2021 census. Population records show fluctuations over time: 55,838 in 2001, 53,910 in 2011, and 51,710 in 1991.

**What is Chania's historical background?**
Chania historically replaces the ancient city of Kydonia. The city experienced the significant historical event known as the Siege of Chania and has been documented in multiple encyclopedic sources including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica (under the name "Canea"), Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, and The Nuttall Encyclopædia.

**What administrative role does Chania serve?**
Chania functions as the capital of both the Chania Regional Unit and the Chania Municipality. The city owns and operates the Perivolia Municipal Stadium and maintains an official municipal website at chania.gr.

**What transportation infrastructure connects to Chania?**
Chania connects with the European route E65 and has the UN/LOCODE designation GRCHQ for maritime/transport identification. The city uses the local dialing code 2821.

**What are the linguistic and cultural characteristics of Chania?**
The city's native name is Χανιά, and it has numerous aliases including Haniá, Canea, La Canee, Canée, and Kania across various languages. Wikipedia articles about Chania exist in 66+ languages including Greek, English, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and numerous European languages.

## Why It Matters

Chania serves as a critical administrative and cultural center on the island of Crete, functioning as the dual capital of both the Chania Regional Unit and Chania Municipality. Its strategic location with a UN/LOCODE designation (GRCHQ) and connection to European route E65 positions it as a significant transportation hub in the Mediterranean region. The city's historical depth—replacing the ancient settlement of Kydonia and experiencing events like the Siege of Chania—provides continuity from antiquity to modern Greece. With a substantial population of 54,559 (2021) and extensive international documentation across 66+ Wikipedia languages, Chania represents a globally recognized urban center. Its twinning relationships with Wellington City (New Zealand), Paphos (Cyprus), and Žilina (Slovakia) demonstrate active international civic engagement. The city's comprehensive cataloguing across major knowledge systems—from the Library of Congress to Encyclopædia Britannica, from GeoNames to WorldCat Entities—underscores its recognized importance in global geographical and cultural databases.

## Notable For

- **Dual capital status**: Serves simultaneously as capital of Chania Regional Unit and Chania Municipality
- **Historical continuity**: Direct successor to the ancient city of Kydonia
- **Global recognition**: Documented in 66+ language editions of Wikipedia with 74 sitelinks
- **Venetian heritage**: Featured imagery highlights the Old Venetian Harbour as a defining landmark
- **International partnerships**: Maintains sister city relationships across three continents (Wellington City in Oceania, Paphos in Europe, Žilina in Central Europe)
- **Extensive alternative nomenclature**: Known by over 20 aliases including Canea, Haniá, La Canee, Canée, and Kania across different languages and historical periods
- **Multi-source encyclopedic documentation**: Described in Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Sytin Military Encyclopedia, The Nuttall Encyclopædia, and the 11th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica
- **Comprehensive identifier coverage**: Assigned identifiers in over 20 major international classification systems including GND, VIAF, FAST, GeoNames, MusicBrainz, and OpenStreetMap

## Body

### Geography and Physical Characteristics

Chania occupies a land area of 12.56 square kilometres on the island of Crete, Greece. The city's geographical coordinates are 35.516666666667°N latitude and 24.016666666667°E longitude. Elevation data presents two recorded measurements: 13 metres above sea level (preferred value) and 184 metres, indicating topographical variation within the municipality. The city shares a border with the Nea Kydonia Municipal Unit.

### Demographics and Population Trends

Population data from Greek census records documents Chania's demographic trajectory over three decades. The 2021 census records 54,559 residents, representing the most recent and preferred figure. Previous censuses show 55,838 residents in 2001, 53,910 in 2011, and 51,710 in 1991. These figures reflect the determination method of "resident population of Greece" and derive from Greek census operations.

### Administrative Structure and Governance

Chania holds dual administrative significance as the capital of both the Chania Regional Unit and the Chania Municipality. The city is located within the Chania Municipality and the Commune of Chania. The municipal government operates an official website at https://www.chania.gr/ with a Greek-language portal at https://www.chania.gr/el/ (designated as preferred). The municipality owns the Perivolia Municipal Stadium as a civic facility. The ELSTAT geographical code 7401010101 provides official statistical identification within the Greek administrative framework.

### Historical Development

Chania historically replaces Kydonia, establishing a continuity of settlement from ancient to modern times. The city experienced the Siege of Chania as a significant historical event. Multiple authoritative encyclopedic sources have documented Chania: the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Sytin Military Encyclopedia, The Nuttall Encyclopædia (under the name "Canea"), and the 11th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica (under the entry "Canea"). The "Enciclopedia dell'Arte Antica" published in 1994 includes an entry on Chania authored by Erik Hallager and Maria Andreadaki-Vlasaki.

### Transportation and Infrastructure

Chania maintains transport connections through the European route E65. The city's UN/LOCODE designation GRCHQ facilitates international shipping and logistics identification. The local dialing code for telecommunications is 2821. Postal services utilize multiple postal codes: 73100, 73131, 73132, 73133, 73134, 73135, 73136, 73200, and 73300.

### Nomenclature and Linguistic Diversity

The native label for Chania is Χανιά, with an audio pronunciation file available. The city is known by numerous aliases across languages and historical periods: Haniá, Chaniá, Canea, Hanya, Kania, Janiá, Jania, Χανιά, Chania, Hania, La Canee, Canée, Kanea, カニア (Japanese), 干尼亚 (Chinese), Канеа, Хания (Russian/Cyrillic), Chanéia, Kidonia, Xania, Caneia, كانيا, خانيا, and هانيا (Arabic variants). This extensive nomenclature reflects the city's multi-cultural historical interactions.

### International Relations

Chania maintains official twinning relationships with three municipalities: Wellington City (New Zealand), Paphos (Cyprus), and Žilina (Slovakia). These partnerships facilitate cultural and civic exchange across different regions.

### Digital Presence and Knowledge Documentation

Chania has substantial representation across digital knowledge platforms. Wikipedia articles exist in 66 language editions including: an, ar, arz, ast, be, be_x_old, bg, ca, ceb, commons, cs, da, de, el, en, eo, es, et, eu, fa, fi, fr, frr, he, hr, hu, hy, hyw, id, io, it, ja, ka, ko, la, li, lt, lv, mk, nl, nn, no, oc, pl, pt, ro, ru, scn, sh, simple, sk, sl, sq, sr, sv, szl, th, tr, uk, ur, vi, war, wuu, zh, zh_yue. The sitelink count totals 74. Wikimedia Commons hosts a gallery under Χανιά and a category under Chania. The city distinguishes itself from the entity "Charnia" to prevent confusion.

### Identification Systems and Cataloguing

Chania possesses identifiers across numerous international classification systems:

- **Library and Bibliographic Systems**: GND ID 4090320-5; VIAF ID 125517146; FAST ID 1222641; Library of Congress Authority ID n82155125; National Library of Greece ID 12245; IDREF ID 034113568; Canadiana Name Authority ID ncf12026101; National Library of Israel J9U ID 987007567077805171

- **Geographical Systems**: GeoNames ID 260114; GNS Unique Feature ID -820164; OpenStreetMap Node ID 31376615; Who's On First ID 101752343

- **Cultural and Art Systems**: Grove Art Online ID T015916; RKD Thesaurus ID 95683; MusicBrainz Area ID be8f8605-628d-43d8-a62f-b71afb528e64; Museum Digital Place ID 87924; Kulturenvanteri Taxonomy ID 384

- **Encyclopedic Systems**: Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID place/Chania; De Agostini ID Chaniá+(città); Online PWN Encyclopedia ID 3884710

- **Other Systems**: Freebase ID /m/0g86h; WorldCat Entities ID E39PBJy4jPjyM7cWR9rPcCcVmd; Alvin ID alvin-place:5617; SBN Place ID BVEL000043; SNARC ID September 4; NL CR AUT ID xx0084784; Pinakes City ID 119; Archinform Location ID 4916; Yale LUX ID place/a96b0c8c-7104-4d5e-b9e4-4ef8d0a21c68; U.S. National Archives Identifier 10045630; FactGrid Item ID Zohan District; Enciclopedia dell'Arte Antica ID chania

### Visual Documentation

Visual documentation of Chania includes an aerial view photograph of the Old Venetian Harbour, a dedicated page banner (Chania_banner.jpg), and a locator map image (2011_Dimos_Chanion.png). Wikimedia Commons categorizes visual content under "Category:Views of Chania (town)" and maintains a dedicated gallery.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. MusicBrainz
6. 2021 Greek census
7. GeoNames
8. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/gr.htm)
9. [Source](https://it-ch.topographic-map.com/map-fqd74s/Chania/?zoom=19&center=35.51229%2C24.01907&popup=35.51235%2C24.01912)
10. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)