Fort of Itzedin in Chania, Crete
Chania Sights & Monuments - The Fort of Itzedin is a magnificent hilltop castle overlooking the sea, located just 14 kilometers east of Chania Town and near the village of Kalami in Crete. Built in 1872 by Reuf Pasha, the commander of Crete when it was under Turkish rule, this fortress is a prime example of 19th-century Ottoman architecture. It was also a crucial defense spot for Souda Bay. The fort was named after Sultan Abdul Aziz's first son, and it was erected in place of an old tower.
Once Crete was freed from Ottoman rule, the fort was used as a prison for political opponents, common law prisoners, and those sentenced to death. Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos was incarcerated here in 1905 after being found guilty of insult. Later, the notorious dictator Theodoros Pagkalos was also put in prison here. During the Second World War and the Greek Civil War, the prison stopped working, but it reopened in 1948, and Gavdos Island's political prisoners were transferred here. Until the fall of the Greek military junta in 1974, political prisoners were held in Itzedin.
The prison fortress was also the site of numerous executions, including the final death sentence carried out in Greece in 1972. After the prison's closure, the fortress was abandoned. However, local authorities have recently taken steps to restore it. In the summertime, music concerts are held in the prison yards. Visit the Fort of Itzedin in Chania, Crete, to explore history and architecture.
Gallery
