Saint Nicholas was a temple of the monastery of the Dominicans of the Venetian era and is located on the Splanzia square of Chania. The temple was built in 1320 and follows the architectural of the Central Monastery of St. Peter.

After the conquest of the city by the Turks in 1645, the church was converted into a mosque, the "Chiougkar Tzamisi" meaning "Mosque of the Prince". At the southwestern part of the temple was constructed the famous minaret, which was the tallest and most impressive of the city. It reached a height of 40 meters, it had two balconies and conical bore metal roof covered with lead sheets.

The Chiougkar Tzamisi was the main mosque of the city, since the Splantzia square was the turkish quarter, reference center and place for all sorts of social or political event of the city. Here was kept the sword of Turkish Dervish, who was first entered into the city and were considered sacred and miraculous for Muslims.

In 1918 the mosque was converted again in orthodox church dedicated to St. Nicholas and bell tower was added to the north side of the temple, describing it as the only temple in Greece that has bell tower and minaret.

You can visit the Minaret of St. Nicholas through our tour Tour 11 and discover one of the greatest monuments of the Venetian period on the island.