The Municipal Market of Chania is commonly known as the "Agora". It was built between 1909 and 1913 and modelled on the covered market of Marseilles. It has a cruciform shape and space inside for a large number of shops. It was built on the site of a bastion of the Venetian fortification wall. This was dismantled to fill in the moat and created a space to build the market on.
It is still an active market and houses shops selling vegetables, fish, meat, herbs and spices, Cretan products such as cheeses, olives, raki and more. In the summer months many shops also sell tourist souvenirs. There are also a few good workmen's cafés offering local food.
The market is open during normal shop hours which generally are Monday, Wednesday, Saturday from 8.00 until 14.00 and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.00 until 21.00. It is closed Sundays (with some exceptions before Christmas and Easter).
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