Scala de Faro

Inside a remarkable fifteenth sixteenth century building on Chania's Venetian Harbour, Scala de Faro is an intimate nine room hotel where centuries of Cretan history meet extraordinary views across the water to the lighthouse.

The building has lived several lives. Created during the Venetian period, altered after the Ottoman arrival in 1645 and opened as one of Chania's early hotels under the name Minerva in 1934, its architecture still carries evidence of each chapter. Carved stone vaults, an ornate arched staircase, timber ceilings, wooden floors and original masonry were retained through its restoration, allowing the history to remain tangible rather than simply decorative.

With only nine rooms and suites across three floors, Scala de Faro feels wonderfully connected to the old building and the city immediately outside. Open the doors and Chania's narrow lanes begin almost at the threshold, while on the harbour side the view stretches across the Venetian waterfront to its famous Egyptian lighthouse.

Rooms & Suites

No two rooms feel quite the same, with their proportions and architectural details influenced by the period in which each part of the building evolved. Some look into the atmospheric streets and towards the mountains, while the sea facing rooms and suites place the harbour firmly at the centre of the experience.

The Premium Sea View Suite and Deluxe Sea View Room make particularly good use of the waterfront position, while the Master Sea View Suite crowns the collection with its own private roof garden. A Junior Suite adds a spa bath and city outlook, with balcony rooms providing another opportunity to sit above the life of the Old Town and watch Chania unfold below.

Dining

Breakfast can be served privately, giving mornings a pleasingly unhurried start within the historic surroundings. Coffee, fruit and other refreshments are also available, but the real dining room here is Chania itself, with an exceptional concentration of restaurants, cafés and tavernas woven through the streets surrounding the hotel.

The harbour is particularly tempting in the evening, when tables spill towards the water and the Venetian buildings begin to glow beneath the lights. Venture a little deeper into the Old Town and tiny courtyards, converted townhouses and tucked away lanes reveal some of Chania's most interesting places to eat.

Experience

Staying here places the history of Chania immediately outside the door. Venetian and Ottoman monuments sit alongside museums, churches, old merchant houses and the waterfront, making the city particularly rewarding to explore on foot. Walking tours and cultural experiences can be arranged, while cycling, hiking, diving and snorkelling open up more of western Crete beyond the Old Town.

The hotel itself remains an atmospheric place to return to between excursions. There is something special about seeing the same harbour from above that you have just been walking around below, particularly towards dusk when the lighthouse and waterfront take on a completely different character.

Wellness

Massage treatments and personal training can be arranged, bringing wellness into the stay on an individual basis. Selected accommodation adds its own indulgent touches, including a spa bath, although the greatest pleasure here is often simply slowing down within a building that has watched life on Chania's harbour change for centuries.

Where

Scala de Faro occupies an exceptional position in the heart of Chania's Old Town, directly above the Venetian Harbour and surrounded by many of the city's most important historic sights. Museums, churches, restaurants and the waterfront are all reached on foot, making this an especially rewarding address for experiencing Chania from the moment you step outside.

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