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Gastronomy and Shopping
Already from the ancient times of the Minoan civilization, the inhabitants
of Crete seem to be aware of the value of food like olive oil, olives, green
vegetables, herbs and many other products that are found in the Cretan soil
in great abundance. During their history of many centuries Cretans based
their diet on those products, a fact evidenced by cooking recipes preserved
to this day. The Municipal Market of Hania, a brilliant cross-shaped
building completed in 1913, has many local products, such as chestnuts,
honey, bread, bananas, "eptazyma" toasts and the famous Cretan drink of "raki"
or "tsipouro". There are also shops selling ceramics, leather items,
embroideries, woven-fabrics and hand-made jewellery. Top Chanas is a good
place to purchase authentic Cretan blankets and woven- fabrics. At "stivanadika",
one can find all sorts of leather products, belts, bags and "stivania", the
peculiar Cretan boots. The cutlery shops provide a wide variety of genuine
Cretan knives, an exquisite souvenir from Crete. Near the market, there are
pharmacies, newspapers stores and banks, while the main streets across from
the market sport modern stores, banks, car-rental places and the variety of
shops usually found in cities. |
