The Venizelos Tombs are the graves of Eleftherios Venizelos, Greece's best-known modern statesman, and his son Sophocles, on the pine-covered hill of Profitis Ilias at Froudia, a few kilometres east of Chania. Venizelos chose the spot himself. The hill was also the scene of a famous moment in the Cretan revolt of 1897, and it gives one of the widest views over Chania and its bay.
The Venizelos Tombs at a glance
- Where: on Profitis Ilias hill at Froudia on the Akrotiri peninsula, on the road from Chania to the airport.
- Created: Eleftherios Venizelos was buried here in 1936; the tomb of his son Sophocles was added in 1965.
- What it is today: a memorial site in a small park with the two graves, the old church of the Prophet Elijah and a statue recalling the events of 1897.
- Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes, longer if you stay for the view or a drink at the café next door.
- Good to know: the site is outside the old town, so most visitors come by car, taxi or local bus.
A revolution, a broken flagpole and a statesman's grave
In February 1897 the Cretans of Akrotiri set up a revolutionary camp on this hill, with the young Venizelos among the leaders, in the uprising against Ottoman rule. On 9 February (21 February in the modern calendar) warships of the international fleet bombarded the insurgents' positions, and a shell broke the pole of the Greek flag flying over the camp. A Cretan fighter, Spyros Kayales, picked up the flag and held it up with his own body. The story quickly spread, and soon after the bombardment stopped. The small church on the hill was badly damaged that day.
Venizelos went on to lead Crete and then Greece, serving several times as prime minister. He died in exile in Paris in March 1936, and, as he had wished, his body was brought back to Crete and buried on the hill where the 1897 camp had stood. His son Sophocles, himself prime minister of Greece in the 1940s and 1950s, died in 1964 and was buried beside his father.
What to look for
- The two graves, deliberately plain, set side by side under the pine trees.
- The inscription on Eleftherios Venizelos's tomb, an extract from a speech he gave in the Greek parliament in 1932.
- The statue of Spyros Kayales holding up the flag, which recalls the bombardment of 1897.
- The small church of the Prophets Elijah and Elisha, a Venetian-era church with two naves, the second added in the 16th century.
- The panorama over Chania, the old harbour and the bay of Chania, with the White Mountains behind on a clear day.
A local tradition about the church
A local tradition says that the church damaged in the bombardment of 1897 was later restored by the Russians: one of the guns on their flagship exploded soon after, and the sailors took it as a sign of divine punishment. Treat it as a story told on the hill rather than a recorded fact.
Tips for your visit
- Come late in the afternoon or at sunset, when the light over Chania and the sea is softest and the hill is cooler.
- This is a grave site and a place of national memory: keep your voice down near the tombs and dress respectfully if you go into the church.
- Combine the visit with a trip to the Akrotiri peninsula or with your arrival or departure at Chania airport, which lies on the same road.
- Bring water and sun protection in summer; there is little shade away from the pines.
Nearby
- Koukouvagia café: right next to the tombs, a popular spot for a coffee or drink with the view.
- Halepa: the elegant district on the way back to town, where the Venizelos Residence Museum shows the house the statesman lived in.
- Chania Old Town and the Venetian harbour: a short drive away, with the lighthouse, the Venetian arsenals and narrow lanes.
- Akrotiri peninsula: further out, with monasteries such as Agia Triada and quiet beaches.
See Chania with World City Trail
Our Chania treasure hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 42 minutes of walking. It leads you through the alleys of the Old Town and along the Venetian harbour. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Dutch and Greek.
If you prefer a different format, Chania also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Chania scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Chania →
Play the outdoor escape game in Chania →
Facts checked in October 2026.