The Evraiki — Hania's old Jewish quarter — occupies the western part of the Venetian city, between the harbour and the old city walls. The neighbourhood has been inhabited since at least the 15th century and is the oldest continuously settled part of the city. Today it is a quiet tangle of narrow lanes with whitewashed walls, small courtyards, and restored Venetian doorways.
The centrepiece is the Etz Hayyim Synagogue, the only functioning synagogue in Crete and a memorial to the Jewish community destroyed in 1944. The surrounding streets are less touristy than the harbour front: a good place to find local craftspeople, small galleries, and the occasional unfussy restaurant. The neighbourhood is at its quietest and most atmospheric early in the morning or after dinner.