The Maritime Museum of Crete occupies the Firkas fortress at the western entrance to the Venetian harbour — a solid 17th-century fortification with good views over the harbour mouth. The collection covers Cretan and Greek naval history from ancient times through the modern era, with particular attention to the Battle of Crete in May 1941, when German paratroopers landed on the island in one of the first large-scale airborne invasions in history.
The Battle of Crete section has weapons, maps, photographs, and personal effects from both sides. The Cretans fought the German occupation with considerable ferocity even after the island's formal fall, and the museum documents the resistance alongside the military campaign. The fortress walls themselves are worth climbing for the harbour views. Allow an hour.