After the occupation of the city by the Turks (1645) several changes occurred that influenced the structure of the city and the living conditions in general. The Turkish population settled mainly at the eastern districts of Kasteli and Splantzia. The Christian population settled mainly at the district of Topanas, on the northwestern part of the city. The name "Topanas" derives from the Venetian powder magazine (in Turkish, "Top-Hane") that was located on the street "Theotokopoulou".  

In about the end of the 19^th century, the district of Topanas featured beautiful houses, narrow streets and magnificent Venetian buildings. The Consulates the Great Powers were located there, and later they moved the district of Halepa. Nowadays, the district of Topanas features a variety of centers at the sea front, ideal for the social gatherings of the people of Chania.

The "Firka" (meaning "military unit") fortress is located on the northwest part of Topanas.  

The Jewish District (or "Ovriaki")  

The Jewish district of Chania was located on the northwest part of the city. The street "Kondylaki" used to be the central street of the district, where the houses of famous Jewish families were located.  The Synagogue of Kehal Hayyim is still preserved on a cross street of the street "Kondylaki". The Italian archeologist Gerola argued that the synagogue used to be the Church of Aghia Ekaterini, based on a map of Coronelli. It is a single-aisled dome shaped building with two additional spaces on the south related to the Jewish Mass. All the Jewish people of Chania were killed during the WW2, when their ship sunk outside the port of Chania.