Rethymno Crete

Rethymnon is the capital of the homonymous prefecture of Crete and is one of the most beautiful areas as it combines elements of the past harmoniously with the modern era. It is the third largest city of Crete after Heraklion and Chania. It is a top summer destination, as each year it receives many tourists from the entire world. The wonderful beaches, the picturesque streets and the archaeological sites impress visitors, and the vacation in the town of Rethymno gets unforgettable.

The present city is built in the same position as the ancient Rithymna and the findings show that the city was inhabited from the 5th-4th century bc. Rethymno, like most areas of Greece, went through various dominations over the years. The period of the Venetian rule lasted up to 1669. In 1538, Barbarossa (the Red Beard Pirate), admiral of the Ottoman fleet attacked the island. The 16th century finds the city in a great spiritual flourishing. Many locals artists and scholars were working even in Venice. This period of acne had an abrupt halt, when on November 13, 1646 Rethymno, and in 1669, the entire island of Crete, was conquered by the Turks. During the Greek Revolution of 1821, many Greeks of Crete lost their lives. On1866 there was the outbreak of a new revolution. This time the Cretans fought to a large extent without any help, and the revolution was crushed. The most characteristic fact of this revolution is the holocaust of Arkadi Monastery in 1866. With the independence of Crete in 1897, the town began to grow again and infrastructure projects were built.

In the area of Rethymno will find many attractions and archaeological sites. A unique monument, one of the most prominent, the trademark of the city of Rethymno is the venetian castle of Fortezza. In front of the main gate of the Fortezza is the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno dating back to 1887. Don't miss the opportunity also to walk in the narrow streets of the Old Town. Among the archaeological sites that came to light are the ancient Eleftherna, which was inhabited from the 8th century bc, and the cemetery at Armeni, with over 350 tombs. Also of special archaeological and folklore interest are the 800 or so caves in the mountains of Rethymno. It is worth to visit the Monastery of Preveli which is located about 40 kilometers south of Rethymno and is one of the most famous and respected monasteries of Crete.

The southern coasts host some of the most beautiful and unspoilt exotic beaches of Crete. The beach of Rethymno is ideal for those looking for a close-up proposal for swimming and especially for families. You can still visit the beach next to the Kitrenosiwhich is about 15 minutes from the town of Rethymno. The beach of Platanias is 4 kilometers east of Rethymno city, and is a crowded beach due to the fine sand and the close distance from the town of Rethymno. Also a lot of tourists visit the small but pretty touristis Bali, with many small sandy coves. On the south coast of Rethymno there are some of the most beautiful beaches such as the beach Rodakino, the beach of Plakias and the beach of Souda. It is worth visiting the beach of Triopetra which is a lovely secluded beach on the south side of Rethymno.

The cretan cuisine maintains a dominant presence in most of the houses on the island. 'Hohlioi' (snails) cooked in various ways is one of the most well-known dishes in Crete and a perfect accompany to the cretan raki. Don't miss the opportunity to try the antikristo which is going for big pieces of meat cooked in the oldest way, meaning in sticks, for several hours. The anogiano smoked apaki (smoked pork) and the gamopilafo with the rice cooked in a broth of goat are the most authentic cretan dishes. In the cretan cuisine very often you will come across stamnagkathi. It's a weed that looks like a radish and grows in most areas of Crete. In any part of Crete you go for lunch or dinner, definitely try the local raki and the local tsikoudia.

For those who seek an intense night life, the town will reward you. Small bars with a special atmosphere and great clubs promise entertainment until the early morning hours. In Crete you will find a lot of entertainment options for all tastes and all ages. During summer in Crete the tourists meet the locals, becoming all part of a larger group and follow the unique way of the Cretans to have fun. Lastly, during the summer several music festivals and cultural events also months take place.

The phone code for Rethymnon is 28310. Access to the Rethymno can be done either by ferry from the ports of Chania and Heraklion, either by plane, in the respective airports. From the airports in both cases, begin the long-distance KTEL (bus company) arriving in Rethymnon. The airport of Chania is 70 kilometers away while that of Heraklion is at a distance of 90 kilometers. Lastly, urban buses serve the city and the villages of Rethymno.