Rethymno

Rethymno Crete

Rethymno is the capital of the prefecture of the same name. Rethymno has two of the largest sandy beaches in Crete 12km to the east of the town and 10km to the west. Most noteworthy sights of the town are located in Rethymnon Old Town with its small Venetian harbour, narrow streets lined with beautiful, old, aristocratic buildings dating from around the 16th century, garnished with stone arches and staircases. Here too you can find remains of Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman structures.

The Fortesa, or fortress, was built by the Venetians in 1590 to protect the city from pirate raids and Turkish invaders. It is located on top of a hill named Paleokastro, which means old castle , indicating that this fortress was built over the remains of an even older one.
The small harbour was important strategically during the Venetian period and for 700 years has undergone numerous alterations.

It is an attractive location to sit in one of the many fish tavernas which have occupied the vaulted spaces below the buildings along the quay.
The Loggia is an elegant C16th building, formerly a Venetian gentlemen s club and used today as part of the archaeological museum and the information office of the ministry of culture. The richly decorated Rimondi fountain, built in 1626 to provide clean drinking water for the inhabitants of the town, is located at Platanos square, at the heart of the old town.

The town also boasts some beautiful religious buildings which include mosques, churches and a cathedral. It is also worth visiting the Archaeological Museum where artefacts from the Neolithic to the Roman period are displayed having been excavated from various locations around the prefecture of Rethymno. The Folklore and History Museum is also fascinating as it is housed in a restored Venetian building with a beautiful interior courtyard. .