Location

City of Rethymnon

Rethymnon is the third largest city of Crete with a population of about 30000, built on the site of ancient Rithymna (4-5th century BC). After the Byzantine era, Rethymnon was fortified and further strengthened by the Venetians.

The old town is one of the nicest attractions for visitors to Crete, who have the ability to roam in the past. The town with the quaint streets and the beautiful monuments reserves its Venetian and Ottoman hues, as it was not altered by the modern era. In contrast to Heraklion and Chania, Rethymnon preserved mainly a Greek Renaissance character, as most nobles during the Venetian Period were Greeks.

The Municipality of Rethymno consistis of 20 settlements (after the application of the Kapodistrias plan) 16 of which have been declared traditional. Within its borders there is a large number of archaeological monuments and traditional buildings of great value, many of which have not yet been officially registered.

The city of Rethymno is a small city which preserves a vivid medieval-renaissance color. The old, but exceptionally preserved city center is located beneath the walls of its sleepless guard, the Venetian Fortezza fortress. The coastline of the Municipality of Rethymno is characterized by the beautiful sandy beach, the clean sea, the Venetian port, the picturesque alleys and the openhearted citizens.