Attractions Rethymnon

Modern attractions in Rethymnon

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Apart from the traditional sightseeings of Rethymnon dont miss the following:

The municipal garden of Rethymnon is open to the crowd all year long. It offers shade and relaxation with many trees, children play ground, some animals. It hosts every year the Wine Festival at the first days of July.

Rethymnon municipal garden

The folklore and history museum at the heart of Rethymnon, has multiple excibits from clothes, ceramis, photographs, maps, artifacts, from the 17th to the 20th century.

The new square at the center of the old town in Rethymnon promises to be a great place for shopping and relaxation.

History and historical places of Rethymnon

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The ancient city of Rethymnon (Rithymna) was at its peak at 1350-1250 BC with little evidence of that town.

Much more findings like coins and inscriptions come from the 4-3rd century BC with the city emblem of the two dolphins. However the city itself hasn't been found and the ancient findings of that era are scarce except for the late Minoan cemetery at the area of Armenoi, about 8 km south of Rethymnon. The cemetery is open to the public.

The city was captured by the Romans till the 325 AD until the Greek Byzantines liberated the whole island.

After the occupation from the Arab Saracens (824-961 AD) the Byzantines liberated the island (961-1204 AD). The end of the Byzantine period came with the Venetians who bought the island and kept it for more than 300 years (1204-1538 AD) The Venetian made a wide fortification of the city which protected the city until the year of 1646 that Turks captured the city.

Sights:

a walk at the magnificent houses of the old town of Rethymnon,
the Rimondi Fountain (1626 AD) at the centre of the old town,
the Loggia building (16th century) which was the place that Venetians discuss political and economic matters,
the Megali Porta (Great Door 1566-1568 AD) the old entrance of the city.
the Fortezza castle (1540-1570 AD) in the most north part of the city, which is perfectly preserved.

The Turks (1646 -1898 AD) lasted until the proclamation of the Cretan State, later followed by the union with Greece.

Sights:

The Mosque Nerantzes (1657 AD) was the Augustinian church of the Holy Virgin, the Turks transformed it into a mosque, well preserved today. Also the Kara Musa mosque and the Veli pasha mosque.
The Arkadi Monastery, a symbol of Cretan resistance to the Turks at 1866 about 1000 Cretan civilians blew themselves up to avoid capture.