Rethymno

Rethymno is a beautiful coastal town on the north coast of Crete. It is the third largest town on the island (Heraklion and Chania are larger) with a municipality area of 393.08 square kilometers (244 miles), and a population of approximately 36,000 people. The actual town of Rethymno is smaller than the municipality.

Rethymno has a rich archeological history dating back to the Minoan period.

One of the main tourist attractions of Rethymno is Old Town, which is a well-preserved medieval settlement with narrow streets, Venetian-style buildings, and Ottoman-era architecture that reflects the centuries long history of the area. The Old Town is also home to numerous museums, art galleries, and restaurants serving traditional Cretan cuisine.

Rethymno has a famous long sandy beach stretching along the coast for several kilometers. The beach is equipped to provide visitors with sun loungers, umbrellas, and water sports facilities. The beach is a popular destination for tourists looking for sun and the the warm Mediterranean waters.

A narrow street in Rethymno

The harbor at Rethymno, a town on the north coast of the Greek island of Crete, is called the Venetian Harbor because it was constructed during the period of Venetian rule over the island, which lasted from 1204 to 1669. The Venetians recognized the strategic importance of the harbor and began constructing fortifications around it in the early 16th century. The harbor and its fortifications were further expanded and strengthened during the 17th century, as the Venetians sought to protect their interests in Crete against the Ottoman Empire.

Today, the Venetian Harbor is a popular destination for tourists, with its picturesque waterfront lined with restaurants, cafes, and shops. Visitors can also see the remnants of the Venetian fortifications, including the imposing Fortezza fortress, which overlooks the harbor from a nearby hilltop.

The #baklava & #kataifi workshop of George & Katerina Chatziparaschou, who still make their sweets by hand in #Rethymno. Giorgos descends from Asia Minor refugees from Fokia who spent time on Samos before coming to Crete. Their baklava was crunchiest I’ve experienced in Greece 👌 pic.twitter.com/3tbkwkwNiG
— Steven Tagle (@steventagle) February 12, 2023

The fight to stop hotel contruction at Paligremnos Wall natural landmark

Dec 18, 2022: Story at Keep Talking Greece [English] [Map of Rethymno on Crete]

Archeological features of Rethymno

Rethymno has a significant archaeological history dating to the Minoan period, which flourished on Crete between 2700 and 1420 BC.

There are several important archaeological sites in and around Rethymno, such as:

Ancient Eleftherna: This is an archaeological site located approximately 25 kilometers from Rethymno, which was once an important city-state in the Minoan period. Excavations have uncovered important artifacts such as pottery, jewelry, and weapons.
Fortezza Fortress: This is a Venetian-era fortress located in the heart of the Old Town of Rethymno, which was built in the late 16th century to protect the town from Ottoman invasion. Today, it serves as a museum and cultural center.
Archaeological Museum of Rethymno: This museum is located in the center of Rethymno and houses a collection of artifacts from the Minoan period through to the Roman era. Some of the highlights include Minoan pottery, Roman sculptures, and Byzantine icons.
Necropolis of Armeni: This is an ancient burial site located approximately 8 kilometers from Rethymno, which dates back to the Late Minoan period. The tombs are carved into the rock and contain important artifacts such as pottery, jewelry, and weapons.

Why You Should Go To Greece This Fall - Forbes 2017

Article surveys the Autumn advantages of island hopping (Mykonos) and going to Crete:

An easier, also rewarding stroll is through one of the mountain villages or villages of the north coast with their flower-decked, meandering lanes. My favorite is Rethymno with its narrow maze of alleyways in the Venetian and Ottoman quarter filled with cobbled streets, arches and houses with wooden balconies leading to the fortress on the Venetian harbor.

2019 - Why Crete should be your next Greek Island escape - PointGuy - Emphasis on Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania and Matala.

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