Rethymno is the capital of Rethymno Prefecture on the island of Crete. It is one of the best preserved old towns in Crete. The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, small Venetian harbor and narrow streets. The Venetian Loggia today houses the information office of the ministry of culture. The big municipal gardens are ideal for those in search of shade and tranquility.
Rethymno has a Venetian castle called the Fortetza which is the one of the biggest and best standing castles in Crete. Other monuments include the Neratze mosque (St. Katherine's Catholic Church), the Great Gate (megali porta, Porta Guerra) and the Piazza Rimondi (Rimmondi square).
There are some beautiful beaches along the southern coast of Rethimnon prefecture., many accessible only on foot. The monastery at Prevelli is of particular historical interest as the site from where Abbot Agathagelos Lagouvardos sheltered and assisted the evacuation of Allied troops during WWII.
Things to See & Do
* Great Gate
* Rimmondi
* Fortetza – Venetian Castle
* Rethymno Municipal gardens
* Neratze mosque
General information
Cruise Season – Feb to Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language – Greek
Land Area – 126.5 km²
Population – 45,000
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 30
Port Location – The port is located within walking distance of the town.
Travel Links – Crete has three significant airports, Nikos Kazantzakis at Heraklion, the military airport Daskalogiannis at Chania and a new public airport in Sitia. Ferry services are available from Athens (Piraeus) to Iraklion, Rethimno and Hania and from Thessaloninki and the Cyclades to Heraklion.
Hire cars are available for getting around Rethimno and the public transportation is fairly frequent.