There is one incredibly beautiful town called Rethymnon (Crete) in Greece. Every year it is popular with tourists. Rethymnon was built back in the Middle Ages, which makes it an unusually picturesque place not only in terms of recreation, but also from the historical one.
We will consider in this article in more detail about the culture and past of this city, as well as what is interesting in it today, what entertainment and attractions exist and everything that tourists need to know.
Geography
As already mentioned, the Rethymnon region is located on the island of Crete in Greece, it is washed by the Cretan Sea (southern Aegean). Rethymno, although popular among tourists, is itself small in itself. The population is approximately 35 thousand people, and the area is 400 km 2 . Located 78 km from Heraklion - the main city of the entire periphery of Crete. The area of Rethymnon is also called Rethymnon.
Climate
The climate here is Mediterranean, and the weather is favorable for relaxation at any time of the year. The sun shines almost all year round, and the average weather is between +20 and +30 ° C. As throughout Europe, the warmest months are May, June, July, August, September. However, in winter the temperature of both water and air drops to an average of +15 ° C, but there is no snow. For tourists in such months there is an opportunity to relax and save a lot, since many hotels and tours reduce prices. Rethymno, regardless of the season, is a very beautiful city, in which there are many interesting things.
History
Archaeological finds in Rethymnon indicate that the first people in high-grade settlements have lived here since the Neolithic era. And the coins with the images of Athena and Apollo, found here and dated to the 4th-3rd centuries BC, say that this city was very developed during the time of Ancient Greece and was a part of this civilization with its trade and economic relations, culture. It is also known that Rethymnon was quite autonomous. However, against the backdrop of a general crisis by the end of the III century BC. e. the city was in for a slight decline.
At the beginning of the XIII century, a new period of Venetian rule began for the entire island, when the Crusaders conquered Byzantium. The Venetians, who came to power in Crete (including in Rethymno), changed the city for the better. They built the walls around, the port of Mandraki, the fortress of Fortezza and other structures and buildings, many of which local residents and tourists can admire today. By 1307, Rethymno became the third largest city of Crete.
Some time later, the Ottoman Empire became the head of the board. It also affected the architecture, leaving an oriental imprint on everything: mosques and other Turkish buildings were built.
In 1913, Crete is part of Greece, but a series of wars sets in. In 1952, Greece joins NATO, peacetime begins, and tourism has been actively developing since then.
People
The population of Rethymnon (Crete) has never been large, however, here, nevertheless, significant personalities appeared who contributed to the history of not only the city, but the whole world. For instance:
- Marcos Musuros (1470-1517), a renowned philologist and publisher of the Renaissance, organized a Greek printing house in Rome at the invitation of the Pope.
- Elias Moskos - artist and icon painter, died in 1687.
- Emanuel Canes (1637-1694) also painted paintings and icons. He belonged to the Cretan school of icon painting, and his works are kept in many museums.
- Konstantinos Sapundzakis (1846-1931) - lieutenant general who became the first chief of the General Staff and commander of the Epirus Army in the First Balkan War against the Ottoman Empire.
sights
Events in the very rich history of the city, of course, greatly influenced the fact that now, in modern days, every tourist will have something to see and where to go. Consider the most famous attractions below.
Fortress Fortress was built during the reign of the Venetians in the second half of the XVI century to protect against enemies. From here, tourists can watch the picturesque sea and the mountains of Ida. The fortress itself is quite large and consists of 4 bastions, as well as other premises, a warehouse, the Episcopal Palace, barracks, churches, the theater, as well as a mosque built by the Ottoman Empire. Over the entire period of its existence, this attraction was often rebuilt and was even on the verge of destruction, however, thanks to the reconstruction, it has its original appearance and is open to tourists.
The Venetian harbor is located near the fortress of Fortezza and was born around the same time. Now there are a lot of cafes, restaurants, yachts for rent. Also here is an old but operational lighthouse.
The Archaeological Museum was founded in 1887. It is a place where you can find objects of completely different eras, starting from the VI century BC, when the first settlements appeared. There is also a 17th-century mansion, which is now a historical and ethnographic museum, where you can familiarize yourself with the life and life of Rethymnon residents of that time.
The Idea Cave is a chain of caves and has a very interesting history. The only entrance from the outside is located at an altitude of more than one and a half thousand meters. It is with the cave that the ancient Greek myth of Zeus is connected, according to the plot of which the mother hid her son here. But there is also another interesting fact: people lived here in antiquity, as evidenced by found household items that are stored in a local museum.
The Rimondi Fountain is located on Platano Square. Its age is equal to more than four centuries. It was originally built so that animals from pastures could quench their thirst. It consists of four columns, next to which the heads of lions are depicted, from where water flows.
The Preveli Monastery was built by the Venetians in 1594 near the Kurtalion River, but during the reign of the Muslims it was severely destroyed. Now the monastery has been completely restored. In the tourist part of the building, vacationers can get acquainted with this attraction, as well as look into the internal museum. Here is the so-called Miraculous Cross. There is a legend that it heals from some eye ailments. The second part of Preveli is completely for monks and for worship, tourists are not allowed here.
It is difficult to ignore the famous gate of Guor, as they were the main entrance to the old part of the city, also built in the 16th century.
But the mosque of Ibrahim Khan is already the property of 16th-century Muslims. Initially, it was built as the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas, but when the period of the Ottoman Empire came, then everything was redone here. Now this place is a historical monument.
Mention should also be made of the Kara Musa Pasha Mosque, which has a similar history with the previous attraction. That is why it combines some of the details of the Renaissance, when the Venetians erected it, and the eastern features that were added when the Turks seized power.
The Minoan palace of Zomintos is an incredibly interesting place in terms of history, which was found only in the second half of the 20th century. This palace is an ancient ruin. A noble family once lived here.
Nature lovers also have something to see in Rethymnon. For example, Biotopoi Nature Park, which appeared in 2004. Here are collected more than two hundred plant species that grow on the island (rare and on the verge of extinction including). As well as fifty species of animals. The park is small, and you can walk both independently and with a guide.
Beaches
And now, when we examined the cultural part of Rethymno, let's move on to another significant “highlight”, because it is still a resort town on a famous island with a favorable climate. Here is a long promenade with a lot of places where you can relax, sunbathe and swim.
We list several beaches:
- City beach - a generic name for the entire coast of the city, stretching as much as 13 kilometers. It has everything: sun loungers, cafes, locker rooms, toilets, entertainment and water sports provided.
- The spacious Kumbes beach is located near Fortezza Fortress, two kilometers from the center.
- Adelianos Kambos (7.5 km long) is located next to the village of Adele. It also has the more secluded Pianos Kambos.
- Scaletta is 12 km from Rethymnon. It is worth noting that it is very picturesque and less crowded because of remoteness.
- Glika Nera beach is located near Rethymno and has almost no entertainment, but it is incredibly clean, and even a freshwater stream flows, so there are a lot of vacationers.
- Gerani Beach is located 6 km from the city center. It is divided into two parts by a river flowing into the sea. The first is with a sandy coast and provided amenities, and the second is more secluded with a pebble beach.
- There is another such place between Heraklion and Rethymnon in Crete - Bali. This is the namesake of the island in the Malaysian archipelago, but there is nothing common between them except the name. Bali in Crete is a village and the adjacent very good beach, which is also worth mentioning in the list. It is divided in turn into 4 more small beaches: Karavostasi, Limani, Varkotopos, Livadi. Entertainment, sun loungers and other amenities here abound. The coast is pebble and sand, and the entrance to the water is quite gentle, so the place is ideal for families with children.
Fun and Holidays
The choice of entertainment here is really wide. Lovers of outdoor activities can visit the local diving center, surf and many other water sports. You can also go on hiking tours, which are often arranged here, and this is a great opportunity to admire the beautiful exotic nature of this place.
Those who prefer a relaxing holiday and families with children can go to the water park, go to the spa or take a walk around the city. And for young people there is a good opportunity to enjoy the nightlife with local parties.
Do not forget about local holidays. Since Orthodoxy is the main religion in Rethymnon (as throughout Greece), a carnival is regularly held here, which is celebrated with carnival, dancing, and singing. But every July a wine festival takes place in the city garden.
Rethymnon also has cultural events. For example, the Renaissance festival in August, accompanied by a cultural and entertainment program.
Hotels
Rethymnon (Crete) is a small town, but tourism is very developed here. That is why, if you decide to relax in such a picturesque place, then an incredibly large selection of hotels will open before you. For example, Pepi Boutique Hotel, Vetera Suites, Antica Dimora, Palazzino di Corina and many others. For those who want to relax on a budget, but not worse, there are also good options in Rethymnon (Crete): Atali Village * 3, Archipelagos Residence * 2, Akti Corali Hotel, Leoniki Residence, Eltina Hotel, Zantina Hotel. It is worth considering that such budget options may be located outside the city, moreover, not in the first coastline (for example, Rethymno Village).
Rethymno, Crete: how to get there?
First of all, you need to fly by plane to Greece itself. There is an airport in Athens, where all tourists usually arrive. From the capital to Rethymnon in Crete, you can already take a ferry.
You can also fly directly to the island. There is no airport in Rethymno, but it is in the nearest cities: Heraklion and Chania, from where you can reach the destination in a couple of hours by bus.
Conclusion
Reviews about Rethymnon in Crete and about vacations are usually very positive. Many people note the picturesqueness of this city and its beauty. Every tourist will find something to their liking: history and culture lovers are required to take a stroll through the historical center, and those who want to swim and bask in the sun can easily find a beach and a suitable hotel. However, it is recommended to come to Rethymnon for at least 3 days in order to have time to "taste" the beauty of the city and rest. Many people also note that you can relax here relatively on a budget.