Rethymno
The capital of the prefecture and sharing its name, Rethymno, is
an incredible town of old and new, most well known for having one
of the most beautiful Venetian harbors. Rethymno is a vibrant and
charming city of about 30,000 inhabitants, situated on the north
coast of Crete, between Chania to the west, and Iraklion to the
east. It is, in fact, the third largest city on Crete.
Rethymno has a rich and long history. The original town came be
during the classical years, 470-323 B.C. and was then known as
Rithymna. It began to flourish during the Venetian occupation from
1204, during which time it became an important port due to its
excellent geographical position for trade with the rest of the
Aegean and the Peloponnese, and with the Arab countries. It was
during this period that the fortress and the defending walls were
built, protecting the town from pirates. It was also during this
period that the towns people came to develop and embrace
literature, painting, theater and architecture. This continued
until 1646, when Rethymno was conquered by the Turks.
From that time and until the Russian invasion in 1898, the
population was involved primarily with agriculture. Culture again
came to the forefront once Crete was reunited with Greece in 1913.
The University of Crete was founded in Rethymno in 1974. Together
with its campus in Heraklion, there are currently more than 10,000
full time students.
Within the confines of the city, you'll find wonderful shops,
places to eat and drink, historical sights to visit, and beautiful
beaches easy to reach on foot. Since this is also a university
town, you'll always find a café, restaurant or bar open until the
wee hours. The old part of the city combines Venetian and Turkish
architecture, wonderfully interesting lanes and streets to stroll
through, minarets, fountains, and, of course, the Venetian Port.
While there, be sure to visit the Fortress Fortezza dating to 1573.
Make a point of visiting also at sunset and wait until dark to view
the walls and ramparts beautifully lit up along the coast.
Other highlights include the Neratzes Mosque, the largest of the
five still remaining; the ancient Rimondi Fountain, renovated in
1626; and the Loggia, a building of Renaissance architecture dating
to the 16th century, and with an interesting history. For museum
lovers, there are several excellent choices. The Archaeological
Museum features interesting finds from many excavations of the area
dating as far back as the Neolithic period. The Center of
Contemporary Art has a permanent exhibition and hosts other
changing exhibits throughout the summer.
In a beautifully restored Venetian building near the Neratzes
Mosque, you'll find an outstanding exhibit of both rural and urban
life dating back to the 17th century in the Historical and Folk Art
Museum. The eclectic collection includes embroideries, jewelry,
pottery, folklore items, photographs, coins, weapons and drawings,
among others. For lovers of marine life, there is an excellent
exhibit of shells, fish and sponges at the Marine Museum.
Together with all of the above, you will also find a wide range
of accommodation choices and a fully developed tourist
infrastructure combined with marvelous Cretan hospitality.
