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City of Rethymnon
Rethymno is the third largest city on Crete with a population of roughly 38.000 inhabitants. It is the main city of the prefecture which is named Rethymno as well.
The name can be traced back to ancient times when the city was called Rithymna, coming from the ancient Greek word for dolphin: Rithy. On the armor of Rethymno you can still see two dolphins which have become the symbol of this lively town. Like other cities on Crete, it was already inhabited in the Ancient Greek and Roman Period and lost importance, power and stability during the Arab Conquests (824-961).
Rethymno flourished again due to the Venetians
During the Venetian Occupation (1204-1645) order and organization were re-established on Crete and the cities, including Rethymno, started to flourish again. The layout of the old town from nowadays dates back to this period. When the Ottoman Rule started, the new occupants decided to make use of all the important Venetian buildings, including fortresses, loggias and houses. In the towns and villages the churches were also often converted into mosques. They also built new buildings or added new features to the already existing complexes. That is exactly the exotic blend of architecture that can be seen on fountains, richly decorated arches, the churches or mosques. As an example the Latin and Arab engravings can still to be seen on the city walls or around the old harbor of the city.
The fortezza, the fortress of Rethymnon
The fortress of Rethymnon is the largest and most well maintained Venetian fortress of Crete and it proudly oversees the old town. Together with other fortresses and city walls along the north coast. It was erected at the end of the 16th century to protect Crete against the threat of an Ottoman invasion which eventually did take place in 1645 and lasted until 1898.
Today Rethymno is a large and thriving center of tourism, with many hotels in town and a string of resorts following the coastline towards the east. On both the eastern and western sides of town there are long stretched sandy beaches that, together with the charm of the old town attract a lot of visitors every year. You will find plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and some traditional workshops for musical instruments, soap, Greek pastry and leathers in the center and along the boulevard. Tourism is a very important source of income, creating many jobs in different fields every summer.
Aside from tourists, many young people are drawn to Rethymno by the faculty of the University of Crete which is situated just out of town near a village called Gallos. This faculty is mainly focused on subjects like philosophy, psychology, history, philology and pedagogy. Over the last decade, apart from students from all over Greece, also many foreign students have found their way to Rethymno.
‘Must sees’ in Rethymno
When you visit Rethymno, make sure you don’t miss the Fortezza with at the opposite the archaeological museum. Also a ‘must have seen’ are the Rimondi Fountains, the ‘Megali Porta’ (Large City Gate), the Municipal Park and the numerous little streets that maze the old town. Very near to the city center, directly to the east of the modern harbor, the sandy beach starts already. This is an organized beach with umbrellas, sunbeds, fresh water showers and places to buy refreshments. So during your visit you can even relax enjoy a cooling swim!
Available Routaki routes:
This topic is mentioned in….
Excerpt from the first item in Route 32 – ‘Myriokefala’, which starts at the parking lot of the Lidl supermarket, on the outskirts of Rethymnon….
“During the Venetian occupation between 1204 and 1645, order and organization were restored, and cities, including Rethymnon, began to flourish again. The layout of the old town dates from this period. When Ottoman rule began, the new occupiers took advantage of all the important Venetian buildings, including forts, loggias, and houses. In cities and villages, churches were often converted into mosques. They also built new structures or added new elements to existing complexes. This resulted in the exotic mix of architecture seen on fountains, richly decorated arches, churches, and mosques. One example of this is the Latin and Arabic inscriptions that are still visible on the city walls and around the old harbor.
The Rethymnon fortress is the largest and best-preserved Venetian fortress on the island and stands proudly over the old town. Along with other forts and city walls along the northern coast, it was built at the end of the 16th century to protect Crete from the threat of an Ottoman invasion, which eventually took place in 1645 and lasted until 1898.
Today, Rethymnon is a large and thriving tourist center, with many hotels in the city and a range of resorts along the eastern coastline. Both the east and west sides of the city have long sandy beaches, which, together with the charm of the old town, attract many visitors each year. You will find numerous shops, bars, restaurants, and some traditional workshops for musical instruments, soap, Greek sweets, and leather goods in the center and along the boulevard. In addition to tourists, many young people are drawn to the University of Crete, which is located just outside the city near the village of Gallos. This faculty focuses primarily on philosophy, psychology, history, and pedagogy. Over the past ten years, many foreign students, in addition to students from all over Greece, have also found their way to Rethymnon.”
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Car routes that may interest you:
Drive from Heraklion back to the pottery village of Margarites (in the Rethymnon region) with Routaki route 42 – ‘Margarites’.
You will pass through the village of Mirtos, known for its many sunny days, during Routaki route 59 – ‘Kalamafka’. Perfect for a stop.
Photograph and visit the Myriokefala Monastery if you pass by during the car trip: Rethymnon – ‘Myriokefala’ – No. 32.