The picturesque town of Rethymno, is the capital town of the province
of the same name. This province extends from the White Mountains (Lefka
Ori) to the Idi Mountains through to the borders of the provinces of Chania
and Heraklion. Rethymno is positioned on the north coast of Crete, 80 km
west from Heraklion, and 75 km east of Chania, where the two airports an
Crete are to be found, about an hour’s drive away by car. Rethymno harbour
has a direct ferry connection with the mainland of Greece. The mediaeval
old town of Rethymno, with its narrow streets, Venetian palaces and Turkish
minarets has a distinct atmosphere. The oriental flavour of the town brings
to life the ever changing history since ancient times. Along with the numerous
seemingly unlimited sights to see and the beautiful old town, with the
Venetian “Fortezza” or fortress, the scenic harbour, and the many enticing
tavernas, cafes and restaurants with wonderful Cretan delicacies, Rethymno
has one of the most magnificent fine sandy beaches which stretches to the
east almost as far as the eye can see. The beach, which is the longest
in Crete, continues for several kilometres, here and there en route broken
into small shingle coves where here and there one can find the scattered
tiny hamlets reminiscent of the mountain villages. Altogether between Rethymno
to the town of Prinos there are no less than 8 beaches which have been
awarded the European Blue Flag. There is much to delight in exploring the
many different archaeological sites, monasteries, churches, Venetian and
Turkish monuments and memorials, and of course there are archaeological,
historical and folk museums, as well as other art museums waiting to be
visited. Exploring one of the many Cretan gorges in this area, is sure
to reward you with the sight of numerous caves and little grottos. Those
of you who delight in traditional customs, will enjoy the numerous cultural
festivals and traditional days of celebration in Rethymno, where you get
the opportunity to experience a slice of Cretan life. Religious days, the
seasonal times of the year and many other reasons mostly form the basis
for the regional and public festivities. So in the middle of July you will
find for example the Cretan wine festival with its 500 year old tradition,
which lasts three weeks and is attended by thousands of people. Of further
interest, in the many outlying villages not far from Rethymno, traditional
handicrafts are still very much alive. For example, the lovely pottery
in Margarites, or the basket weaving of Mixorrouma, the traditional stone
masonry in Alfa, or the village of Anogia where lengths of material are
still woven on traditional weaving looms, and where traditional Cretan
folk art is still being produced. There are also interesting wood carving
workshops in Argyroupoli, Agios Konstantinos and Margarites. In the wonderful
surrounding area of Rethymno we have chosen some lovely villas and apartments.
We feel sure that you and your family will be simply delighted with the
beaches, and will thoroughly unwind and relax through your experience of
Cretan life. There are endless opportunities to indulge oneself at the
many little tavernas with delicious freshly cooked fish and seafood, and
the huge variety of other Cretan culinary specialities. Because of the
central position of Rethymno and the excellent bus service, there is also
the chance, should you wish, to visit virtually all of Crete one day outings.
One of our offices offers excursions to the Palace of Knossos, to the Archaeological
museum of Heraklion, to the Lassithi plain, to the Samaria Gorge, to the
monasteries of Chania, to Arkadi and Margarites, to the region of Sfakio,
or even to Santorini by ship. Smaller boats make trips from Rethymno along
the cost to Panormo, Bali and Georgioupolis. For those who love to go by
foot, the countryside and mountains surrounding Rethymno is something of
a paradise for walkers. |
