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The
beautiful city of Rethymno is standing
on the site where ancient Rithymna
used to be, as archaeological excavations
of the late Neolithic period (3500-
2800 BC) proved.
The city flourished and developed
during Mycenaean years but during
the 3rd century AD it lost its important
for some unknown reason and took
the status of a large village. However
it was still autonomous and independent
as prove the coins that were found
and which Rithymna continue to mint
as a free city.
It was during the Venetian occupation
(1204- 1669) of Crete that Rethymno
became a city because the conquerors
needed an intermediary port for
their ships which were travelling
from Heraklion to Chania.
Because they also needed an administrative
centre for their new port and the
surrounding area, Rethymno became
the third bigger town of Crete as
well as an important cultural centre
and welcomed several Cretan nobles
and became the seat of the Venetian
governor (the Rettore).
Rethymno suffered gravely from the
attacks of the pirates (with Barbarossa
as their leader) and the Turks finally
took it in 1646.
During Ottoman domination the city
declines as most of the towns of
Crete did.
The inhabitant of Rethymno took
and active role in the revolution
against Turkish yoke. The Russian
army took Rethymno in 1887 and stay
there until 1909.
Rethymno became part of the newly
built Greek State in 1913 along
with the entire Crete.
The people of Rethymno played an
important role during World War
II in the resistance against the
German occupation and fascism.
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The
beautiful city of Rethymno is combining
an old- time aristocratic appearance
with a modern aspect, a blend which
is creating a unique atmosphere.
Various elements are participating
to the charm of this attractive town
such as the many arched doorways and
stone staircases, 16th century buildings,
Byzantine, Hellenic and Roman remains,
narrow stone-paved streets, the small
Venetian harbour and the superb huge
municipal gardens, ideal for peacefulness
and tranquillity.
Every wonderful vestige from the past
has survived in some neighbourhoods
untouched by the passing of time and
the growing of tourism.
The modern part of Rethymno (built
following the extension of the town)
has been nicely blended with the Old
Town, forming a magical picture.
Rethymno has a highly developed cultural
activity and actively participate
in the cultural life of the entire
island. The Faculty of Letters of
the University of Crete is where much
of the cultural activity is centred.
Regular artistic events are organised
by the faculty and the municipality
such as art exhibitions, concerts
and theatrical plays.
The town offers all the touristy facilities
needed and numerous accommodations
of all categories as well as lively
bars and clubs and various restaurants
and excellent taverns.
Rethymno has regular bus services
to the main towns and villages of
the entire prefecture as well as to
the towns of Chania and Heraklion.
Ferries are leaving daily for the
harbour of Piraeus and regular boats
are leaving to various destinations
from the nearby port of Souda.
There is no airport in Rethymno but
regular connections are available
for the airport of Chania.
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The
Fortress of “Fortezza” |
Built
on the Paleokastro hill by the Venetians
around 1574 in order to protect the
harbour and the city, it is an imposing
construction with strong and thick
walls, four bastions and three entrances.
The fortress used to encircle various
public buildings, ammunition storerooms,
barracks and an army hospital but,
today, only the walls, the cisterns
and a beautiful mosque with a large
dome (the Ibrahim Can Mosque which
was initially a Venetian church) have
survived. |
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harbour of Rethymno has constantly
been rebuilt since 1300 in an attempt
to enforce its safety and boat-capacity,
but because of the prevailing currents
of the coast the attempt never really
succeeded and the harbour has kept
its picturesque and authentic aspect
and character, participating to the
beauty of the town. |
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This
neighbourhood was the Turkish quarter.
It is situated east of the Kastelli
quarter, nearby the shipyards of the
harbour built by the Venetians at
the end of the 15th century; only
nine of the twenty superb arches of
the shipyards are still preserved
today.
Worth-seeing in Splantza is the Church
of Saint Nicholas, the Greek Orthodox
Church of Agioi Anargyroi and the
small Venetian Church of Saint Rocco
that has a Latin inscription dating
from the 17th century.
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This
is the most characteristic Renaissance
monument of Rethymno.
It is a wonderful square Venetian
building dating from the late 16th
century.
Three semi-circular arches are decorating
its sides. It was initially used as
a place of meeting and recreation
for the Venetian nobility and turned
into a mosque by the Turks when they
took Rethymno; a minaret was added
to its western side.
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Worth-seeing
places in Rethymno |
Among
all the beauties of Rethymno the following
are of particular interest and worth-mentioning:
The Prefecture (Nomarchia):
this beautiful two-storey neoclassical
building is standing on the Heroon
Polytechniou Square and was built
in 1845.
The Mosques: those
surviving mosques are the marks left
by the Turks during there occupation
of the island. Three fine mosques
have been preserved: the Megali Porta
Mosque (Great Door), the Beli Pasha
Mosque located in the Mastabas quarter
and the Kara Mousa Pasha Mosque that
was initially the Venetian monastery
of Agia Varvara and houses today the
Ephoreia of Byzantine Antiquities.
The last one is the Nerantzes Mosque
that used to be a Roman Catholic Church
dedicated to Santa Maria and houses,
nowadays a music conservatory; it
is the only mosque of Rethymno that
is open to the public.
The Turkish School: Built
in 1796, it is located close to the
Church of Saint Francis.
The Old Town: The
wonderful old town of Rethymno is
boarding the sea and is situated in
front of the modern part of the town.
It is full of narrow stone-paved alleys
and well preserved public and private
buildings dating from the Venetian,
Turkish and later periods. From the
Medieval and Renaissance character
of the beautiful town emanates a charming
and magical atmosphere.
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