Rethymnon is often called the "soul of Crete " and it is not accidental, because it is considered one of the most beautiful cities of the island. Rethymnon is a city with a centuries-old history, but "olden" absolutely does not interfere with the development of modern life. Rethymnon was built by the Venetians, but after the city was conquered by the Turks, it turned into a mixture of two virtually incompatible styles, but this is what attracts many tourists. Going to Greece, along with such important things as ordering a voucher and collecting things, read useful information about what to see in Rethymnon.
Main Attractions of Rethymnon
- One of the oldest attractions of Rethymnon is the Venetian fortress, which is called the old word Fortezza and is located on the hill of Palekastro. From the fortress panoramic views of the whole of Rethymnon open. The history of the fortress is closely connected with the periods of national liberation struggle against Turkish rule. Numerous destruction of the city was confirmed by the fact that it was required to build an effective defensive structure, which later became Fortezza. Fortezza was built in accordance with the bastion defense system. Fortress walls with a length of more than 1 km and a thickness of more than 1.5 meters still seem unassailable. The upper galleries hide numerous embrasures for shooting.
- On the territory of the fortress there is the Ibrahim Khan mosque, which was originally the cathedral of the Venetians named after Saint Nicholas. After the city was captured by the Turks, the cathedral was turned into a mosque of the Ottoman Sultan, whose name it was named. The interior was completely transformed: the church hall was crowned with a hemispherical dome, a canonical niche - mihrab - was installed.
- In Rethymnon, you can visit numerous museums, one of which is the Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon - located opposite the gate of Fortezza. Today the museum is located in a building that was built by the Turks to protect the main gate of the fortress and contains exhibits from various historical eras. Among the exhibits of the museum are such finds as a statuette of the Goddess from Pankalochori, a statue of Aphrodite, a bronze statue of a young man, a helmet of the Late Minoan era, double axes, Roman lamps, coins and numerous ceramic products.
- Visiting card Rethymnon is considered a lighthouse in the Venetian harbor, which has an interesting history. Many believe that the lighthouse was built by Venetians, while others believe that the Turks, although in fact the lighthouse was built by the Egyptians. At the beginning of the 19th century, for the faithful service in suppressing the Greek uprisings, the Sultan handed over Crete to the Egyptian Pasha, during whose reign this lighthouse was built. Many tourists who visit the harbor and the lighthouse say that this is the most cozy and peaceful place in the whole city.
- For those who are interested in seeing the surroundings of Rethymnon and seeing the wild nature of the island, it is recommended to see a mountain called Ida or Psiloritis. This large mountain range has five peaks (the highest of which reaches a height of about 2500 m) and occupies most of Rethymno and Heraklion. In the mountains, several rivers originate, and above 2000 m there is neither water nor vegetation. Since 2001, the mountain belongs to the Natural Park, the visit of which gives an opportunity to touch the unique nature and centuries-old history of the island.
- If you do not want to spend the whole vacation in Rethymno, then you can visit the wonderful water park, which is located between the neighboring cities of Heraklion and Hersonissos. You can get there without problems by car, but this trip is worth it, because water park Water City is considered one of the best in Greece. He truly has something to surprise you: 13 pools, 23 water slides, 2 waterfalls and countless other water attractions are waiting for fans of entertainment.
