Top Choice Historic Site in The Hinterland & Mt Psiloritis
Moni Arkadiou
The 16th-century Arkadi Monastery, some 23km southeast of Rethymno, has deep significance for Cretans. As the site where hundreds of cornered locals massacred both themselves and invading Turks, it's a stark and pot…
Top Choice Fortress in Rethymno
Fortezza
Looming over Rethymno, the star-shaped Venetian fortress cuts an imposing figure with its massive walls and bastions but was nevertheless unable to stave off the Turks in 1646. Over time, an entire village took shap…
Landmark in Rethymno
Venetian Harbour
Rethymno’s compact historic harbour is chock-a-block with tourist-geared fish tavernas and cafes. For a more atmospheric perspective, walk along the harbour walls, past the fishing boats to the prominent lighthouse,…
Monastery in Preveli
Moni Preveli
The historic Moni Preveli cuts an imposing silhouette high above the Libyan sea. Like most Cretan monasteries, it was a centre of resistance during the Turkish occupation and also played a key role in WWII when hidi…
Archaeological Site in Armeni
Late Minoan Cemetery of Armeni
Wandering around this leafy cemetery created by the Minoans between 1600 and 1150 BC, you can practically sense the presence of uncounted souls once buried in the over 200 rock-cut tombs. Today, their long, sunken c…
Museum in Rethymno
Archaeological Museum
After its former digs in a Venetian prison near the fortress had become unstable, Rethymno's archaeological collection moved to the Venetian-built former Church of St Francis in May 2016. Tightly curated, but beauti…
Chapel in Rethymno
Agios Spyridon Church
Built right into the cliff beneath the Venetian fortress, tiny Agios Spyridon has enough atmosphere to fill a cathedral. This Byzantine chapel is filled with richly painted icons, swinging bird candleholders and the…
Observatory in Mt Psiloritis
Skinakas Observatory
Near the top of Mt Psiloritis, at 1750m, the Skinakas Observatory is operated by the University of Greece and is the country's most significant stargazing vantage point with two powerful telescopes. From May to Sept…
Cave in Mt Psiloritis
Ideon Cave
Although just a huge and fairly featureless hole in the ground, Ideon has sacred importance in mythology as the place where Zeus was reared by his mother Rhea to save him from the clutches of his child-devouring fat…
Museum in Rethymno
Paleontological Museum
Dwarf Cretan elephants and hippopotami aren’t likely to start a ticket stampede, but it’s well worth swinging by this museum for its setting in the restored 17th-century Temple of Mastaba (aka Veli Pasha Mosque) sur…