Petres – Coast, Beach and Culture

Petres is a small coastal settlement with a sandy beach and rocky seabed. There are many small coves around the settlement. The beach’s main bay is developed and has several facilities. It lies next to the outlet of the Petre Gorge. Both the beach and the settlement take their name from the gorge.

Coast and Petre Gorge

The sandy beach and rocky seabed are distinct features of the Petres coast. The main bay and the small coves nearby also give this stretch of coast a variety of forms. If you are considering Petres as a beach destination, you can bear these local differences in mind when finding your way around, rather than associating the settlement with just one image of a beach.

Nearby, the Petre Gorge offers a different landscape to explore. Small pools form there, making them suitable for summer swimming. At one spot, large rocks make some climbing necessary. This is a different kind of nature experience from spending time on the coast. Check local conditions before visiting.

Church and Naming Tradition

The church in Petres is dedicated to Panagia Pammakaristos, also known as Kalotaxidiotissa. It was built near the ruins of an older temple. The church and the remains of the older temple therefore belong to different periods in the settlement’s history. The church is also called Panagia Protoptemvriani. According to tradition, the older temple already bore this name.

The church feast of the church in Petres takes place on September 1 and attracts many pilgrims. Those interested in religious history will find both the name of the church and its traditional connection to the older temple here.

Rethymno: City History and Coast

For a broader regional perspective, head to Rethymno. The city’s historic center lies below the Venetian Fortezza fortress. The old town is designated as a protected historic monument and traditional settlement. Its urban layout took shape during the Venetian period and was later altered during Ottoman rule. This history offers a different perspective from the small coastal settlement of Petres and its church.

The coast of Rethymno also offers a point of comparison of its own: it includes the Venetian harbor. Rethymno Beach is 12 kilometers long, beginning at the historic city center and stretching eastward to Scaleta. Its sand is fine-grained and light brown. Unlike Petres, where the rocky seabed is also part of the local landscape, the focus here is on the beach’s length and sand.

Rethymno also has the Archaeological Museum for those interested in culture. Since 1991, it has been housed in a pentagonal building in front of the main entrance to the Fortezza. Its exhibitions present the history of the prefecture from the Neolithic period through the Roman period. Rethymno thus provides a regional historical context, while Petres has its own focus on the coast, the Petre Gorge and the church.

Discover more destinations: Sfakaki, Rodakino, Mariou, Margarites, Agios Vasilios, Pigianos Kampos, Akoumia, Eleftherna.

For the broader travel overview: Rethymno.