Rethymnon between the Old Town, Fortezza and the beach

Rethymno offers a range of options for a stay: the historic Old Town, the Fortezza, museums, the coast and seasonal cultural events. When choosing a hotel in Rethymnon, you can consider whether you are most interested in the city’s history, museum visits, the beach or events.

Old Town between the Fortezza and the harbor

The Old Town stretches from Palaiokastro Hill, where the Fortezza stands, to the old Venetian harbor. The historic center lies below the fortress walls. A stroll through the lanes takes you past buildings of traditional architecture; pergolas covered with grapevines and colorful flowers adorn the corners. The stretch between the hill and the harbor defines the historic urban area, while the lanes offer their own glimpses of its streetscape.

Architectural features from the Ottoman period have also been preserved in the Old Town. These include oriel windows on buildings, symbols of the Muslim faith and inscriptions on portals. Venetian monasteries were converted into mosques with minarets. The Loggia served as a meeting and consultation venue where nobles discussed political and economic issues. At the Rimondi Fountain, water flows from three spouts shaped like lion heads into three basins. These historic sites thus represent different aspects of city life: architecture, consultation and water supply.

Routes to the Fortezza and museums

There are three routes to the Fortezza: via Heimarras Street, via the paved path on Katechaki Street, and via a newer paved path that starts at the city’s northern ring road. The description distinguishes between the streets and paths, as well as noting the paved surface on two of the routes.

The Archaeological Museum of Rethymno displays exhibits on the history of the prefecture from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Historical and Folklore Museum focuses on a different subject: it presents traditional occupations, including those of the coppersmith, saddler and blacksmith. Temporary exhibitions are held on the museum’s ground floor. Archaeological periods and traditional crafts thus offer two distinct ways of exploring Rethymno’s history.

The coast and culture throughout the year

Rethymno Beach is 12 kilometers long. It begins at the historic city center and extends east to Scaleta. Biotopoi Nature Park is also located in Rethymno. The coastline is described by its length and its eastward extent; the nature park provides another named landmark in the area.

The venues for art and cultural events vary by season. During the summer, almost all of the city’s visual arts, music and theater events take place at the Erofili Theater in the Fortezza. Winter venues include the Conservatory, the Church of St. Francesco and the Touring Club hall. This seasonal distinction can be helpful when planning: summer events are associated with the theater in the Fortezza, while several other venues are mentioned for winter.

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