Monastery of Arkadi, Rethymnon, Crete Island
Not only does the prefecture of Rethymno represent the heart of Crete, it is also one of the most beautiful areas of Greece. You are invited to enjoy the vistas of Mount Psiloritis and the deep-blue sea, to trace back a 5,000 year old civilization including a large number of Byzantine churches and monasteries and magnificent remnants of the Venetian period, to visit Rethymno, the best preserved Renaissance city of Greece, the far-stretching beaches, numerous caves and gorges as well as to discover unique species among the prefecture's flora and fauna. Rethymno and its villages are living postcards, where the flavors of the Cretan cuisine waft and the Cretan lyre is heard. People here are closely their doors for you, you will be offered a glass of tsikoudia and you will become friends.
Venetian Harbour of Rethymno, Crete Island
Rethymno is the home of Zeus, the god of hospitality. The large number of visitors, who return each year to Rethymno, roves the words of the poet: "Rethymno is not a place to go to, but to return to."
Therefore we suggest you discover this town and its surroundings as an alternative experience in your holiday
In touch with nature
The multifarious morphology of the landscape in the area including a plethora of mountain peaks, gorges, plateaux and beaches allows for a variety of contact with nature, from simple walking tours and passing through gorges to experienced mountain climbing and difficult excursions involving mountaineering. Beautiful country roads with little traffic are particularly suitable for bicycle tours, while most of the tracks in the countryside make ideal routes for mountain biking.
Psiloritis Natural Park - UNESCO Global Geopark, Crete Island
On The E4 Path
In Rethymno the E4 path is divided into two sections that cross the prefecture revealing a unique, ever-changing landscape. The walker has the opportunity to experience the undiscovered nature of the region, old village paths, traditional settlements, monasteries and the high mountains of the region.
Tylissos, Rethymno, Crete Island
Discover a paradise
Rethymno is famous for a large number of endemic plants. Among the estimated number of 2000 species of plants, 160 are endemic to the region. The famous turtle caretta caretta lays its eggs on the rotected sandy beaches. Hares, weasels, badgers and hedgehogs have their habitat in the valleys and lower hills, while the mountainous region is the aradise of the harrier eagle and other predatory birds.
Preveli Beach, Rethymno, Crete Island
Holding on to traditions
In Rethymno a variety of popular art has been kept alive and is still practiced today, such as pottery, basket weaving, wood carving, stone masonry and of course, textile weaving. The distillation of tsikoudia and the shearing of sheep represent an occasion for the country folk to celebrate life with dances and plenty of food and drink.
Textile weaving, Anogia, Rethymno, Crete Island
The secret to good health
The ingredients used in the local cuisine are simple, genuine and natural. All types of wild-growing vegetables and greens are consumed, either raw or simply boiled and sprinkled with local olive-oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Sheep and goats supply both their famous meat and rich dairy products. Undoubtedly the most important ingredient of the local diet is the local olive oil, which in combination with a traditional barley rusk and a few olives often make a complete meal for the locals.
Cretan Gastronomy