Rethymno is another beautiful Cretan town in the northern part of the island. From Heraklion to Rethymno - about 80 km. When you come there, you will see immediately how surprisingly the harmonious city building combines the Venetian and Muslim traditions in architecture - the city looks completely wonderful! And in general, the city is very developed from a tourist point of view - everything is there, and shops, and bars, and anything just. Rethymno is much less than Heraklion, there are just over 30 thousand people. But Nature is very beautiful here, such beaches - therefore, quite a few tourists come to Rethymnon. If you are in them, here's a couple of tips that you can look at Rethymno.
Venetian harbor
The pretty Quay Rethymnon just calls to take a walk on it. Especially in the evening, when not so hot, as day. And also, on this stationery, there are a lot of cruel restaurants, the most cute business for a romantic date, especially if you have to dinner at sunset. Basically, all buildings on the harbor embankment are not higher than three floors. All in Venetian style. Harbor is the most important trading point since the days of the Middle Ages.
Venetian fortress Fortezza.
The fortress can be found next to the central port of Rethymnon, on the Paleokastro Hill. There is a legend that on this hill sometime in ancient times was located Acropolis with the temple of Apollo and the sanctuary of Artemis. This is not exactly proven, but legends ... the fortress was built to the third quarter of the 16th century. They built, as they say, the whole family - the locals with their beauty animals were collected by a stone for a stone for several years. Inside this fortress built barracks, hospitals, several pantry and church. All this was done with the calculation that if the trouble was bored, all residents of Rethymons can hide in the fortress. In 1647, the fortress took the storm of the Turks. This fortress is visible from any point of Rethymnon and the surrounding area, for the hill is high. And climb on the hill and picked up the sea and the city - solid pleasure! True, the wind is very strong there, keep in mind. For the owners of the ICE card, the entrance to the fortress is free, and so somewhere 5 €. The fortress is open for tourists every day from 9 am to 7 pm.
Old Town Rethymno
Old Town is always beautiful. So I did not distinguish. Start a walk through the historic part of the city from the Venetian Harbor, and then you will come across all the most beautiful historical buildings of the city - Loggia, Fountain Rymoni, Church of St. Francis and Other. The buildings on these narrow streets are stored traces and Turkish dominion (many of them - using wood) and Venetian. Such is the return to the Renaissance Epoch. You can take a walk on the old town for a couple of hours, it is small, but every building requires special attention. And authentic shops - mmmm! Just do not walk in the center of the day - sweep!
Monastery Arkadi
When this huge monastery was built in an area of 5,200 sq.m. - Unknown. But the church in the monastery complex was about in the 16th century and was named after St. Constantine. This monastery is extremely important for the city. In the middle of the 19th century, a revolutionary headquarters were created on the liberation of Crete from the Ottoman Empire's Move. Nevertheless, the Turks broke the defense of thousands of local residents and broke through to the monastery, the powder warehouse blew up, dealt with dismissed. Then almost all in the monastery died. Today in the monastery is a museum where you can look at the exhibits telling about the history of the complex. Interesting collection of icons, quite extensive. And in general, it is very great to just stroll along the monastery, according to his gardens with lush flower beds.
Elefterna
There is this city on a hill with a height of 400 m above sea level, at the foot of Mount Ida, 25 km southeast Rethymno. Scientists and archaeologists roll this place already thirty years. So to speak, in search of truth. And all because the city is very old, and in general, this is the oldest city-state in Crete, and it was founded by Dorians in the 9th century BC, and then he was the largest on the island. Until the early Middle Ages, the town bloomed with all the colors, because he was in a very profitable place, in the cluster of natural resources. During the excavations, scientists found the most unique burial grounds, which are 2700 years old. In these tombs, hundreds of gold jewelry, different blood vessels and gold plates were found, the purpose of which is unknown. Thus, scientists make up the overall history of this amazing town (which existed until the 12th century of our era).
Mosque Nerazza
Initially, the Church, which has become a mosque with a seminary. To turn the temple in the mosque, three dome were prescribed and a massive minaret with two balconies. When Crete was freed from the power of the Ottoman Empire, the mosque became a Christian Church again, but the worship was no longer there. Today the conservatory is located in the building, and there are concerts here. Look for this building next to Petickee.
Natural Park Biotopoi.
The park was defeated in 2004 by volunteers. Here you can admire the tropical plants from all over the island, and therapeutic plants, and decorative flowers, and tropical teas - it is 220 types of plants, and even more. As well as animals live in the park, about 50 species of animals. Here you can meet the lazy turtle, and Iguan, but the butterflies flute here, scorpions are crawling and all sorts of different livery inhabit these magnificent forests. To get to the park, walk around 10 minutes to the hill to the hourglass in the center of Rethymno. The park is relatively small, it can be easily bypassed for 15 minutes, although you can use the guide services - then it turns out longer. By the way, during the excursion the guide can even offer you something to try from plants and fruits. For children in the park, a pretty site is broken. The entrance to the park costs about € 5.
Cave Melidoni
The mysterious Crete Cave once was considered sacred - here they worshiped the bronze talosh, the patron of Crete. In this cave, the critters were hiding during Turkish conquest at the beginning of the 19th century - this is a very sad story, as it ended tragic - almost all 400 people died, suffocating in smoke, when the Turks began to burn the entrance to the cave. Today, the memorial sarcophagus with the remains of those people today is in this cave. There is a cave a 20-minute drive to the east along the coast from Rethymno.