Rethimno

Crete is home to a legendary Bronze Age civilization- the Minoans. This complex civilization flourished in Crete for six centuries (2000 BC – 1400 BC). The region of Rethymnon is full of Minoan history, and the city of Rethymnon (then Rhithymna) was powerful enough even to mint its own coins. The city itself fell into decline, and was not significant throughout the years of Byzantium.The second era where Rethymnon really began to flourish was in the 13th century AD, with the arrival of the Venetians. The city of Rethymnon was the seat of the Diocese of Retimo. Much of the city’s elegance and romance derives from the centuries of Venetian rule. The Ottomans arrived in the 17th century, capturing Rethymnon in 1646 and holding it until 1898, when the Great Powers intervened and created the Cretan State, under Prince George of Greece and Denmark. Crete was occupied once again during WWII and the Cretans were known for their heroic acts during the resistance.

Rethymno consists of two parts, the Old Town and the New Town, the latter being an extension of the former towards the south. Since 1970, the town has also spread along the coast to the east, in the direction of the village of Perivolia. The town is carefully laid-out, with multi-storey buildings and an adequate number of parks, but the seafront is largely hidden by large hotels.