-The Fortezza fortress
The Venetian Fortezza fortress is built on the "Paleokastro" hill, located on the west side of the city. On the same hill the Acropolis of the ancient city of Rithymna was located, along with a sanctuary dedicated to Goddess Artemis. The Fortezza fortress was built between 1573-1580 by the Venetians in order to protect the citizens from the Turkish threat. It is shaped like a star, it has three gates and six ramparts. The temple of Saint Nicolo has been turned into the mosque of Sultan Ibraim Han. There was the building of the Commander, the building of the Counselor, army camps, stables, ammunition depots, a water supply reservoir and some houses that were later destroyed.
The Nekropolis of Armenoi
In 1969, two students discovered two ceramic vessels in the area of Prinokefalo in the community of Armenoi and delivered them to the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno. Excavations in the area revealed a large cemetery of the post-Minoan period. Until today, more than 220 tombs have been excavated. The cemetery was carefully designed. All the tombs are carved with an arch and a sloping path, except one which is vaulted. The tombs were labeled with crude stones and pyramid-like or plate-like columns. They were family tombs as they contained many bodies, placed either on the floor or in sarcophagus. Various objects (ceramics, armory, tools, and jewelry) give us important information about the art, religion and social life of the time.
Museums
A traveller has to visit the museums of the city to be acquainted with the history and culture of the region in different periods. In the following section, you will find a short description of the Archaeological Museum and the Historical and Folklore Museum.
Welcome to the Rethymno Wine Festival!
In Crete, Culture and Tourism are the main elements of Development and Prosperity for the Island and its People.
With this in mind, the city of Rethymno this year has decided to revive its longest running Festival, the Wine Festival but with a new identity and content which includes the exhibition and promotion of branded, award winning Cretan Products.
The Cretans have always been earthbound people - maintaining a healthy and vibrant relationship with the Earth and its fruits. It is important and necessary to support this relationship because the identity of each area is linked to its historical legacy and traditions.
This great event will meet high aesthetic standards and will exhibit high quality branded local products and branded, bottled, award winning Cretan Wine.
We aim to enhance a comprehensive, interactive communication between the residents and visitors with genuine products of the Cretan earth. These products have for centuries formed the basis of our food culture, and are known internationally for its beneficial properties to human health.
We wish to highlight to residents and visitors, the interdependence of tourism with culture, tradition and gastronomy, together with the traditions of Crete.
We hope to provide incentives to local producers motivate and encourage consumers to support locally grown products, which are worldwide famous for their quality and high nutritional value.
We will produce an entertaining and educational event through which residents and visitors will interact by sharing knowledge, experiences and wisdom.
With all the above in mind, we have planned and designed a 7-day program offering many events, art exhibitions, traditional and modern music by local performers, educational and entertaining activities for children, distinguished speakers conducting seminars and lectures as well as the chance of wine and food tasting.
We anticipate that the Wine Festival, which already enjoys a high degree
of response and wholehearted support, will justify the expectations of organisers and visitors alike.
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The Municipality of Rethymno consistis of 20 settlements (after the application of the Kapodistrias plan) 16 of which have been declared traditional. Within its borders there is a large number of archaeological monuments and traditional buildings of great value, many of which have not yet been officially registered.
The city of Rethymno is a small city which preserves a vivid medieval-renaissance color. The old, but exceptionally preserved city center is located beneath the walls of its sleepless guard, the Venetian Fortezza fortress. The coastline of the Municipality of Rethymno is characterized by the beautiful sandy beach, the clean sea, the Venetian port, the picturesque alleys and the openhearted citizens.
RETHYMNO TRANSPORTATION
The transportation services in Rethymno are very satisfactory. There are local buses that service the city of Rethymno and the nearby areas from early in the morning untill late at night. Intercity buses connect Rethymno to all the Prefectures of Crete on a daily basis for the easy transport of visitors and citizens.
KTEL Bus service:
Rethymno-Chania
tel:0030 28310 22212
Olympic Airways
0030 28310 24333
A.N.E.K lines
0030 28310 55518
For more information on the ferry boat schedules from Rethymno....
USEFUL INFORMATION LINKS FOR RETHYMNO
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Greece 2010
official holidays
Read here |
1/1, 6/1, 25/3,
2/4, 4/4(Easter )
1/5, 15/8,
26/10
(only in Thessaloniki)
28/10, 25/12, 26/12
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