The Rimondi Fountain in the heart of the old town of Rethymnon has offered fresh water to passers-by for centuries.
It's small but elegantly classical structure stands at Petichaki square, in the heart of the old town of Rethymno, close to Loggia. This is the Rimondi fountain built in 1626 during the Venetian rule. Named after the Venetian governor of the period, A. Rimondi, it continually threw water from three springs that had the form of lion heads and provided an important water source for the inhabitants of the Old Town. Around the springs, there were ancient Greek columns with elegant endings on top. Between the columns, the two preserved tablets real Liberaliatis and Fonte. A Venetian coat of arms has been installed on top of the lion heads, in the middle of the fountain. Close to the Fountain, there are open cafeterias and other Venetian monuments.
The most famous landmark in Rethymno, the Egyptian Lighthouse sits in the middle of the Venetian harbor. The different names of the lighthouse and harbor may seem confusing, but the Egyptian Lighthouse was built during the 1830s during the time when the Ottoman Empire controlled the island and gave it to the Egyptians. The lighthouse is the second largest remaining Egyptian lighthouse in Crete, after the lighthouse of Chania harbor. It is built on the edge of the old harbor of Rethymnon and it can be accessed very easily. The lighthouse was built during the Egyptian Occupation of Crete, when the Turks handed Crete to the Egyptians. Possibly there was an older Venetian lighthouse at the site, just like Chania harbor. In 1864, the lighthouse came under the supervision of the French Lighthouse Company and today it’s not operating. The overall height of the lighthouse tower is 9 meters.
Venetian Harbor
During the summer, you can dine right on the harbor at one of the many fish restaurants. During the winter, it’s still warm enough to go for a sunset stroll most days of the year. The old port is home to a number of restaurants, cafes and shops that line the waterfront. Visitors can enjoy fresh seafood and traditional Cretan dishes while taking in the picturesque views of the harbor. There are also a number of souvenir shops that sell local products such as handmade ceramics, jewelry and textiles.
The old Venetian port and the lighthouse are one of the most recognizable elements of Rethymno. Although there are many beautiful places in the city, this area is one of the most picturesque and most important areas of the old part of the city. The lighthouse towers over the entrance to the harbor. Fishing boats and yachts moor next to the Venetian harbor, where fish restaurants are open during the summer months. The old (Venetian) harbor of Rethymno lies in the heart of the harbor facilities.
Church of Our Lady of the Angels
This church have a quintessential Greek Orthodox look, but it was actually built by the Dominicans during the Venetian period. Dedicated to Mary Magdalene, it served as a Catholic church until the Turks converted it into a mosque. It has been Greek Orthodox since 1917. It's worth visiting and seeing it inside while walking around the city.
Catholic Church St. Anthony of Padua
The Catholic church of St. Anthony of Padua can be found in the old town of Rethymno, behind the old Venetian port. Serves a small community of Catholics who still live in Crete island. Despite many Venetian churches were turned into mosques, Catholics built smaller chapels and continued to practice their faith.
Porta Guora (Megali Porta)
The current state is only a substitute for the former central gate of the city. Only the entrance opening, slightly over 2.5 meters wide, and a small part of the adjacent wall have survived to our times. This building is not a stunning attraction and probably a large part of tourists passing along Ethnikis Antistaseos Street do not even realize that passing under this inconspicuous stone arch they are crossing the former city walls. Megali Porta in literal translation means a great door, and the second name comes from the name of the rector Jocopo Guoro reigning in the years when it was built.
Arkadi Monastery
The Arkadi Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated on the southeast of Rethymnon on the island of Crete in Greece. The monastery became a national sanctuary in honor of the Cretan resitance. The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt of 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children, sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the hequmen of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.
Venetian Fortezza Castle
The Fortezza is built on a hill called Palekastro, which was the site of ancient Rhiymnas's acropolis. The Fortezza is the citadel of the city of Rethymno in Crete, Greece. It was built by the Venetians in the 16th century, and was captured by the Ottomans in 1646. By the early 20th century, many houses were built within the citadel. These were demolished after World War II, leaving only a few historic buildings within the Fortezza. Today, the citadel is in good condition and is open to the public. You can reach the Fortezza either through the alleys of Rethymnon old town, or, more easily, by following the coast road that starts from behind the old Venetian harbour. Follow the coast road, passing tavernas and cafes, for about 200-300 yards until you reach the small car park on your left, at the foot of the steps leading up to the fortress. You can't miss the Fortezza looming right above you.
The Ibrahim Han Mosque in Rethymno Crete
The Ibrahim Han Mosque is places in the middle of the Venetian Fortezza. The mosque is found next to the Rector's residence and was oryginally a Venetian cathedral dedicated to Saint Nicholas, build in 1580. However, when Rethymno was occupied by the Turks, in 1646, it was converted into an Ottoman mosque by the Sultan Ibrahim Han and took his name. The building itself is very well-constructed. It is solid square construction with an impressive dome of 11m diameter. It has a prayer niche inside, settled in the center of the south-eastern wall, facing Mecca, the Muslim's holy town. It also has the base of a minaret on its west side, which is the only preserved part of this structure since the minaret itself hasn't survived centuries. A small chapel is build next to the mosque dedicated to Agios Theodoros Trichinas and was inaugurated in 1899. Unfortunately, the mosque is today closed to the public and opens only to host some musical exhibitions. However, it is still worth a visit, just to admire it's architecture and to glimpse the interior through a window.
Neratze Mosque
The Neratze Mosque is located in the center of the Old Town of Rethymno. The mosque was originally constructed as a church by the Venetians dedicated to Santa Maria and it was later turned to a monastery. When Crete fell to the Turks, Gazi Hussein Pasha converted it into a mosque in 1657. And when the island got free from Turkish rule, the mosque was turned back into a church dedicated to Agios Nikolaos. Today the Neratze Mosque serves as the Municipal music conservatory or Odeon of Rethymno with numerous musical performances held at its premises.
