Vista Del Porto RethymnoDiscover Crete
The Island of Crete
Crete, the largest island in the country, is not by chance one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. Endless dream beaches, Venetian old towns, castles and palm groves, wild gorges and unique archeological sites cosmopolitan resorts and traditional recipes that have never been left in the time- closet, but climb to the top of the healthiest Mediterranean diet, driving food writers crazy. Quiet, colourful and ideal for on the road trips on routes with incredible landscape changes in the spring, full of life from thousands of tourists in the North and untouched corners for “escape” holidays in the South during summer.
In Crete you will find everything you ask for. Traditional colour in the unchanged villages of the hinterland for years (Anogia, Zoniana, Sfakia, Asi Gonia), where the sui generis Cretans reverently maintain their traditions and their characteristic Cretan costume touches – especially them do not deny the generous, warm hospitality, because their sharp conversations will disarm you. Cosmopolitanism, luxury and high level services that have nothing to envy from the most beautiful resorts of the Mediterranean (Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Limenas Hersonissos). Dreamy labyrinths with exquisite architectural samples of Venetian and Turkish rule in the old cities and ports of Rethymnon and Chania. Magnificent beaches, but also awesome beach bars for crazier situations and dynamic nightlife for all tastes. To get a good first taste of Crete, dedicate a week to ten days, focusing on the most interesting points of each prefecture, which are many and varied.
The Old Port of Rethymno
A beautiful harbor built by the Venetians around 1300 AD and still used today. For many centuries it was a shopping center as well as a meeting place for travellers from all over Europe. The Lighthouse of the Port is the second largest Egyptian Lighthouse of Crete, which safely led the merchant and warships inside the port throughout the long and turbulent history of the city. It was built by the Egyptians in the 1830s, when the Turks ceded Crete to them. Probably, there was an older Venetian lighthouse at the place where the new one was built. The height of the tower is 9 meters.
Today, the port offers something special to every traveller and is one of the most picturesque places in the Old Town of Rethymnon.