Rethymno Old Town and Venetian Fort: 6 Places on a Crete

This 62.7 km route through Rethymno, Crete showcases the region's rich cultural heritage, from the maze-like cobblestone streets of the Old Town with its Venetian Fort to rural wineries and historic monasteries that reflect centuries of Cretan history.

Mode
Places
Start
Rethymno Old Town
End
Arkadi Monastery
Stops
6
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Rethymno Old Town — Historic coastal town with charming cobblestone streets, maze-like architecture, and lasting legacies of Venetian and Turkish rule in the Mediterranean.
  2. Rethymno Venetian Fort — Grand fortification overlooking the old town with unique Turkish elements including a mosque, built during Venetian occupation and later besieged by Ottoman forces.
  3. Melidoni Cave — Historic cave sanctuary where hundreds of Cretan civilians and soldiers perished during Turkish siege in the 19th century, now a memorial to the resistance.
  4. Traditional Lira Maker — Artisan workshop in Rethymno preserving the craft of the Cretan lira, a three-stringed traditional instrument made from aged cedar and other local woods.
  5. Kuro Winery — Family-run vineyard in Rethymno region founded in 2017, producing wines from native Cretan grapes including Vidiano and Liatiko with traditional hand-harvesting methods.
  6. Arkadi Monastery — Fortress-like monastery symbolizing Cretan resistance against Ottoman rule, site of the tragic 1866 Siege where revolutionaries chose death over surrender.

Useful for your trip

Tip
Visit the Lira artisan shop (papalexakis.gr) in Rethymno Old Town to see traditional Cretan lira instruments being handmade; each instrument takes about 10 days to create using woods like mahogany, rosewood, walnut, and cedar.
Food
Book a wine tasting at Kourkoulou winery (kourkoulouwinery.gr) to sample Cretan wines including Viano (famous white grape) and local varieties; the family also serves traditional Greek food during tastings.
Tip
Visit Kuro Winery in the Rethymno region to see a small family-run operation that started in 2017; they produce 2 white varieties, rosé, red wine, and limited edition bottles, all bottled and labeled on-site.
Tip
Explore the Handmade Traditional Phyllo Workshop at 30 Vernardou Street in Rethymno Old Town to watch traditional Greek pastry being made by hand and purchase authentic baklava and kataifi sweets.
Tip
Visit Arkadi Monastery (arkadimonastery.gr) to learn about Cretan resistance history; the fortress-like monastery with high thick walls contains monk cells, a central church, and a memorial with tragic historical significance from 1866.
Tip
Explore Melidoni Cave (melidoni.gr), which features a central chamber called the Hall of Heroes with a tomb containing remains from a historical tragedy; the cave itself is noted for its natural beauty.
Tip
Walk through Rethymno Old Town's cobblestone streets to see unique Venetian and Turkish architecture, including artisanal products representing Cretan culture and traditions.
Tip
Visit the Rethymno Venetian Fort overlooking the Old Town, which features a mosque in its center as a reminder of the region's complex history with Venetian and Ottoman influences.

Video on this route

RETHYMNO | CRETE | EXPLORING THE OLD TOWN AND THE REGION'S CULTURAL GEMS!! CRETE SERIES P2

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