RETHYMNO – CRETE

Rethymno is located in the north end of the prefecture, built by the sea and is a city with many faces.

Archeological sites, natural beauties, city beach with 10 blue flags and now with lots of activities such as cycling Rethymno is one destination you can’t miss.

You can reach Rethymno by boat from Piraeus or by plane from Athens to Chania and then drive 60 km to Rethymno.

Suggested Program

Day 1 Arrival Rethymno transfer to hotel. Day free for leisure and a first acquaintance with the city. Overnight

Day 2 Cycling Route – RETHYMNO-KASTELLOS

Most of this relatively short route of 27 km passes through a protected forest of cultivated oaks, unique in all of Crete. It starts from Rethymno, passes through the village of Gallou, where the university is located and a little further the restored monastery of Petros and Pavlos. There are no written testimonies about the history of the monastery, while the traditions abound. It is a sacred part of the monastery of Arkadi. Then the road continues to the south, passing through the small village of Somatas. This village is included in a 16th century census. During the Ottoman Empire, many Turkish Agades inhabited the village. In Somatas is the church of Agios Georgios, which is of Renaissance architecture. The route ends at the Late Minoan cemetery of Armenon (12th century BC), which is the largest cemetery of carved tombstones in Crete. The route continues west to the village of Kastellos, with a beautiful view of Mount Vrissyna, and reaches the old national road, which passes through the picturesque villages, such as Agios Andreas, Gonia and Prines. All these villages are ideal for a refreshing stop in their small traditional cafes. Prines is a village with many Venetian and Ottoman elements in its architecture. Among the sights of the village, is the church of Agios Nikolaos (10th -11th century), the patron saint of the village, which is located next to the old stone school. In the church there is an old miraculous icon of the Saint, who performed many miracles during the Ottoman Empire. This is why the image became the target of the Ottomans, who looted the temple and tried with their swords to plunder the image to no avail. In fact, tradition says that the bullet of a Turk who shot the image was expelled and blinded. Last is the village of Atsipopoulo, an attractive large village, with strong Venetian architectural elements, from where the road descends back to Rethymnon.

Day 3 Rethymno – Melidoni – Zoniana – Anogia

Start from the cave of Melidoni, one of the most interesting historical and archaeological caves of Crete, which is associated with the years of Ottoman rule in Crete and the revolutions of the Cretan people. Then, cross the various traditional villages until you reach the mountain village of Zoniana built at the foot of Psiloritis. A museum was built to house the wax creations mentioned in the history of Crete. If you enter the village, you will see one of the most beautiful caves in Crete, the Sfentoni cave, full of stalactites and stalagmites. Then move to Anogia, one of the most famous places in Crete, where you can watch how people maintain their traditional way of life. It is one of the largest centers of cultural creation. On the way back do not forget to visit the mythical birthplace of Zeus, the “Ideon Andros”, a cave on the plateau of Nida.

Day 4 Breakfast and departure for return