| Rethymno or Rethimno Crete in Greece off | | | | harbor wall to an old Venetianlighthouse. |
| course is a town of about 4000 people,located on | | | | The old town is in close proximity to long, |
| the island of Crete. | | | | sandybeaches. In fact a ferry delivers visitors |
| The town has existed here sinceantiquity, but | | | | right intothe old town. In exploring the city, guest |
| because of its location it was neverthe focus of | | | | have thechoice of heading toward the modern, |
| fighting and uprisings, and so has a moregentler | | | | well developedstrip of large hotels, or of finding |
| history than other Cretan cities in Greece. | | | | the quiet,intimate places in the more romantic old |
| In ancient times, Rethimno Greece minted its own | | | | town. |
| coins. Onecoin still in existence shows a city crest | | | | Rethymno Crete is where one will find the |
| of twodolphins in a circle. | | | | Philosophical |
| Rethymno Crete began growing from a | | | | School and University Library of the University of |
| settlement to a city when itbecame an important | | | | Crete. The School of Social and Political Sciences |
| stop for Venetian conquerorsmaking their way | | | | isalso here. |
| from the city of Iraklion Crete to the cityof | | | | Rethymno Greece blends old and new. Minarets |
| Chania Crete in Greece. This was after the Fourth | | | | and mosquessurviving since the time of Turkish |
| Crusade in theearly 1200's. | | | | occupation arenear shops. The main minaret is |
| The old town section of Rethymno Greece is | | | | used today as a musicschool. The noted Rimondi |
| almost entirely | | | | Fountain sits next to acaf?. Gifts shops offering |
| Venetian. It is one of the best preserved towns | | | | herbs, cosmetics, books,jewelry and pottery lure |
| inall of Crete Greece. Many of the Cretan buildings | | | | shoppers into the colorful,buzzing streets. |
| from the 1500's, withtheir arched doorways and | | | | Rethymno Crete is noted for an open air market |
| stone staircases, are stillused. The old town still | | | | held on |
| has narrow streets windingtheir way down to the | | | | Thursdays. Rethymno Greece is noted for wine |
| harbors in Crete. | | | | tasting,offering more than 460 different Greek |
| Today the serenity found in its history is found | | | | wines or may we say Crete or Cretan wines. |
| intown. There is a large city garden where | | | | Rethymno city is noted for hosting the largest |
| friends,neighbors and guests gather for shade and | | | | Carnivalcelebration in all of Crete Island. |
| tranquility. | | | | The city is surrounded by gorges, monasteries, |
| Because of its history, Rethymno Crete has The | | | | oldvillages and ancient churches. Residents and |
| Fortetza castle, a | | | | guestalike love to travel into the outlying hills to |
| Venetian castle that is one of the largest, | | | | get afull view of the city. |
| bestpreserved castles in all Greece. The Fortetza | | | | Guests include a species besides the typical |
| castle in Crete wasbuilt in 1573 to protect the | | | | humantraveler. Every summer, from June through |
| town. Original walls,churches and buildings remain, | | | | August, seaturtles return home to Rethymno to |
| as does the panoramic,sweeping view of the | | | | lay eggs on theirnatal beaches in Crete. |
| Mediterranean Sea. It is stillpossible to walk the | | | | |