Visit the beautiful Rethymno in Crete

http://www.aroundrethymno.com/
Visit the beautiful Rethymno in Crete
The beautiful region of Rethymno is located the north coast of Crete and is a lovely old town lined with tiny streets and white washed houses. A large fortress stands above the town which was used to protect the town from pirates. It's a popular destination for tourists.

Rethymno is also a good place to use as when looking to explore Western Crete. The town has many trekking and diving providers for those looking for an active vacation.

The old quarter is a maze of narrow streets draped in floral canopies, graceful woodbalconied houses and ornate Venetian monuments, with minarets adding a touch of the Orient. While architectural similarities invite comparison with Chania, Rethymno has a character all its own.

Rethymno has a number of fun small shops, including a good carved olive wood shop and numerous shops offering door amulets and ship models made of sterling silver. The Rethymno Museum has a lovely gift shop featuring reproductions, including some small statues.

Rethymno is full of magnificent beaches, interesting archaeological sites and Byzantine churches, lovely villages, lively resorts and its capital, the town of Rethymno, is a very attractive city which has kept many examples of the sumptuous Venetian architecture.

The most enticing parts of the city is the old town located on the waterfront. The fortress dominates the area, the site of what was once an acropolis. Within the great walls were once a plethora of buildings, but today, only a church and a mosque survive, and there are plenty of ruins to explore.

The nearby town of Rethymno has a good choice of shops, bars and restaurants and the nightlife is quite lively here too. The harbor has some great restaurants which serve fish which has been caught locally.

Out of the town, the mountains have a fascinating array of villages and churches to visit and experience. The coast near Rethymno is home to the resorts of the area, and finding a secluded beach can be difficult in the summer months.

Rethymno itself began a period of growth when the Venetian conquerors of the island decided to put an intermediate commercial station between Heraklion and Chania, acquiring its own bishop and nobility in the process. Today's old town ( palia poli ) is almost entirely built by the Venetians . It is one of the best preserved old towns in Crete.