You can explore the town of Rethymnon by foot! Simply, just leave your car at the parking space by the port and let’s walk at the Rethymnon old town. Sincerely, you have many things to do and watch there! First of all, La Fortezza or Rethymnon Fortress which you can find it at the west side of the city, close to the new harbor. It was built to protect the city of Rethymnon from the Turks and, that’s why it was built on Paleokastro hill by the Venetians in 1573. Inside in the Rethymnon Fortress, the first thing you will see is the building of the Commander, the ammunition depots and also the building of the counselor. Another important site includes the old church of St Nicholas that was turned into the mosque of Sultan Ibraim Han now hosts cultural exhibitions. Every summer the fortress hosts the Renaissance festival and, especially in the summer time, La Fortezza is the best place to see the sunset!

Very close to the Venetian Harbour, you can find the 16th century square building of the Venetian Loggia. To reach the Loggia from the Venetian harbour, we enter the narrow alleyway near the centre of the harbour and walk a few yards. We will see the impressive Loggia directly opposite. Today it belongs to the Ministry of Culture and houses the Archaeological Receipts Fund. Venetian Loggia of Rethymnon is a square building with arched fronts on three sides. It was built by the Veronese engineer Michele Sanmichali. After the fall of Rethymnon to the Turks, the Loggia was converted into a mosque. A minaret was built on the west side but this was pulled down in the 1930s.

If you want to start from the Venetian harbor of Rethymnon, you can admire the 13th century Venetian mole which once protect the harbor. The Venetian harbor of Rethymnon is the ideal starting-point for a tour of the old town. The Venetian harbor is still in a very good condition, despite the passage of so many centuries. There, you can see the absolute small breakwater with its high wall which was managed to face the wild waves of the Cretan Sea and survive the battle unharmed. Today, there is a much larger breakwater outside it with a new ferry port for ships to Piraeus and Santorini. There are daily boat trips from Rethymnon to nearby beaches. Some of the boats look like old wooden sailing ships, complementing the nostalgic atmosphere of the Venetian harbor.

Do you want to see one Fountain which has offered fresh water to passers-by for centuries? Then, you can walk to the Rimondi Fountain, in the heart of the old town of Rethymnon for that! The Rimondi Fountain was built in 1626 by the Venetian Rector of Rethymnon A. Rimondi. Rimondi Fountain is one of the most picturesque views of the city of Rethymnon because the water runs from three lions’ heads into three basins and four fluted Corinthian columns with acanthus-leaf capitals support an architrave on which the words Liberalitatis and Fontes can still be read, with the Rimondi coat of arms above the central basin. The easy way to reach the Rimondi Fountain is to walk straight from the Loggia along Paleologou street end at the end of the street, you will turn right and see the fountain and Platanos (Plane Tree) Square.

Of course, Rethymnon has its Museum but, here, you can find the Historical - Folk Museum of Rethymnon! The museum houses collections of woven fabrics, weaving equipment, embroidery, lacework, pottery, baskets, metalwork, coins, costumes, historical items, etc. Also, there is a room with an exhibition on traditional crops and bread-making things. If you want to see the museum with many traditional exhibitions objects of traditional handcraft work and folklore art, you should go inside in the Venetian house which was built in the 17th century.

Based on the plans of Michele Sanmichali, you can find walking along the familiar paved street, the Port Guora or the Great Gate of Rethymnon. The Great Gate leads to the central square of Rethymnon (4 Martyrs square). The Great Gate is still recognizable as the imposing entrance to the fortifications which are built in 1540 - 1570, after the extension of the town. In 1670 a mosque was built net to gate according to Turkish custom. The mosque of the Great Gate was named after the Valide Sultana, the mother of Sultan Ibrahim. The minaret built in 1878 and can be seen in front of the gate on the side of the square. Originally, the archway was crowned with a triangular pediment bearing the lion of St Mark in relief. The Great Gate was named after the Rector of Rethymnon J. Guoro.

Rethymnon is an adorable and romantic town. It’s up to you to explore and find secret and amazing places!