Rethymno is the third biggest city of the island of Crete and one of the most attractive and best surviving Venetian cities. It is a vacation paradise in the Mediterranean with various tourist facilities, numerous sights, plenty of sandy beaches and a long Greek summer, that counts the most days of sunshine throughout the country.

Whether you're looking for excitement- filled excursions, or a lazy day at the beach, Rethymnon has something to offer- sand beachesfor lounging, bars, nightclubs for partying away the nights, excellent restaurants, such as stunning coastal road and a dreamy Old Town for your daytime or evening walks.

The Arkadi Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated on a fertile plateau 23 km (14 mi) to the southeast of Rethymnon on the island of Crete in Greece. The current catholicon (church) dates back to the 16th century and is marked by the influence of the Renaissance.

This influence is visible in the architecture, which mixes both Roman and baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place for science and art and had a school and a rich library. Situated on a plateau, the monastery is well fortified, being surrounded by a thick and high wall.

The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt of 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children, sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the hegumen of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.

Walking through the streets of the old city feels like entering the time machine, as the scenery projects images of a far away past. Small passages, colorful gardens and green balconies, traditional taverns, children playing in the streets and a mixture of people and cultures that co-exist harmoniously, are some of the images that will accompany your walk in the old city. Flavors, scents, images, sounds, spontaneous smiles, and a treat of "tsikoudia" guarantee a wonderful journey in a place that combines the magic of the past and the vividness of the present.

It is possible that the hill on which the Fortezza is built was once an island joined to Crete by a narrow strip of land. Over the centuries the channel silted up and the hill became part of the Cretan mainland. Later, the hill of Paleokastro ("Old Castle") was probably the site of the acropolis of ancient Rithymna with its Temple of Apollo and Sanctuary of Artemis, although this has not been proven to date.

During the Second Byzantine Period (10th-13th c. AD), a small walled settlement was established east of Paleokastro hill, the Castrum Rethemi or Castel Vecchio or Antico Castello ("Old Castle") as the Venetians later called it.