About this experience
I will tell you the impressive story of Rethymno. Saracens, archons, and Venetian rulers will be involved in it. It will not be without deceit and love intrigues. We will stroll through the Old Town, find traces of the Renaissance on the facades of buildings. And we will marvel at how the Arab, Turkish, Venetian, and Russian periods of Crete harmoniously intertwined in the appearance and character of the city.
What to Expect
Legends of Rethymno
You will hear stories about Arab Saracens and Mediterranean pirates, about the Byzantine emperor and his deceitful lover, about the archons and Venetian rulers. You will feel that the city still retains the atmosphere of dangerous conspiracies and duels, romantic rendezvous and intrigues. My stories will be a guiding thread for you in the labyrinth of the streets of Rethymno and its incredible history.
Turkish-Venetian Charm
Through the ancient Porto Guoro gate, we will enter the Old Town. You will see the House of the Dolphin, the minaret of Valide Sultan, the 16th-century lodge, the Neratze mosque, the Rimondi fountain, and the picturesque Ali Vafi garden. We will walk along the waterfront, adorned with ancient Venetian palaces transformed into picturesque hotels, cafes, and restaurants.
We will note the signs of the Renaissance in the buildings - bronze door handles, window frames made of carved stone, inscriptions on the facades. We will find decorative elements of Balkan architecture that give Rethymno its unique charm, rightfully making it the Venetian gem in the Cretan crown.
