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Rethymnon is the capital of the Prefecture of the same name and it is built between two other large cities of Crete. In the east is Iraklion (80 km) and to the west is Hania (60 km).
It lies along the north coast, having to the east one of the largest sand beaches in Crete (12 km) and to the west a rocky coastline that ends up to another large sand beach after 10 km.
It is the administrative, communications and commercial center of the Prefecture with approximately 25.000 inhabitants.
Properties for sale in Rethymnon
 harbour of Rethymnon
Archaeological Museum (opposite entrance to the Venetian fortress)
This museum has good local exhibits attractively displayed; it proceeds mainly clockwise in chronological order. Good Neolitihic material, early and middle Minoan material, late Minoan finds from Armeni and a notable collection of greek an roman coins make it worth a visit. (closed Mondays)
Fortessa
This was built in 1574, and fell easily to the Turks in 1645. It has huge ramparts and battlements, and good views over the town and coast. Within the perimeter, there are a church and a former mosque, empty official buildings and a sense of abandonment and loss. The fortress is on the tip of the promontory; the main gate is at its western end.
Arimondi Fountain
Apart from the Fortezza (see below) other notable city sites include the Arimondi fountain built in 1623, now almost buried by a modern taverna (though water still spouts from the mouths of its three lion heads).
Monastery of Arkadi (14 miles southeast of Rethymno)
During the 19th century this monastery in the hills was at the centre of the Cretan independence movement, supporting resistance to the Turks. When Turkish assailants were on the point of breaching the walls during the rising of 1866, the defenders responded, so it is claimed, by putting a torch to their powder magazine. However it happened, there was certainly a mighty blast. Much of the building still stands - the powder magazine is roofless - but the force of the explosion killed hundreds of attackerss and a great number of the men, women and children gathered within the monastery. The name of Arkadi was blazoned across the world, a code-word for heroism. The monastery has a small museum. A monument near by contains the skulls of some of those who died that day in November, 1866.
Monastery of Preveli
From Plakias it is a short drive east, well in behind the coast, towards the monastery of Preveli. The road passes through a ravishing little valley, tender agianst its background of mountain. The turn down to Preveli passes a handsome 19th-century bridge, and then the very venerable ruins of the 16th-century monastic foundation out of which the present (17th-century) Preveli has grown. This important monastery reported directly to the Patriarch in Constantinople and became extremely wealthy / a fact hard to believe today, given its isolated position. The tradition of independence was still alive at the time of World War II, when Preveli was used as a rallying point for Allied soldiers left behind after the Battle of Crete. Rules of dress are strictly applied.
Kournas lake
Lake Kournas covers a total area of about 160,000 square metres with a depth of up to 25 metres. The name is derived from the Arabic word for lake. Dense vegetation surrounds the scenic lake and the southeastern bank is lined with olive trees. A strip of white sand beside the lake provides an area for swimming and tavernas.
Kournas lake
Georgioupolis
Georgioupolis was a small village located by a very long sandy beach. There are now many hotels built along the beach. Although the village is now entirely geared towards catering for the tourists it remains quite attractive with its small fishing harbour, its river and large eucalyptus trees.
Georgioupolis
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