The historical character of Rethymno is quite evident as it’s separated in the old and the new part of town. The old city stretches out at the foot of a very impressive Venetian castle, the Fortetza, ideal for those of you who want to take a stroll down memory lane. The imposing blazons over the intricate wood-carved doors of the Venetian manor houses and the wooden balconies overlooking the cobbled streets will make you feel like you’ve taken a step back in time.

It has about 25.000 residents and it is located on the northwestern side of the island, constituting the administrational and financial center of the prefecture.