…
A shore, pure and wide, of fine white sand… To the other side, towards
Chania, a tumble of lead-coloured cliffs- wild, threatening sight! Rethymno
is built between a placid and a ferocious shore…
(From “The
Chronicle of a Town”, P.Prevelakis)
WELCOME TO RETHYMNO, the small Mediterranean town with its
Renaissance architecture, Venetian fortress, museums and sandy beaches.
We are sure that like thousands of other visitors, the great variety of
sights, the high-quality accommodation and facilities are only a few reasons
which will make you return to the Prefecture of Rethymno annually. As
for the surrounding province, the difficulty is in deciding what to visit
first:
The endless beaches, the monasteries and churches, the ancient
sites or the Venetian and Turkish monuments? The area is rich in characteristic
villages and areas of great natural beauty as well as caves and soaring
mountains. Of course, we must not forget the local people, famous for
their hospitality, who will befriend yïu and may even share a glass of
"Raki" with yïu. When yïu arrive in this magical place with
anxiety and stress, the atmosphere and life will make you soon forget
your worries.
Welcome to Rethymno. We are sure that you will enjoy your
stay and come back again!
ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
The Prefecture of Rethymno is semi-mountainous. Of
its 1.496 km2, 507 are cultivated, 936 are pasture, 36 are
covered by settlements and only 17 km2 are covered by forest.
The largest forests can be found in the area
of the Village Armeni (oaktrees), Aghios Ioannis Agiou Vassiliou (cypress),
Kouroutes and south of Arkadi Monastery (thorn oaktrees). Typical are
also the smaller arbutus forestation at Alones, mapletree in the Nida-
Ñlain area as well as palm trees at Lake Preveli and at Selia.
The climate is mild Mediterranean and particularly dry and
warm. There is sunshine ïn 245 days of the year and temperatures range
from 12° to 27° C. The prevailing winds are northerly and north-westerly,
while occasional hot southerlies arriving from the African continent with
great strength. The natural environment of Rethymno is in a good condition
and the sea-water is among the best in Europe.
Fortunately large of wild nature have been preserved unharmed,
in particular in the districts of Amari and near the town of Rethymno.
There are 8 kinds of land in the prefecture: plains, mountains, semi-mountainous
areas, sub-alpine, alpine, coastal, wetlands and gorges. The resting gorges
in terms of natural beauty are those of Aghios of Patsos, Prasses, Petres
and Kato Poros. |
accommodation in crete