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… 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.