Explore the Old Town of Rethymnon with a local professional photographer who will help you "see" the beauty of this picturesque seaside town of the Renaissance period, with a culture full of Ottoman and Venetian influences.
Upon the establishment of the Venetian rule in Crete between 1204-1217, the byzantine town slowly changed its style following the rules of the Venetian architecture, which can be seen today in many buildings, including the Venetian crests in their facades.
During this walking tour, you will visit the Fortezza -a fortress built on the hill by the port where in antiquity stood the acropolis of the ancient Greek city of Rithymna. This majestic fortress was designed so that it could shelter the entire population of the city in case of invasions, although its main function was to house the Venetian administration of the city. Its premises, many of which are preserved in good condition today, included barracks, a church, a hospital, a warehouse, the residence of the Directors, the residence of the Rector, and a luxurious and stately building in the central square of the fortress. Today, a mosque, formerly the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which was converted upon the Ottoman conquest in 1646, is also among the remains.
Other town highlights you will explore is one of the three remaining gates to the walled city, the Rimondi Fountain, the Nerantze Mosque, the Turkish School (a women’s school during the Ottoman times) and the Venetian Harbor.
During your tour, you are invited to use your cell phone or camera to capture images of Rethymnon, collaborating with your photographer guide to create a “photo essay” of your tour experience.
Your tour will culminate in a delightful seaside meal at a favourite local taverna.
