The prefecture of Rethymnon is only 1496m2, but it combines all the natural beauties and cultural characteristics of the island. Enormous plane trees, oak trees, vast olive groves, deep gorges and little rivers followed by the dry barren land on the south coast by the Lybean Sea.

Great mountains, in places completely bare and in others covered in thick vegetation followed by fertile valleys. Dozens of traditional villages with real Cretans, proud people with a warm hospitable smile. The shepherd's houses on Mt Psiloritis, the numerous caves, the antiquities, the roman ruins and the Venetian buildings, the Byzantine churches with the rare icons make this prefecture one of the richest on the island.

The town of Rethymnon is perhaps the prettiest in Crete. The Venetian buildings and monuments have been preserved in excellent condtion. The town is built on the west side of the longest beach of Crete (12km) with fine golden sand, an equally favorite destination for the locals and tourists.

Today the town is the junction that leads to the centre of the island and further along to the beautiful south coast. Rethymnon was built on the ruins of the Minoan town of Rithimna from which it takes its name. It is one of the few towns that maintained its ancient name despite its many conquerors and military forces that left their mark: Minoan, Venetians, Byzantines, Russians and Turks