| Agia Ekaterini |  |
| On the path leading up to Sultan Ibrahim’s Mosque, you will pass this small Orthodox chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine. It stands out from all the other ancient buildings in the fortress as it was built in the late 19th century, and its small bell tower was only added in 1985. It is nonetheless historic, as it was built using materials sourced from the fortress site. |
| Archaeological Museum | |
| It is in this alleyway that the entrance to the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno is located; the museum is housed in the former Church of St Francis, built around 1530. The museum is not very large but it is very interesting, displaying finds from the Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods (statues, seals, gold jewellery, coins, navigational instruments, etc.). |
| Entrance to an underground passage | |
| Some parts of the fortress are best left shrouded in mystery, such as this underground passage that plunges into darkness. At the entrance, a warning sign acts as a deterrent, and further on, the passage may well be bricked up. Given its location, it may lead to the underground areas of the old warehouses and cisterns situated right next door. As there is no lighting, we decided against shooting any panoramas there. |
| Erofili Theater | |
| This small open-air theatre is situated at the top of the Fortezza walls. Well shaded, it hosts cultural performances and concerts, particularly those of the Rethymnon Renaissance Festival, a major cultural event which, since 1987, celebrates the Venetian heritage and the Cretan and European Renaissance every summer. |
| Fortezza Gate | |
| This is the only entrance to the ‘Fortezza’, the impressive fortress of Rethymno, built by the Venetians in the 16th century and which fell to the Ottomans a century later, despite the apparent invulnerability of its formidable surrounding walls. It is, of course, an unmissable visit during a stay in Rethymno. Allow at least half a day to see everything – the site is huge! |
| Ibrahim Han Mosque | |
| Built in the 17th century, shortly after the Ottomans conquered the city, on the site of an ancient cathedral built by the Venetians, this mosque is the most iconic building in the Fortezza, with its dome measuring 11 metres in diameter. Unfortunately, its minaret collapsed in the early 20th century and was never rebuilt. Restored between 2002 and 2004, this magnificent building now occasionally hosts exhibitions. |
| Naos tis Kyrias ton Angelon | |
| On this small, unnamed square along Nikiforou Foka Street stands the Church of Our Lady of the Angels. Built by the Venetians in the early 16th century, it was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period, but its minaret was demolished when it was restored as a church in 1917. Unfortunately, photography inside is not permitted. (At least, that’s what we were told just after taking these few panoramic shots… It must be said that the ‘no photography’ sign was tiny and well hidden!) |
| Neradje Mosque | |
| This mosque was once a Catholic monastery belonging to the Augustinian Order, but following the Ottoman conquest of Rethymno, the building was converted into a mosque and a minaret was even added in 1890, during the final years of the Turkish occupation of Crete. The mosque ceased to be a place of worship in 1924 and is now a music conservatoire. |
| Panoramic view (1) | |
| For a panoramic view of the Fortezza, climb up the hill where countless visitors have built small pyramids of pebbles. Only a few monuments have been preserved on the site, but in the early 20th century it was occupied by numerous residential buildings, which were demolished after the Second World War, enabling large-scale restoration work to be carried out in the 1990s. |
| Panoramic view (2) | |
| We are here on the Sant'Elia bastion, to the south-west of the Fortezza, which offers a superb view of the sea and the western part of the city thanks to its slightly elevated position. It can be reached via a ramp on our right or by walking along the ramparts on our left. Behind us, the view of the vast expanse of the fortress is nothing out of the ordinary, but it is a spot where visitors flock to take photographs of the city. |
| Rimondi Fountain | |
| Situated in the heart of the old town, this Venetian fountain was built in 1629. Four Corinthian-style columns support three lion heads from which the fountain’s water gushes forth. Originally, the fountain was sheltered by a dome, of which, unfortunately, only a few fragments remain. It is one of the liveliest and most photographed spots in Rethymnon. |
| Storerooms and water cisterns | |
| Along the northern wall of the Fortezza, the ruins of powder magazines, food stores and water cisterns still stand. If you’re feeling adventurous, a flight of steps leads down to dark and mysterious underground spaces, which you can explore. There is nothing spectacular to see apart from long vaulted chambers, but you can feel the weight of the centuries in a strange atmosphere. |
