Rethymno Secret Treasure

A museum full of exhibits that date back as far as five thousand years gives some indication of the heritage of this place.

You may also be surprised to discover that this small town of 20,000 inhabitants has a large selection of luxury hotels and is rated as one of the best luxury resorts on Crete.

By now you can probably guess that Greece has had some relationship with this place and if you finally were told that Rethymno, or Rethymnon, was located on the northern coast of the largest Greek Island, then you would realise that this place on the island of Crete.

Facilities for local residents have not been neglected in Rethymno even though the population during the summer is made up largely of visitors. The local authorities have provided a spectacualr outdoor swimming pool and a sports stadium close by which is used primarily for football games.

Early in the year the carnival of Rethymno runs for a whole month with a seemingly endless series of events that include dancing and musical performances, treasure hunts, fancy dress balls, parades and parties. For anyone hoping to spend a quiet February in the town the festivities will come as a surprise, albeit a welcome one. In fact it is the main fancy dress parade of this Carnival that attracts the most attention. A quick check on the internet will reveal the extraordinary style of the costumes. The Rethymno Carnival dates back almost 100 years now and it grows in stature and size every year. The concept of the carnival at the moment is based on teams or groups of people, who work together on treasure hunts, create their own parade themes and host their own parties, to which they invite other carnival participants.

Unusually, Graffiti art is also celebrated during the carnival and artists from all over Greece arrive to showcase their talents. The big parade on Sunday is a spectacular affair and the parties that follow go on well into the night.

For tourists Rethymno boasts an unusual combination of attractions that few other places can hope to match. It is certainly one of the most enchanting towns in Crete, perhaps in this whole section of the Mediterranean, with its "olde worlde" town streets, picturesque harbour and sandy beach stretching away from town.

Ferries from the other Greek islands dock in Rethymno but most are too big to enter the shallow town harbour, which appears to be reserved for smaller craft and fishing boats. An almost endless array of bars, cafes and restaurants surround the harbour itself, providing enough of a selection for even the most discerning diners. By evening the whole place is lit up by lights bringing a fantastic atmosphere to the waterfront area.

If the beach in Rethymno is not enough, then there is a selection of other beaches quite nearby. Twenty kilometres to the east is Bali beach. Actually Bali was once a small fishing village until tourism came along. Around this stretch of coastline are several small coves and inlets, some with sandy beaches, other rocky outcrops. The attraction of all these areas brings plenty of people here during the summer and some of the smaller beaches can get crowded.

On the other side of the island, 35 kilometres south of Rethymnon is the small fishing village of Agia Galini. It is described in many guide books as a friendly harbour village in a peaceful, picturesque, but don't be fooled. If you come here during the peak season it a lively, fun place, with plenty going on and with plenty of people enjoying themselves. The beach is great, that's why it's usually busy and the small harbour area is mainly bars and restaurants. The backdrop of the mountains to the north, make this an attractive place though and short stay here, combined with a day on the beach and a boat trip along the coastline is well worth making.