| Rethymnon Prefecture tips and photos posted by real travelers and Crete Island locals. • 84 Photos
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 by Lilasel
Built during the last Venetian period, it consists of a large set of fortress-like buildings.
The history of the monastery goes back to Byzantine times, when a monk, possibly named Arkadios, founded the monastery which in turn was named after him.
Already in the 16th century the monastery played an important role in the cultural life of Crete. There were many copyist monks, a rich library and a school.
The Turkish invasion reduced its cultural activities for a while, but the Arkadi Monastery was able to recover promptly and received a unique privilege among Greek monasteries: the Turks allowed the ringing of its bells.
There's a museum in the monastery with many impressive relics of the 1866 Holocaust and some beautiful icons.
Many efforts have been made for the restoration of the monastery in the last years.
Two monks live there. Leave a Comment
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You will see many gorges in Crete, but the Kourtaliotis is easy to pass through as you can drive you car. Be sure to drive carefully and do watch for falling rocks. The Creten drivers are used to these roads and so I would advise that you give them the right of way when travelling for the first time on such roads. Don't be too shocked if some driver goes wizzing by, seemingly oblivious of the dangers of the sharp curves! Many of these drivers will have had their share of crashes...some never to return! I recently met a young man who had a very vivid scar outlining his handsome face. Of course you know the answer to the question..he had driven over the side of a cliff one dark, drunken night and only his youth and good health had saved him! He told me that it took him 4 hours to drag himself up to the top of the road where if he had not managed, for sure he would not have been found before he had died! What a crazy way to live. I asked him if he drove any differently after his brush with death and his answer was typical of many young greek men; 'No, of course not!' Leave a Comment Address: Between Rethymnon and Plakias
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This is an extremely scenic and nice place for a walk. Take a picnic and have a little lunch next to the waterfalls. Don't forget your camera. Do wear sturdy shoes. Take your time and enjoy nature. Light a candle for your loved ones and peace in the small church, Agios Nikolas, the patron saint of all sailors:):)( which is why there are so many churches named Agios Nikolas in Greece...as it is a well known fact that Greece is a nation of seafarers! Leave a Comment Directions: Between Rethymnon and Plakias
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 Sign for Agios Nikolas Church
in the Gorge by janetanne, 1 more photos
You trip will begin from the centre of Rethymnon, where you must ask any local where the road to Plakias is. It's quite simple, but much easier to show you when you are there than trying to describe the way from these pages. Don't worry though, every person from Rethymnon can show you the way and most everyone speaks English!
Once you are on the road, just keep driving south and follow the signs to Plakias or Preveli. You will certainly want to stop along the way and take photos. At one point, there is a sign indicating that there is a church, Agious Nikolas, down some stone steps!
Get out of your car, be sure you wearing good walking shoes, and venture down those steps. Just keep going! It may seem a long way at first, but there is a lovely little church at the end of the steps. Not only a church, but the beginning of a fantastic river that is surging with such power from the rocks and cascading down waterfalls through green foliage. Absolutely worth the walk both down and up! Leave a Comment Directions: Between Rethymnon and Plakias
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 Kastellos beach, near Rodakino by Spincat
On the south coast of Rethymnon province there are the tiny vollages of Ano and Kato Rodakino that hang over a sparking turquoise sea.
You can drive there along scary hairpin bends, or, in summer, you can get the bus that runs from Rethymnon and stops at Rodakino. (See my transport tip).
About 1.5 to 2 kilometres below Rodakino are two small settlements. Take the road that is marked to Koraka from what is loosely described as the main road. It runs steeply down hill for just over a kilometre and at the bottom is a collection of rooms, together with a great taverna, a surprisingly glitzy beach bar and a little church. This is Koraka beach.
The beach is said to be where the 2nd World War German General Kriepe was taken off the island after he had been kidnapped - the 'Ill met by Moonlight' story.
There are some rooms places here but I suggest turning right at the bottom of the hill (away from Koraka settlement) and driving along the sea for another kilometre. You'll come to another small collection fo rooms and the Polyrizos hotel.
Drive as far as you can (before the road turns up to the right and Polyrizos Hotell) and come to a stop under a tamerisk tree - you are now outside Ana and Nikos tarverna. This is an excellent place to stop for lunch - even better an excellent place to stay with a long view towards Plakias from the front-facing rooms. 9See my accommodation tip.)
The real charm of this place lies a little further on - a wonderful walk through strange rock formations (like a mini gorge) along the glittering sea to a string of almost totally deserted beaches. The first one is locally known as Kastellos beach, and we were told that the BBc had used it as a settign for a survival programme.
You'll see fascinating plants of the 'marquis' terrain and will meet the local goats! It can be a bit of a steep scramble in places - where good shoes. Walk to the first beach takes about 20- 30 minutes . Leave a Comment
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 Melidonia Cave by nickandchris
Pretty impressive with varios chambers and plenty of stalactites and mites. Reputedly the home to the mythical bronze giant Talos but more recently famous for the murdering of over 300 locals by the Turks (suprise suprise!) in 1824. The villagers had retreated to the cave whilst under attack from the Turks and ended up dying there. The Turks asphyxiated them by smoking them to death after firstly unsuccesfully trying to block the airway into the cave. The Greeks bodies remained where they died, in their natural tomb, for 10 years before they were discovered and nowadays a shrine at the cave reminds those who visit of the atrocity.
We were quite moved by all this. There was excavating going on while we were there. The friendly caretaker showed us where we could wash our hands and shoes and very kindly took a photo of us but unfortunately it turned out blurred! Leave a Comment Address: Near MelidoniDirections: About 5km. from Perama, away from the north coast, between Iraklion and Rethymnon.
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Stayed here for a few days in 1984 and returned briefly in 1992. Thoroughly enjoyed the place.
A large seaside village (one time fishing village) with a long shingly-sandy beach. In 1984 Plakias was buzzing with young people, mainly backpackers, although it was still in it's infancy as a tourist resort. Nowadays, a few package holiday companies make the journey south over the mountains. Lots of eating and drinking places and plenty of accommodation spread about the area. There is also a YHA. and campsite. There must be one of those laws forbidding building alongside the beach as I don't think many buildings have sprung up in the years that have passed. Building seems to have been restricted to the valley and hills behind.
It's a great area for walking, whether it's in to the hills rising up behind or along coastal tracks to more superb coves and beaches, there's plenty of scope. Pretty coves are scattered around the headland with more further east and at least one travelling westwards. Spoilt for choice.
Way above Plakias, at Mirthios, you can have a drink at a taverna perched on the mountainside and enjoy spectacular views of the sun going down over the sea. A wondrous sight. Leave a Comment Address: Plakias, CreteDirections: Southern Crete, east of Frangokastello. From Rethymnon, take the road south through the Kourtalios Gorge to Asomatos and follow signs for Plakias.
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In 1984 we stayed in Bali when it was a small, pretty fishing village with some good, empty beaches on the approach road. We returned on a later holiday and were absolutely horrified at what the place had turned into. Hotels and rooms everywhere, fancy bars and restaurants, posh clubs, water sports on all the beaches. There wasn't a scrap of land without a building on it, now spread out around all the bays and over the cliffs, or so it seemed. It all appeared extremely up-market and very unGreek. Needless to say, we did an about turn and headed off elsewhere.
It is now well and truly on the beaten track with English package holidays resident and goodness knows, probably every nationality under the sun is here. It could well be your cup of tea. The main village beach is exremely small but there are a few to choose from.
We liked the place when we stayed all those years ago, there was still a reasonably compact, village feel to it and the tavernas above the harbour were a good place to eat with excellent views over the water. Not for us any more. Leave a Comment Address: BaliDirections: North Crete, between Iraklion and Rethymnon, just off the National Highway.
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Apart from Plakias's huge main beach there are some pretty coves around the headland to the east and a lovely beach to the west. Some of the coves in 1984 were only accessible on foot or motorbike but I daresay someone has paved the way by now.
The beach to the west was empty apart from a couple of shepherds and their sheep.
Today I don't suppose we would even recognise these places. Leave a Comment Address: PlakiasDirections: To the east end of the main beach. I remember we had to go inland to get to these beaches over the headland.
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IT is a great road trip to take from Chania or Rethymno.
Road to Argiroupolis is quite scenic and narrow, so you get to slow down and enjoy Crete.
Argiroupolis is still close to the beach (via Episkopi town) so you can spend half day on the beach and half day in Argiroupolis.
We had no problem finding the place, however we had to look at the map a lot, as there is not too many signs.
Argiroupolis is divided into two parts Argiroupolis with old building and quite charming atmosphere and the lower village with about 5 tavernas and many waterfalls incorporated into tavernas decor.
It is nice first to stroll through the village and admire its beauty and then either descend on long staircase or drive around to the lower part of the village. (Remember, if you take a staircase, you have to climb back up :-)
Food was good in the taverna we went to however it was a bit touristy. You just have to take a look at all of them and pick the one that looks good. Address: ArgiroupolisDirections: Argiroupolis is south of Episkopi, on the road to Asigonia.
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