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Rethymno Ρέθυμνο | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
 View of Rethymno with the Venetian Fortezza fortress | |
 | |
  Rethymno | |
| Coordinates:35°22′08″N24°28′26″E / 35.36889°N 24.47389°E /35.36889; 24.47389 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Crete |
| Regional unit | Rethymno |
| Municipality | Rethymno |
| Area | |
| • Municipal unit | 126.5 km2 (48.8 sq mi) |
| • Community | 26.777 km2 (10.339 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 17 m (56 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 38,759 |
| • Municipal unit density | 306.4/km2 (793.6/sq mi) |
| • Community | 35,763 |
| • Community density | 1,335.6/km2 (3,459.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 741 00 |
| Area code | 28310 |
| Vehicle registration | ΡΕ |
| Website | www.rethymno.gr |
Rethymnon (Greek:Ρέθυμνο[ˈreθimno],Italian:Retimo, formerly alsoRettimo orRetimno,Latin:Civitas Rethymnæ,Turkish:Resmo) is a city inGreece on the island ofCrete. It is the capital ofRethymno regional unit, and has a population of more than 35,000 inhabitants (nearly 40,000 for the municipal unit). It is believed to have been built on the site of the earlier city ofRhithymna.
Rethymno is believed to have been built on the site of the earlier city ofRhithymna.[2][3] Some sources mention a city calledArsinoe which some scholars have proposed stood at the same site.[4][5][6]
Rethymno began a period of growth when theVenetian conquerors of the island decided to establish an intermediate commercial station betweenHeraklion andChania, acquiring its ownbishop and nobility in the process. Today's old town (palia poli) was almost entirely built by theRepublic of Venice. It is one of the best-preserved old towns in Crete.
From circa 1250 the city was the seat of the LatinDiocese of Retimo, which was renamed Retimo–Ario after the absorption in 1551 of the Diocese of Ario.
The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases,Byzantine remains, the small Venetian harbour and narrow streets. The VenetianLoggia houses the information office of theMinistry of Culture and Sports. A Wine Festival is held there annually at the beginning of July. Another festival, in memory of the destruction of theArkadi Monastery, is held on 7–8 November.
The city's Venetian-era citadel, theFortezza of Rethymno, is one of the best-preserved castles in Crete. Other monuments include theNeradje Mosque (the Municipal Odeon arts centre), the Great Gate (Μεγάλη Πόρτα or "Porta Guora"), the Piazza Rimondi and the Loggia.
The town was captured by theOttoman Empire in 1646 during theCretan War (1645–69) and they ruled it for almost three centuries. The town, calledResmo in Turkish, was the centre of asanjak (administrative part of a province) during Ottoman rule.
During theBattle of Crete (20–30 May 1941), theBattle of Rethymno was fought betweenGermanparatroopers and combined forces of theSecond Australian Imperial Force and theHellenic Army. Although initially unsuccessful, eventually the Germans won the battle after receiving reinforcements airlifted toMaleme in the northwestern part of the island.
Today the city's main source of income is tourism, with many new facilities having been built in the past 20 years. Agriculture is also notable, especiallyolive oil and other Mediterranean products.
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The municipality of Rethymno was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[7]
| Settlements | 1940 | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rethymno (city) | 8,648 | 11,057 | 14,999 | 14,969 | 17,136 | 23,355 | 28,987 | 32,468 |
| Agia Eirini | 96 | 88 | 63 | 47 | 34 | 63 | 49 | 75 |
| Agios Markos | - | - | - | - | 18 | 65 | - | - |
| Anogeia | 50 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 89 | 131 |
| Gallos | 315 | 274 | 252 | 180 | 146 | 205 | 430 | 922 |
| Giannoudi | 92 | 82 | 78 | 30 | 22 | 23 | 96 | 116 |
| Kastellakia | - | 45 | 27 | 36 | 105 | - | - | - |
| Koumpes | - | 106 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Metochi Albani | 67 | 79 | 31 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Megalo Metochi (Risvan) | - | 33 | 25 | - | 6 | 28 | 29 | 46 |
| Mikro Metochi | - | - | - | - | 29 | 91 | 188 | 149 |
| Misiria | 294 | 212 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Xiro Chorio | 214 | 219 | 132 | 90 | - | 114 | 131 | 221 |
| Perivolia | 853 | 805 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Platanes | 343 | 488 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tria Monastiria | - | - | - | - | 18 | 105 | 107 | 172 |
| Total | 10,972 | 13,513 | 15,632 | 15,373 | 18,190 | 24,064 | 31,687 | 34,300 |
Rethymno is home to the following museums:
TheTreasure Hunt of Rethymno is a game played by local people and takes place two weeks beforeCarnival.[9]
Pandelis Prevelakis wroteΤο χρονικό μιας πολιτείας (1937),The Chronicle of a Town, a nostalgic depiction of Rethymno from the period of theCretan State (1898) to theexpulsion of theCretan Turks (1924).
Rethymno hosted the international athletics meeting known asVardinogianneia. The athletics meeting stopped in 2012 due to Greek financial crisis.[10] Rethymno has many sport clubs with presence in Panhellenic championships of various sports. Below is alist of the main sport clubs of Rethymno.
| Sport clubs based in Rethymno | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Founded | Sports | Achievements |
| Neos Asteras Rethymno F.C. | 1945 | Football | Earlier presence inGamma Ethniki |
| NO Rethymnou | 1963 | Water Polo | Presence in A1 Ethniki women |
| EA Rethymniakou | 1983 | Football,Track and Field | Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki |
| Rethymno B.C. | 1986 | Basketball | Presence in A1 Ethniki |
| OPE Rethymnou | 1992 | Volleyball | Presence in A1 Ethniki women |
In the Rethymno Campus of the University of Crete are located the School of Philosophy, the School of Education, the School ofSocial,Economics andPolitical Sciences, and the University Library of theUniversity of Crete. On a yearly basis, there are about 8.000 students studying at "Galos" where the Campus and the Academic Institute of Mediterranean Studies are located. Also in Rethymnon is located the School of Music and Optoacoustic Technologies of theHellenic Mediterranean University.[11] Finally, in Rethymno, Tria Monastiria area is located the international researchInstitute of Plasma Physics and Laser[12] of theHellenic Mediterranean University which is the access point of the National Research FacilityHELLAS-CH .
| Climate data for Rethymno, Greece | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55 (13) | 55 (13) | 59 (15) | 64 (18) | 73 (23) | 82 (28) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 81 (27) | 72 (22) | 64 (18) | 57 (14) | 69.5 (20.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 45 (7) | 45 (7) | 46 (8) | 52 (11) | 57 (14) | 64 (18) | 70 (21) | 70 (21) | 64 (18) | 59 (15) | 54 (12) | 48 (9) | 56.166 (13.43) |
| Source: <Holiday Weather >"Rethymnon, Greece - Average Annual Weather - Holiday Weather".Rethymnon: Annual Weather Averages. Holiday Weather. 2016. Retrieved12 September 2016. | |||||||||||||
Rethymno istwinned with :
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Rethymno travel guide from WikivoyageAdministrative division of theCrete Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofChania |  | |
| Regional unit ofHeraklion | ||
| Regional unit ofLasithi | ||
| Regional unit ofRethymno | ||
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