Eleytherna museum – Arkadi monastery and Rethymnon Old town

A full day experience starting from Heraklion, to explore the region of Rethymnon and its highlights, with your certified licensed guide .

We drive along the coast, towards Rethymnon, passing by Fodele, Bali, Panormo. Our first stop will be the Eleytherna museum one of the recently organized museums of Crete . We will continue for the monastery of Arkadi and we will reach eventually the city of Rethymnon, in order to walk around the old Venetian city and enjoy a coffee or lunch in a traditional taverna in the old town .This tour offers the opportunity to explore the mountainous landscape of central Crete and explore the amazing highlights of the area.

About this activity

Discover the highlights of central Crete , region of Rethymnon on a tour that covers the charming Venetian old town of Rethymno, the monastery of Arkadi and the museum of Eleytherna

Walk through the old town of Rethymno and see unique architecture and impressive Venetian buildings.
Fee time to enjoy the old town and have a coffee or lunch. Guided walking tour with a licensed guide
Visit the Arkadi monastery – enjoy a guided walking tour with your licensed guide
Enjoy a visit in the museum of Eleutherna – a hidden gem in the hills of Rethymnon

Margarites village

A short stop at Margarites village is a must – the village has a long history and tradition in pottery , the workshops are still active. We will enjoy a coffee and continue for the museum of Eleytherna.

Arkadi monastery

The monastery with Venetian baroque architecture and influence .

The current catholicon (church) dates to the 16th century and is marked by the influence of the Renaissance. This influence is visible in the architecture, which mixes both Roman and baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place for science and art and had a school and a rich library. Situated on a plateau, and surrounded by a thick and high wall, the monastery is also built like a fortress.

The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt in 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children, sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the abbot of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.

We will visit the main church of the monastery, the cells of the monks , the storage room – that was used as a gun powder magazine during the rebellion . A small museum is also part of the monastery.

Eleytherna museum

The Museum of ancient Eleutherna – Homer in Crete, the first archaeological site museum in Crete, although smaller in size, is similar to those of Olympia, Delphi, and Vergina. The museum was created to house the results of the excavations carried out for thirty years in the ancient city of Eleutherna.
The originality of this museum is that the objects of the permanent exhibition will be updated periodically with new and older finds, so that the public’s interest is continuous and relates to the discoveries and expansion of the excavation work on the site.
The exhibition will be accompanied by original and modern audiovisual exhibits.

According to tradition, the city was named after Eleutheras, one of the Kouretes, who protected the infant Zeus by beating upon their bronze shields thus preventing his father Cronus from hearing his cries and devouring him.

Current archaeological evidence shows that, Eleutherna was one of Crete’s most important ancient cities, a capital city of the Geometric and Archaic periods – that is, the periods when the Homeric poems were disseminated and recorded in writing. The city minted its own coins in the fourth century BC. In the third century BC, Eleutherna fought against Rhodes and its ally Knossos. In 220 BC, when the Cretan cities fought against each other, Eleutherna sided with Knossos, but a siege forced it to break the alliance. In 68 BC, when the Roman general Metellus attacked Eleutherna, the city managed to resist for some time because of its fortified location, but was finally conquered through treason.

A guided tour with your licensed guide is a must.

Close by the archaeological sites and cemetery of Orthi Petra ( A stop at the cemetery is not included in the tour – but if you have an interest in the burial customs we can make an extra stop / upon request .

City of Rethymno

The city of Rethymno is an ideal tourist destination for visitors who wish to explore the rich cultural heritage and the natural beauties of Crete. This well-organized and easy to walk around and explore city (because of the pedestrian streets), offers to visitors a variety of picturesque routes to follow and numerous historical monuments to visit. The old city of Rethymno still preserves its old urban structure to a great extent, formed during the Venetian period and later used by the Ottomans . We are lucky that the city was not flattened during the Second World War, although battles against the Germans took place in the area and the villages close by – as part of the Operation Mercury – The attack of the Germans to occupy Crete .

Rethymno combines rarely united features: the old town’s charm and history, with proximity to a long sandy beach (not as crowded or touristic organized as Chersonissos or Malia – many visitors from European counties choose this city because they want to feel the atmosphere, in a more relaxing way, enjoy a picturesque small town as it developed keeping the influence over the years of occupation.

Although it is the third largest town in Crete, visitors and tourists at Rethymnon don’t get the feeling that they are in a city, but more like in a large and crowded village, where locals walk around in a relaxing pace, drink their coffee by the port. Rethymnon it has a provincial air; it’s a place that moves slowly, a very romantic pace and preserves much of its Venetian and Turkish influence, formed amphitheatrically around the impressive fortress.

During our walking tour we will walk by the Venetrian Loggia , the Rimondi fountain the narrow streets will lead us to the Neratzes Mosque and we will have free time for lunch .

The total cost for the tour is 800 euro for up to 3 participants and 95 euro per extra participant ( up to 7 pax) , including the transportation with our company vehicles , all entrance fees, coffee included, all taxes and VAT24%, the services of a professional licensed guide / archaeologist during the tour in the archaeological sites.

The tour/Round trip includes

Transportation with our company vehicles
Services of a professional licensed – certified guide / archaeologist.
All taxes and VAT 24 % – Invoice will be provided – Secure transaction via bank with your credit card
Bottle of water per person
Coffee stop en route to Rethymno
All tickets to the museum of Eleytherna and Arkadi monastery are included.