2days Rethymno and Central Crete Tour: From Ancient Ruins to Traditional Villages

Itinerary: 

Day 1

• Meet with your guide at the terminal of Cretan Spiti Travel at Eleftherias Square in front of Astoria Capsis Hotel at 08.30, we drive to Gortyna, the Roman capital of Crete and Cyrenaica which was first inhabited around 3200 BC.
• After the visit of Gortyna, we drive through the valley of Mesara to visit the archaeological site of Phaistos and its palace, the most important center of the Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful city in southern Crete.
• After our visit to Phaistos, we drive to Matala where you will enjoy some free time to swim in the crystal clear waters and have lunch.
• Finally, we arrive at Zaros, an attractive, refreshingly unspoiled village famous for its spring water, which is now bottled and sold all over Greece, and an ideal base for walkers to explore the beautiful nature. Zaros also has some fine Byzantine monasteries, and delicious farm-raised trout served up in tavernas around town and on emerald-green Lake Votomos which will be visited. Drop off at the hotel at 16:00. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

• Breakfast at the Hotel in Zaros. At approximately 09.30 we start our drive to the traditional Cretan village of Vatos, a small village hidden in the green where we find all the elements of its tradition. Walking down the alleys we visit the old school and its fountain as well as the museum with the farming tools and utensils of earlier times. We finish at a cauldron of the village where you make Raki (the famous alcoholic beverage of Crete).
• Spili is our next stop known for its Venetian snake with a long line of 25 stone lion heads that run cool water from their mouths. Optional lunch at Spili.
• Then we visit Lampini, the church, and the museum of Panagia. The church is inscribed with a cupola and depicts frescoes of the 12th and 14th centuries. It was an Episcopal church since the village of Lampini once accommodated the seat of the famous Episcopate of Lampis, which had existed since 431. Drive to the Gorge of St. Antonios, and walk through a very nice hiking trail in the gorge with super green and lush surroundings up to the cave of St. Antonios. Drop off at the hotel in Rethymno at 16:30. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

• Breakfast at the Hotel in Rethymno. At approximately 09.30 we start our tour driving to our first stop Margarites, a small traditional village located in the prefecture of Rethymno. The village is known for its unique pottery tradition, its picturesque alleys, and its well-preserved architecture.
• Afterwards, we reach the Arkadi Monastery, which constitutes a landmark of architecture and civilization considering the magnificent facade of the church, the highly developed spiritual tradition as well as the flourishing development of fine arts. However, the holocaust, which took place in 1866, gave the monastery an eminent place in history, elevating it to an eternal symbol of freedom and heroism, recognized worldwide.
• Rethymno is our last stop, one of the best preserved medieval towns in Greece with many intact historical buildings and it’s one of the most beautiful towns in Crete. We will visit the picturesque old town of Rethymno and have lunch (optional). At the end, we will visit the Venetian stronghold of Fortezza which is built on top of a low hill above Rethymno Town. The hill is known as Paleokastro, which means old castle in Greek and suggests the existence of an older structure in that place. This huge fortress, with its turbulent history, was built between 1540 and 1570 by the Venetian maritime power as a bulwark against Turkish pirates. More than 100,000 Cretans were on compulsory labor and over 40,000 pack animals were used in the construction of this mighty fortress. However, the Fortezza was conquered by the Turks in 1646. After many upheavals during the next three centuries, only the outer fortifications of the Fortezza remain intact and few buildings are still under restoration. The Fortezza is visible from every part of the town and provides the visitor with a panoramic view of Rethymno town. The visitors enter from the East Gate through an impressive archway.
• After the visit, we continue driving across the north side of the island along the Cretan Sea crossing the coastal villages of Bali, Fodele, and Agia Pelagia, reaching the city of Heraklion, and ending our tour at the terminal in front of Astoria Capsis Hotel at 18:00.

Important Information:

• Every Tuesday - Duration: 3 days & 2 nights.
• Reservations can be made up to 7 days before the activity date.