Arkadi Monastery, Chania and Rethymnon
When: Year round, including national celebrations and Greek official holidays.
Languages: Czech, Dutch, English, French, Italian, Greek, German, Russian, Spanish, Polish, Serbian, Slovak, Finnish, Swedish, Turkish,
Duration: 9 – 10 hours
Meeting Point: Heraklion: Liberty Square; or, upon request, pick up and drop off at your hotel.
Dress Code: Casual; for the visit to Arkadi, shoulders must be covered as well as legs above the knees. Please respect the atmosphere of the monastery.
Including: Transportation back and forth from Heraklion; full services of an officially qualified tourist guide; lunch; entrance fees and bottled water.
Food: Lunch
Walking difficulty: Moderate: flat surfaces and pathways.
Rest rooms/WC: Yes
This tour starts from Heraklion and combines a relaxed scenic drive along the northern coast with visits at an historical monastery as well as the two most picturesque towns on the island. All Greeks regard Arkadi Monastery as a bulwark and symbol of freedom. The site of the 1866 battle between Cretans and Ottoman Turks, the monastery was destroyed and only a few its occupants escaped the massacre. But the brave and stubborn resistance exhibited by the martyrs of Arkadi, including the abbot of the monastery, proved the stimulus for widespread resistance throughout the island that attracted the attention of several foreign countries and finally resulted in the liberation of Crete.
Many consider Chania the most beautiful city on Crete. We will stroll along the harbor area of the old port, admire its Venetian and Ottoman architecture, with its Naval Museum housed in the Venetian ship-sheds, wander through the narrow back streets, visit the famous Agora and leather market, and enjoy lunch by the blue waters of the Aegean. Our last stop is Rethymnon, a well-known university town. The old Venetian area of the city features a harbor area as well as an impressive fortress; its narrow alleys sponsor a wide variety of unique shops and skilled artists who display their skills on street corners. Our stop here marks the perfect time for a delicious Rethimno ice cream or a refreshing freddo by the old port. Return to Heraklion.
This tour starts from Heraklion and combines a relaxed scenic drive along the northern coast with visits at an historical monastery as well as the two most picturesque towns on the island. All Greeks regard Arkadi Monastery as a bulwark and symbol of freedom. The site of the 1866 battle between Cretans and Ottoman Turks, the monastery was destroyed and only a few its occupants escaped the massacre. But the brave and stubborn resistance exhibited by the martyrs of Arkadi, including the abbot of the monastery, proved the stimulus for widespread resistance throughout the island that attracted the attention of several foreign countries and finally resulted in the liberation of Crete.
Many consider Chania the most beautiful city on Crete. We will stroll along the harbor area of the old port, admire its Venetian and Ottoman architecture, with its Naval Museum housed in the Venetian ship-sheds, wander through the narrow back streets, visit the famous Agora and leather market, and enjoy lunch by the blue waters of the Aegean. Our last stop is Rethymnon, a well-known university town. The old Venetian area of the city features a harbor area as well as an impressive fortress; its narrow alleys sponsor a wide variety of unique shops and skilled artists who display their skills on street corners. Our stop here marks the perfect time for a delicious Rethimno ice cream or a refreshing freddo by the old port. Return to Heraklion.