Arkadi Monastery
Μονή Αρκαδίου
A symbol of Crete's fight for independence. In 1866, the besieged defenders and refugees blew up the gunpowder store and died, and the church facade is a masterpiece of Venetian Baroque.
The main church of Arkadi Monastery was built in 1587, and its facade blends Renaissance and Baroque elements. The building once appeared on the 100-drachma Greek banknote. In 1866, during the Ottoman siege, nearly a thousand Cretans blew up the gunpowder store, dying alongside their enemies. The gunpowder store ruins and a memorial museum remain today. The entrance fee is about €5, and visitors must cover their shoulders and knees. It is about 23 km from Rethymno and about 1.5 hours' drive from Chania, so it can be visited on the same day as the Rethymno old town.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–19:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Ancient Eleutherna & Museum
- Margarites
- Melidoni Cave
- Rethymno Beach
- Venetian Harbour & Lighthouse of Rethymno
- Neratze Mosque
- Rimondi Fountain
- Rethymno Old Town