Cretan History starts at 6000 BC, when the island was first inhabited. The best known period is the Bronze Age (2600-1100 BC), the period of the Minoan Civilization. During that period Cretans colonized Cyclades Islands and in Crete the palaces of Knossos, Phaestos and Zakros were built.
While Egyptians were afraid of the "Big Blue", Minoan ships used to travel and trade all around Mediterranean Sea. The cultural influence of the various nations Cretans came in contact with, gave birth to this civilization that we still admire and which is considered to be the first high-level civilization in Europe.
There is a very good description of Cretan people by the Frankish Bishop of Athens, L.Petit: «They are a truly admirable people who learnt to hold on stubbornly throughout the tumultuous events of forty centuries to their native character and local speech. Courage, mingled with an independent spirit that is often close to downright disobedience, a lively wit, vivid imagination, and a language full of images, spontaneous and unaffected, love for every kind of adventure, an indefatigable urge for freedom, that goes hand in hand with an insatiable desire for bravado... A fertile land that has always given birth to the worthiest of men both in Church and State, in science and letters, in the economy and in war..." (From: "History of Crete", Theoharis Detorakis)
Crete is 260 km long and 60 km at it's widest point. It is an island full of contrasts. The north coast is the main tourist area of Crete and all big cities are located there:

Welcome to the city of Rethymnon, a place blessed with beauty, embraced by breathtaking mountains and the deep blue of the Mediterranean, decorated with renaissance colors and inhabited by people known for their hospitality, honoring their ancestors and traditions. The layout of Rethymnon is directly linked to the sea, with the main Venetian street, the Ruga Maistra (today's coastal Venizelou Avenue) running parallel to the sea. The opposite is true of Heraklion and Chania, where the town is closed to the sea for reasons of defence and the main street is at right angles to the coast.

The Venetian harbour

Rethymno's harbour area is a fine place for a coffee at one of the cafes and perhaps you will chance to eat there, just for the atmosphere. Look out from the harbour edge at the state of the buildings and seeing the abuse of this historic area you may be disappointed - perhaps you should suggest a renovation or two!
But not to worry, there is much else to see and enjoy, no shortage of other places of great character to stroll, stop in cafes, eat and generally enjoy the enormous amount Rethymno offers you.

The Fortress dominates the city and makes Rethymno very photogenic, its pedestrian streets below, strewn with charming old buildings. Venetian influences abound and the minarets and domed mosques remind of the Turkish influence long gone.

Numerous shops for souvenirs (with many local products now available), trendy fashion or imaginative jewellery...the old and the modern combine to make a colourful and buzzing town.

Venturing outside the town, some days you will visit dramatic gorges, monasteries, time-trodden villages with ancient churches, the south coast Libyan sea, spectacular mountains of Psiloritis and the Lefka Ori (White Mountains).

In Theartemis Palace Hotel we are thinking about your needs and we provide you with the facilities and activities for your entertainment and fun. Some of these are:

* Spa
* Billiards
* Ping pong
* Darts
* Gym
* Massage
* Hot Tub
* Indoor Swimming Pool (seasonal)

AEGEO spa welcomes you to our hotel and invites you to a delicious journey. Offering you one free 15 minute massage of your choice, with the spa Ticket attached. Visit the spa reception to choose the massage you want and book your appointment…

If you feel like it, take a short stroll to the beach, or enjoy the sunshine with your family by the pools; your children can play protected on their own in the separate sections. Deck-chairs and umbrellas are free at the swimming pool, but with charge on the beach. Theartemis Palace hotel can provide you with beach towels upon a token payment.

Have a wonderful evening listening to live music bands and dancing by the central swimming pool 6 days a week. Last, but definitely not least, you can – and should – attend the so-called “Greek nights”, which are organised every other week. Make the best out of this unique opportunity to enjoy live Greek traditional music and dance, and have a first-hand experience of all the features that make Greek culture so special.

You can also spend your time working out in our Gym, relaxing in the Massage Studio or playing Ping Pong and Billiard for free.

Our restaurant offers you a variety of Greek and international dishes. It promises a tasty trip to Cretan diet, staple of the Mediterranean diet, to satisfy every curious and demanding palate. All this you can enjoy it in a stylish and refined environment through our rich buffets and our show cooking for any meal of the day you choose. We'll wait for you for your breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Dress Code : for dinner casual long trousers for mens