Monastiraki Amariou

Monastiraki lies in the valley of Amari, on the natural route leading from northern Crete to the Messara plain. Excavations have brought to light a centre of the Old Palace period (1950-1700 B.C.). which was destroyed by fire following an earthquake. The large number of storerooms and the existence of two archive rooms with many clay sealings indicate a palatial character for the site.

Other finds on the top of a neighbouring hill suggest there must have been a religious centre in the area, as well.
The site was first excavated during the Second World War by the German Archaeological Institute under the direction of E. Kirsten.

In 1980 the Department of Archaeology and Art History of the University of Crete began systematic excavations, which are still in progress. In the years 1982-84 the excavations were conducted by the University of Crete in collaboration with the University of Naples.

Monastery of Preveli

It is a stauropegian monastery founded probably in the 16th century. It played an important part during the Cretan revolutions and particularly during the revolution of 1866, when the rebels took refuge there. It was an extremely wealthy monastery with a large real estate property. In 1831, the first Greek School was founded there.

The Katholicon is a two-aisled church dedicated to St John the Theologian and the Annunciation of the Virgin. It was built in 1836 but has been repaired many times during the following years.

Inside the monastery, there are cells, the old abbot' s quarters that was transformed to a guest-house, the new abbot' s quarters of 1900 as well as a library.

The restoration and consolidation works were carried out by the 13th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.

Monastery of Arkadi

The actual Katholicon of this monastery was built in 1587, possibly over an earlier church of the 14th century. It was an extremely wealthy Monastery, where there was a center of copying greek manuscripts and a workshop of church embroideries. The Monastery was of great strategic importance and it was burnt to the ground in 1866 during the Cretan revolution against the Turks.

The Monastery is surrounded by a defensive precinct with two main entrances and one side one. The cells communicate with the yard through a portico. There are also a two storeyed guest-house, a refectory, store-houses, a cellar a cook-house, and an oven. The Katholicon is a two-aisled church dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour and to the Saints Constantine and Helen. Inside the Monastery there are also an ossuary and stables.

Today the Monastery houses a museum and receives many visitors.

Apodoulou

Near the village of Apodoulou of present day, 54 km from Rethymno and at the place of Tournes, remains of a proto-palatial centre have been discovered. Sp. Marinatos carried out initial research in 1934. This was followed by research by the German Archaeological Institute during World War II, and since 1985 systematic excavations have been carried out under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Culture in co-operation with the University of Naples. The archaeological site of Apodoulou must have been of particular importance during ancient times, because it controlled the passage to the Messara plain. Three sets of buildings have been found as well as vaulted tombs, one of which includes a corridor 7 m long and three sarcophagi.

Late Minoan Cemetery of Armeni

10 km south of the town of Rethymno the famous cemetery of Armeni was discovered, situated near to the village of the same name in a beautiful oak forest, and it dates back to the Late Minoan period (13th / 12th century BC). During the systematic excavation, which was started in 1969, more than 220 tombs were discovered, and excavation has been continued since then with the aim of finding the city belonging to this place. The cemetery consists of burial chambers, which were hewn into the soft natural rock, and which lie from east to west. Long and narrow, hewn corridors lead into the interior of the tombs. Among the tombs discovered up until now only one has been vaulted and built from stone. As well as pottery it contained weapons, beads and a periapt displaying an inscription in Linear A script.

Sivrytos

33 km south east of Rethymno the village of Thronos is situated, where at the point of 'Kefala' archaeological research brought to light the remains of the ancient city of Sivrytos.
Coins dating back to the period of the ancient city have been discovered during excavation works and are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno.

SOURCE: Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Official Site of the Tourism Promotion Committee of Rethymno Prefecture