Rethymnon
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Rethymno Ρέθυμνο |
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View of Rethymno
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 Rethymno
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Location within the region
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| Coordinates: 35°22′N 24°28′E / 35.367°N 24.467°ECoordinates: 35°22′N 24°28′E / 35.367°N 24.467°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Crete |
| Regional unit | Rethymno |
| Municipality | Rethymno |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Giorgos Marinakis (PASOK) |
| • Municipal unit | 126.5 km2 (48.8 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipal unit | 37,462 |
| • Municipal unit density | 300/km2 (770/sq mi) |
| Community | |
| • Population | 34,300 (2011) |
| • Area (km2) | 26.777 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 741 00 |
| Area code(s) | 28310 |
| Vehicle registration | ΡΕ |
| Website | www.rethymno.gr |
Rethymno (Greek: Ρέθυμνο, [ˈreθimno], also Rethimno, Rethymnon, Réthymnon, and Rhíthymnos) is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of Rethymno regional unit on the island of Crete, a former Latin Catholic bishopric as Retimo(–Ario) and former Latin titular see.
Rethymno was originally built during the Minoan civilization (ancient Rhithymna and Arsinoe). The city was prominent enough to mint its own coins and maintain urban growth. One of these coins is today depicted as the crest of the town: two dolphins in a circle.
This region as a whole is rich with ancient history, most notably through the Minoan civilisation centred at Kydonia east of Rethymno. Rethymno itself began a period of growth when the Venetian conquerors of the island decided to put an intermediate commercial station between Heraklion and Chania, acquiring its own bishop and nobility in the process. Today's old town (palia poli) is almost entirely built by the Republic of Venice. It is one of the best-preserved old towns in Crete.
From circa 1250 the city was the see of the Latin Diocese of Retimo, which was renamed Retimo–Ario after the absorption in 1551 of the Diocese of Ario and as suppressed only after the Turkish conquest.
The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, the small Venetian harbour and narrow streets. The Venetian Loggia houses the information office of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. A Wine Festival is held there annually at the beginning of July. Another festival, in memory of the destruction of the Arkadi Monastery, is held on 7–8 November.
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Wikipedia