The Old Harbour, Rethymnon, Crete
Protected by its Venetian fortress, the old town of Rethymnon basks in the sun on the North West coast of Crete. I took this photograph from the harbour wall of the new port, which completely encloses the old one.
Rethymnon today is a well-established tourist resort with miles of glorious, sandy beaches and seafront hotels, bars and tavernas. At the Western end of town however lies the Old Town, with its Venetian “Fortezza” and ancient harbour.
The Venetian lighthouse is a well-known feature in the town and still stands guard over the harbour, guiding the fishing boats and pleasure craft back to port.
Each taverna tries to out-do its neighbours with displays of fresh fish and lobsters.
The harbour comes alive at night as the waterfront bustles with tourists, wanting to visit the many tavernas which serve seafood specialities, fresh-caught that day.
As the night wears on, the harbour becomes more and more enchanting.
The tavernas stay open late into the night and the harbour provides a delightful atmosphere for the high-quality, but very reasonably-priced meals they serve.
In any light, I think that the Venetian harbour in Rethymnon is one of the most beautiful and interesting places I have found in the Greek Islands and I keep going back there.
As the sun goes down, it becomes a beacon for tourists as well, captivated by the play of light on its ancient stones. This really is one of the best places I know to watch a sunset.
