The Prefecture of Rethimno covers the central part of Crete island its extent is 1496 square kilometer, the coast line 200 km approximately, and it counts circa 82.000 permanent residents. It is divided in three provinces: Rethymnis, Agiou Vasiliou and Milopotamou. Rethimno is the capital city of the prefecture. The major part of Rethimno's territory is mountainous, with the mountain Idi, or Psiloritis (meaning "high mountain") to be the highest mountain (2.456metres), at the rest there are small plains and valleys very fertile, and well watered, due to the various small rivers and brooks flowing through them, which, as occurs in Chania, do have enough water even in summer.
Rethimno area has a magnificent natural environment, apart from the small rivers and brooks here and there, here too, there are lakes and lagoons, caves and rocks, as well as several gorges both at the North and at the South.
The most famous area of natural beauty is the Preveli lagoon, at the south of Rethimno.

Rethimno is a place full of contrasts, with a long history going back to the Neolithic times, with nature left intact in many areas, with a vivid living tradition. The old town of Rethimno with the Renaissance style centre, the Fortetza, the museums and the endless beach will certainly charm you. And what to recommend about the rest of the prefecture? The scenic villages, the caves, the beaches, or the mountains? And what to say about the people? They will be your friends, they will offer you a "tsikoudia" and may be they will receive you at their homes.
As in the whole Crete island, visiting the villages of the inland is a magic experience, both for the landscape and for their character: most of them are not affected by tourism, they maintain their traditional features in what concerns the architecture and their residents proudly maintain their traditional way of life. It is in those villages that the visitor can understand the special characteristics of the Cretan people, experience the hospitality and taste and smell the spirit of the area. Moreover, in the villages of Rethimno prefecture, the visitor can attend a wide range of cultural activities (as the "Yakinthia" in Anoghia), where tradition is blended with everyday life, forming the actual face of culture.

Rethimno prefecture has coasts at the North, in the Aegean Sea and at the South, in the Libyan Sea. Most of the beaches at the North and West are sandy, with no considerable protected bays. As a result, they are open to the northern winds and much affected by the "meltemia"(northern summer winds) during July and August.
The southern coasts are open to the South, with no bays, apart from that of Plakias, relatively protected. Several of them sandy and some of them pebbly, the beaches have crystal clear blue water and very interesting seabed, ideal for snorkelling and underwater activities. Swimming starts earlier in the south, where the weather is a bit warmer.
The territory of Rethimno is crossed, from West to East, by the last part of the European path E4, which passes through the whole of Europe and Greece and ends up at Crete, in the island the path starts from Kissamos (Kastelli) and ends up at Siteia in the Eastern part. Rethimno is a wealthy place. Along with the traditional agricultural and cattle breeding activities, which used to be the main occupations of the locals in the past, tourism is today one of the main economic resources. Rethimno area attracts a lot of visitors all year round, both Greeks, for business or vacation, and from abroad. The University is an additional factor of prosperity for the prefecture in general and the city of Rethimno in particular.

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