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Arkadi Monastery (15km)
The Monastery of Arkadi is a historical monastery in the area of the Community of Amnatos in the Municipality of Rethymno. The first form of the monastery is believed to have been built either during the period 961 BC to 1014 BC, or in the first years of Venetian rule.
The current katholikon (church) dates back to the 16th century and is characterized by the influence of the Renaissance. This influence is visible in the architecture, which mixes both Roman and Baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place of science and art and had a school and a rich library. On a plateau, the monastery is well fortified and surrounded by a thick and high wall.
The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of the Turkish occupation during the Cretan uprising of 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children, sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of fighting and by order of the abbot of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels with gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice rather than surrender. This act was a resounding beginning of the awakening of the peoples of Europe to the suffering of the Cretans by the conquerors. He defined and defined the courage and courage of the Greeks against injustice and the illegal occupation of their land.
