The monastery of Arkadi is an Eastern Orthodox monastery 23km south-east of Rethymno town.

The current church dates back to the 16th century.
It is marked by the influence of the Renaissance, visible in its architecture.
The monastery was a place for science and art and had a school with a rich library.

The monks participated in the 1821 Revolt and played a leading part in the events.
It is then that the Monastery is ransacked and abandoned by the monks for a small period of time.

The highest offer of the Monastery is its self-sacrifice, heroism and pious altruism.
It is the Holocaust of November 8th 1866.
943 Greeks, mostly women and children, sought refuge in the monastery.
After three days of battle and under orders from the abbot of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, chosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.
It managed to shake off the traces that the enemy fiercely desired to settle and succeeded in changing the course of the Cretan history.
The monastery became a national sanctuary in honor of the Cretan resistance.
November 8 is a day of commemorative parties in Arkadi and Rethymno.
The Arkadi Monastery has a unique natural beauty, a prestigious history, numerous legends deeply rooted in the time, heirlooms and thesaurus richness.

Access from Rethymno by car

From Rethymno town, follow the new National road towards Heraklion and then turn right to the Provincial road Platanon- Monis Arkadiou.
After the villages of Tsesmes, Adele, Pigi, Loutra, Kyrianna and Amnatos you will reach the Arkadi Monastery.

Access from Rethymno by bus:

You can reach the Arkadi Monastery via daily public buses from the centre of Rethymno town.

Open from

April – May:  from 09:00 to 19:00
Juny to August: from 09:00 to 20:00
September: from 09:00 to 19:30
October: from 09:00 to 19:00
November: from 09:00 to17:00
December – March: from 09:00 to 16:00