After an early breakfast one morning we caught the local bus into the nearby city of Rethymno so that we could look around before the heat of the day.
While the others sat for a drink in a café at the Venetian harbour I had a wander around.
Another beautiful day promised and nothing much was stirring.
We walked the rather precarious path to the mouth of the harbour and gazed out to sea.
Then we strolled round the headland and made our way up to the Fortezza fortress,
situated in defensive position on a hill overlooking the city and the coast. It was built in the 16th century by the Venetians to protect its citizens from Ottoman invasions. This is the main entrance, the eastern gate, facing the town and not visible from the sea. Above the entrance there is a niche which was there to hold the lion of St Mark, the Venetian symbol.
The coast road can just be seen far below.
Looking up towards the gunpowder warehouse and Sultan Ibrahim Khan Mosque.
The western auxiliary gate
The warehouse complex.
The 'mihrab', the prayer niche inside the mosque, pointing to Mecca.
It was lovely to walk around the perimeter of the fortress to enjoy a light breeze and the far-reaching views out to sea.
A hot day. Time to wander through the town to catch a bus back to the hotel.
A rather strange decoration - do the legs light up at night?
A beautiful and picturesque place! Now that I have a place name, I must ask O.K. whether he's been there.
ReplyDeleteWe have visited Crete a few times, but it is a big island and there is a great deal that we've yet to see. Lovely, friendly people wherever we go.
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