Private Tour Pottery workshop Margarites, Arkadi monastery, Rethymno city

Detailed Itinerary

• Pick up

  Our driver will meet you at Heraklion cruise port, next to your cruise ship (or from your hotel) to start this wonderful private tour in Crete

• Village of Margarites

  We have the first visit at day by visiting Margarites village, which is famous for its traditional pottery. You can watch local potters at work and buy handmade souvenirs to take home

• Arkadi Monastery

  From Margarites, head to the Arkadi Monastery, which has been designated by UNESCO as a European Freedom Monument. This 16th-century monastery is a symbol of Cretan resistance against Ottoman rule and is known for its beautiful architecture and religious significance. Built at the 12th century, at an altitude of 500 meters, on a fertile plateau with olive groves, vineyards, pines, cypress and oak trees

• Walking tour at Rethymno

  Start your tour at the Venetian Fortezza, a 16th-century fortress that overlooks the town and the sea. Walk down the hill to the Old Town and enter through the Venetian Loggia, a beautiful building that once served as a meeting place for the Venetian nobility. Today, it houses the Town Hall. From the Loggia, head to the Rimondi Fountain, a 16th-century fountain that was once the main source of water for the town. Stroll at the picturesque streets lined with small shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, and local products. Continue to the Nerantze Mosque, which was built by the Ottomans in the 17th century and is now used as an art gallery. Admire the Venetian and Ottoman-era buildings, which are adorned with colourful facades, wooden balconies, and ornate doors.