Why You Should Visit Arkadi Monastery in Rethymnon

Complete guide to explore one of Crete’s most remarkable historic sites, the Holy Monastery of Arkadi in Rethymnon.

Arkadi Monastery, in the region of Rethymnon, is one of the must-visit monasteries on the island. The beautiful place, deeply marked by the Cretan struggle for freedom, is a great instrument for understanding Crete’s past and the islanders’s character and strong sense of identity. This post offers all the details you need to know to prepare to visit Arkadi Monastery.

General Information About Moni Arkadi

The Holy Monastery of Arkadi in Rethymno is one of the places that I strongly recommend you include in your Rethymno itinerary, even if it’s a short one. The monastery has long been integral to Crete’s history and fight for freedom, which makes it a key historical site on the island.

Map & How to Get to Arkadi Monastery from Rethymnon

Arkadi Monastery is located about 25 km south of Rethymnon town. It takes about half an hour to drive there.

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BY CAR

Those staying in or near Rethymno town should get on the Main National Road and drive in the direction of Heraklion (East) for no more than 6 km until the exit of Tsesme-Platania (or Adelianos Kampos, light blue on the map). It is also possible to exit in Stavromenos (dark blue on the map).

Once there, switch to the Old National Road and drive for 16 km more until reaching the monastery. The whole drive takes 30 to 45 minutes. A large (free) parking lot is at the monastery’s entrance.

How to Get to Moni Arkadi From Chania

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It’s very easy to reach the Arkadi Monastery in Rethymno from Chania. The trip is easy, mostly on the National Highway, and the landscape is breathtaking. Plan plenty of photography stops!

Reaching the monastery from Chania will take about one and a half hours. Remember that if you’re driving during the high season, roads might be trafficked, and you might need some extra time behind the wheel.

Besides, Arkadi is an important religious place on the island that is commonly crowded, not just in July and August.

How to Get to Arkadi Monastery From Heraklion

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The journey from Heraklion to the monastery might take approximately 80 minutes on the coastal road. If you have time to explore more, try discovering some traditional villages. Places like Anogia, Axos, or Zoniana can be good places to stop. You can learn about these and other villages here.

The Turkish Occupation of Crete and Arkadi

After any trace of Venetian occupation was erased from the island, by the end of 1648, most of Crete was under Ottoman control. Incredibly destructive deeds followed this conquest.

The Turks looted buildings, while most churches were converted into mosques. The destructive rage of the conquerors didn’t stop there, targeting roads, houses, and local businesses. Many islanders escaped, avoiding execution or imprisonment, while others fled to the mountains.

Ottoman rulers and settlers forced the shrinking Christian population into further misery and despair, imposing high taxes and confiscating lands. The locals tried to resist several times, but strict countermeasures and oppression inevitably followed.

The so-called Arkadi Holocaust (1866) started the way for the liberation of the island (1898). The tragic events that took place there called the attention of European countries, which abandoned their neutral position regarding the Ottoman occupation of the island.

The History Behind Arkadi Monastery

Arkadi Monastery was one of the many centers in Crete where locals gathered to prepare for the island’s liberation. The need for a revolution felt stronger and spread throughout the area. Arkadi was its soul and became the center of the Cretan Revolution.

The fortified monastery was surrounded by high, thick, and protective walls, making it safe to serve as a central headquarters for all revolutionary acts. A Cretan Revolutionary Committee was formed during the Ottoman occupation.

However, aware of the dangers such an organization would pose to the Ottoman rulers, the Turks demanded the removal of the revolution committee.

At the same time, the invaders launched an imposing campaign to seize the monastery, and the Ottomans vandalized the area, forcing the villagers to seek refuge behind the walls of the Monastery of Arkadi. 

A heavily armed Turkish army reached the premises and requested the abbot that Arkadi surrender.

Villagers from the area took refuge in the monastery and resisted until the last consequences. 965 men, women, and children hid inside the gunpowder warehouse. Knowing their fate would be captivity or, even worse, their reply upon the request to surrender was, We’d rather have war.

So they decided to fire the gunpowder barrels and set themselves on fire, causing the explosion and subsequent destruction of the monastery and the death of Cretans and taking hundreds of Ottoman soldiers with them to the grave. Some sources agree to highlight that the sound of the explosion was heard as far as Heraklion.

The Importance of Arkadi Monastery in Crete’s History

It’s worth remembering that even though many years still had to go by until Crete would find itself free from Ottoman rule, the massacre of Arkadi had remarkable importance and probably initiated the liberation process.

During those days, in many European countries, different movements appeared willing to support Crete in ending Turkish domination.

After years of struggle, the Ottoman forces were expelled in 1898, and the Cretan Republic was declared independent. The union of Crete with Greece became a reality in 1913.

The historical Monastery of Arkadi is the European Symbol of Freedom and one of the most sacred symbols of the struggle that Cretans endured for centuries.

Arkadi Monastery with Kids

We visited Arkadi with our kids. They were fascinated by the place’s history. They learned interesting facts about the island’s history and also enjoyed taking photos of the courtyard and exploring the ossuary and museum. 

They were impressed by the missing roof in the gunpowder rooms and -of course – by the bullet still visible inside the flesh of the tree. We visited the monastery with a guide who made the visit interesting and enjoyable for our kids.

A few organized tours include visiting the nearby village of Margarites, where kids can look at some unique pottery creations and even get their hands on clay to create unique pieces (this can be real fun!). This experience also includes visiting Melidoni Cave, one of the most impressive caves on the island. Check this tour here.

Older kids and teens might enjoy a tour that combines the visit to Arkadi with a stop in Ancient Eleftherna. Eleftherna is an interesting archaeological site near the monastery and home to a state-of-the-art museum. Check this tour here.

What to See in Arkadi Monastery, Rethymno

The walls of Arkadi enclose the monks’ cells, a well-kept garden, and the magnificent Baroque church with an impressive bell tower. Inside, there’s a collection of icons and paintings belonging to the Byzantine school and the Cretan Renaissance.

After a visit to the church, walk in the gardens, explore the museum and the refectory, and pay a visit to the gunpowder warehouse. This area lost its roof after the explosion during the holocaust events. You can also see an Ottoman bullet wedged on a tree in the courtyard.

The Church of Arkadi Monastery

Also known as Catholicon, the church stands in the central court of the monastery, and together with the whole complex, it is surrounded by a thick, fortified wall.

It was built in the 16th century with strong Baroque and Roman components, quite typical of the Cretan Renaissance.

Moni Arkadi Museum

The museum, which develops at different levels, includes a rich collection of religious icons, manuscripts, books, and engravings. It also displays a selection of impressive religious clothing and a section dedicated to the fights against the Ottomans.

The Refectory

The impressive space devoted to the monk’s meals dates back to 1687. Under its vaulted ceiling, old, original furniture with scratches from bullets and swords from the Ottoman attack can be seen.

From the refectory, you can reach the kitchen to admire the big wood oven, a fireplace, and some pieces of pottery that the monks used to prepare the meals.

The Ossuary

The octagonal building that houses the ossuary is outside the monastery’s walls, right in front of the parking lot. The site remembers those Cretans who chose to die rather than surrender to the Ottomans (1866).

In this small construction, dozens of skulls and other bones bear the battle marks. Finally, an inscription commemorating the massacre reads Nothing is more noble or glorious than dying for one’s country.

Organized Tours to Visit Arkadi Monastery

Although the road to Arkadi from Rethymnon is quite straightforward, you may not feel comfortable driving in Crete. For that reason, I’ve gathered below two of the best tours of Arkadi, which also include transportation.

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Insider’s Guide to Arkadi Monastery

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