Want to uncover the secrets of Cretan history? The Arkadi Monastery awaits you in the heart of the hills near Rethymno. This 16th-century monastery-fortress is both a masterpiece of Venetian architecture and a testament to one of the most tragic episodes in the Cretan resistance against the Ottomans. We were struck by the symbolic power of the place, caught between the serenity of its setting and the gravity of its history.
In this article, discover our helpful tips—illustrated with photos —to help you best prepare for your visit and ensure you have an experience that is both informative and respectful.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why Visit the Arkadi Monastery
Is Arkadi Monastery worth the trip? Our take:
Yes, the Arkadi Monastery is definitely worth a visit. We were struck by the beauty of its Renaissance façade and the emotional weight of its history, which combines remarkable architecture with the memory of the sacrifice of 1866. It’s one of the best things to do in Crete.
You can book a guided tour from Rethymno, with other stops along the way, by clicking here.
Why is the Arkadi Monastery famous?
The monastery owes its fame to a tragedy that occurred on November 8 and 9, 1866, at the height of the Cretan uprising against Ottoman occupation. Nearly 950 Cretans, mostly women and children, had taken refuge there. P
Rather than surrender, the besieged chose to blow up the monastery’s powder magazine, resulting in the deaths of nearly all the occupants as well as many Ottoman soldiers. This event, often referred to as the Arkadi Holocaust, sparked outrage across Europe and helped bring international attention to the Cretan cause.
It is a must-see excursion from Rethymno.
Our favorite moments
Here are the three moments that made the biggest impression on us during our visit:
- We admired the church’s Renaissance façade, whose harmonious arrangement of columns and arches reminded us of the influence of the Italian architects Sebastiano Serlio and Andrea Palladio.
- Take a look at the old cypress tree in the courtyard, which is said to still have an Ottoman bullet from 1866 lodged inside it.
- Strolling among ancient stone buildings, in a place that is so peaceful today
WHERE TO STAY IN Rethymnon
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
In the historic center
Hotel Palazzino Di Corina – Check photos and availability
Downtown
Boutique-Hotel Pepi – Check photos and availability
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Nautilux Hotel – Check photos and availability
Directions and Map: Arkadi Monastery, Rethymno
Where is the Arkadi Monastery located?
- In the Rethymno Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Psiloritis, on a plateau located at an altitude of about 500 meters
- Travel time from Rethymno: 30 min (23 km)
- Travel time from Ch ania: 1 hour 20 minutes (81 km)
- Travel time from Heraklion: 1 hour 15 minutes (81 km)
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
How to get there?
A car is still the most convenient way to get to the monastery, especially if you plan to visit other sites in the Cretan hinterland afterward, such as the ancient site of Eleftherna or the pottery village of Margarites.
Buses also run from Rethymno, with departures approximately every 4 hours. If you’re coming from Chania or Heraklion, you’ll usually need to transfer buses in Rethymno.
You can book a guided tour from Rethymno, with other stops such as the village of Margarites, by clicking here.
Parking
A large, free parking lot, part of which is gravel, is located directly in front of the monastery entrance. Restrooms are also available in the parking lot.
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Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
In the summer, the monastery welcomes many tour buses, especially around midday. We therefore recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon to enjoy the site in a quieter atmosphere. The heat can also be intense in the height of summer, whereas in spring or early fall, temperatures are more pleasant for exploring the grounds.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow about 1 hour to explore the entire site, including the museum. We noticed uneven steps and fairly low doorways in some places, particularly around the courtyard and in the outbuildings. Some areas of the ground are dirt and gravel, while others are cobblestones. The ground is uneven.
A short flight of stairs also leads up to the first floor, near the museum entrance. The tour may therefore be challenging for people with limited mobility, even though the main outdoor areas remain accessible.
Advice on how to visit
There is no strictly prescribed route for the tour, but we recommend the following order: start with the central courtyard and the church, continue on to the old cypress tree and then the refectory, before heading to the monks’ cells. Finish with the museum, which offers the most comprehensive insight into the site’s history. A map of the grounds is provided at the entrance along with your ticket.
Visiting with children
We did not see any activities specifically designed for children on the site. The monastery remains, above all, a place of remembrance and worship, which calls for a quiet and respectful visit rather than a playful exploration. We therefore recommend that you prepare your children for the solemn nature of the site before your visit.
Schedules and rates
- The monastery is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., depending on the season. Here are the specific public opening hours: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the summer and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the spring and fall. Closed from December through February.
- On Sundays, the museum does not open until after the Divine Liturgy has ended.
- The admission fee is €4 per person.
- Visit the official website for more info here.
Since this is an active place of worship, it’s best to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. The dress code doesn’t seem to be enforced very strictly, but we recommend bringing a shawl or a pair of lightweight pants out of respect for the site.
Please also note that Orthodox religious services are held daily, with a morning service starting at 6:00 a.m. and an evening service beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Catering
A small café and snack bar, the Arkadi Café, is located right next to the parking lot, outside the monastery walls. There’s also a small shop near the entrance that sells icons and handmade Cretan souvenirs. For a more substantial meal, head to the nearby villages of Amnatos or Margarites, which have several traditional taverns and cafés.
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The monastery’s fortifications
We were surprised to discover just how much the Arkadi Monastery resembles a fortress rather than a traditional monastery. The complex is arranged around a rectangular courtyard facing east, surrounded by thick walls and adjoining buildings that once formed a true line of defense.
The current West Gate, the main entrance to the site, was rebuilt in 1870 to replace the old gate from 1693, which was destroyed during the siege of 1866. Right next to it, the Candiote Gate provided access to the surrounding fields.
As we looked at these walls, we enjoyed imagining the last line of defense held by the besieged against Mustafa Pasha’s troops. As you explore the site, you’ll understand why this fortified monastery was able to hold out for two full days against a much larger army.
The church, the monastery’s architectural gem
We lingered for a long time in front of the facade of the church, or katholikon, which was completed in 1587 under Venetian rule. It consists of two levels combining Gothic-style columns with Roman elements, Corinthian capitals, semicircular arches, and Baroque volutes—a combination that reflects the influence of the Italian architects Sebastiano Serlio and Andrea Palladio.
The bell tower still bears the original inscription from 1587. Inside, the building is notable for its two naves, dedicated respectively to the Transfiguration of Christ and to Saints Constantine and Helena. You’ll notice the cypress wood altarpiece, dating from 1902, which replaced the original decorations destroyed by a fire that occurred even before the tragedy of 1866.
Only a cross, two wooden angels, and a scene depicting the Resurrection of Christ have survived this loss. Photography is not permitted inside the church, which encourages visitors to fully savor the moment without a screen getting in the way.
The Cypress Tree with the Ball: A Silent Witness to the Siege
In the courtyard, right next to the church, stands an old, withered cypress tree that immediately caught our attention. An arrow, placed nearby, points to the spot where a bullet—or a shell casing—fired during the 1866 siege is said to still be lodged.
This detail, seemingly trivial, struck us as particularly telling: a fragment of metal lodged in the bark, like a striking snapshot of the place’s history. Take the time to walk up to the tree and examine the mark left by the fighting, though don’t expect a spectacular impact visible from a distance. It is above all the symbolic significance of this living witness—which has stood for decades in the heart of the courtyard—that makes this part of the tour so special.
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The dining hall, the site of the 1866 massacre
Built in 1687 in the north wing of the monastery, the refectory once served as the monks’ communal dining hall. We were struck by a profound silence as we entered this long, vaulted, rectangular, windowless room, where the original furniture—wooden tables and chairs—still bears the marks of bullets and sword blows dating back to the battles of 1866. According to local lore, some thirty young men were massacred there after Ottoman troops entered the monastery grounds.
The original door, also marked by bullet holes, stands as a silent reminder of that final stand. As you observe these details, you will come to understand the extreme violence of those two days in November 1866, which shaped the collective memory of the Cretan people for generations to come.
The monks’ cells
The cells occupy the east and south wings of the monastery, surrounding the central courtyard. A covered passageway, the Messocoumnia, connects the cells on the south side and ends with a small gate at its eastern end. We enjoyed strolling beneath these stone arcades, which offer both a glimpse into monastic life of the past and beautiful views of the complex’s architecture and the church’s façade.
A few monks still live in these cells today, continuing a religious presence that has been uninterrupted for centuries. Look up at the cloister’s arcades as you walk along the galleries: this is one of the best vantage points for viewing the entire monastery, especially from the corridor above the entrance gate.
The Powder Keg
The powder magazine occupied a long, vaulted room, 21 meters long and 5.40 meters wide, which was originally intended for storing wine before being used as an ammunition depot during the uprising. We learned that the defenders had moved the ammunition to the cellar, about 75 cm below the original storage area, for fear that the Ottomans might breach the walls. It was in this cramped space that Konstantinos Giamboudakis set fire to the barrels of gunpowder on November 8, 1866, on the orders of Hegumen Gabriel Marinakis, causing an explosion that almost completely destroyed the building.
Only a small section of the vault, in the western part of the room, withstood the blast. There, embedded in the eastern wall since 1930, you can read a commemorative inscription placed by Archbishop Timotheos Veneris in memory of the victims. We were struck by a profound silence as we explored this place, undoubtedly the most emotionally charged part of the entire tour.
The Monastery Museum
Housed in a building to the right of the church, the museum gave us a better understanding of the history of the site and the context of the Cretan struggle for independence. There, we discovered a collection of liturgical objects, icons, weapons, embroidered textiles, and revolutionary banners, as well as precious centuries-old Gospels and Bibles.
A small art gallery rounds out the exhibition with manuscripts and various artifacts. It is also here that the most comprehensive explanations of the 1866 siege and its consequences for the Cretan cause are on display.
A staircase near the museum entrance leads up to the second floor, where you can enjoy an additional view of the courtyard and the church’s facade.
History in brief
The history of the Arkadi Monastery is as rich as it is eventful. Here are the key dates:
- 5th or 11th century: the monastery’s legendary founding, sometimes attributed to the Byzantine emperor Heraclius or Emperor Arcadius, and sometimes to a monk named Arkadios, with no definitive archaeological evidence.
- 1587: Construction of the present church, under Venetian rule, with a Renaissance-style façade.
- 1687: Construction of the refectory in the north wing of the monastery.
- November 8–9, 1866: The monastery was besieged by Mustafa Pasha’s Ottoman army. Under the leadership of Hegumen Gabriel Marinakis, the besieged monks blew up the powder magazine rather than surrender.
- 1870: Reconstruction of the West Gate, which had been destroyed during the siege.
- 1930: Archbishop Timotheos Veneris unveiled a commemorative plaque in the powder magazine.
We have learned that the monastery celebrates three major feasts each year: May 21 (St. Constantine and St. Helena), August 6 (the Transfiguration of Christ), and November 8, the day commemorating the tragedy of 1866.
What else is there to see around the Arkadi Monastery?
Nearby, we recommend taking a detour to the ancient site of Eleftherna, which features the ruins of a Doric and Hellenistic city as well as a modern museum. The pottery village of Margarites, known for its many ceramic workshops, is also located nearby. Hiking enthusiasts can also explore the Arkadi Gorge, which connects the village of Pikris to the monastery over a distance of about 6.5 km and is part of the E4 European long-distance hiking trail.
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