Charkia: Rocky Landscape and Natural Monument

Charkia makes a striking impression even on the way in: the approach to the village passes through extensive rocky terrain. The village is also home to a majestic oak designated as a “natural monument.” The rocky landscape and the tree are two distinct natural features that give the village a character all its own.

Rocky terrain and two possible interpretations of the name

Explanations of the name Charkia also draw on this landscape. Possible origins include words for a forge or smithy, as well as “charakia,” meaning rocky and impassable places. The second interpretation is linked to the rocky terrain on the approach to the village. Both remain possible explanations; together, they offer two different ways of reading the place name—one connected with craftsmanship and the other focused on the terrain.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Charkia, these local characteristics can help you decide what kind of destination appeals to you. Here, the focus is on the rocky landscape at the entrance, the designated oak and the distinctive history of the village’s name. The wider destination of Rethymno offers additional cultural, coastal and nature themes with a different character.

Rethymno: Old Town, Coast and Museums

The Old Town of Rethymno is designated as a protected historic monument and a traditional settlement. Its urban layout developed during the Venetian period and was later reshaped during Turkish rule. The historic centre lies below the Venetian Fortezza fortress. Different historical layers therefore meet in the townscape, while the Old Town’s location makes its connection to the fortress clear.

The municipality’s coastal scenery includes the Venetian harbour and Rethymno Beach. The beach is twelve kilometres long, beginning at the historic city centre and stretching eastwards to Scaleta. Its sand is fine-grained and light brown. For those weighing historic city life against coastal attractions when planning a holiday, the destination of Rethymno offers a range of options. Diving is also among the activities available in the region.

The museums add to this picture of history and culture. Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno has been housed in a pentagonal building in front of the main entrance to the Fortezza; its exhibitions present the history of the prefecture from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Historical and Folklore Museum is housed in a Venetian mansion dating from the 17th century. Traditional crafts and folk art are the focus of five rooms in its permanent exhibition.

Archaeology, architectural history and regional culture

Those interested in archaeology will find more to explore across the wider destination of Rethymno. The Museum of the Archaeological Site of Eleftherna is the first archaeological site museum in Crete. Its exhibitions show life in ancient Eleftherna from the late millennia of the 4th millennium BC through to the Byzantine period. The Armeni necropolis, meanwhile, is an extensive Late Minoan cemetery where more than 220 tombs have been excavated. These were family tombs containing several deceased people; the grave goods provide insight into the art, religion and social organisation of the time.

Architectural history can also be explored at different sites. The two-aisled Church of Saint Constantine and the Transfiguration of the Saviour at Arkadi Monastery was built in 1587. It is a building from the period of Venetian rule, with elements of Renaissance architecture. Following the revolution of 1866–1869, the monastery became an enduring symbol of freedom. The Military Museum in Chromonastiri, housed in a Venetian villa built in 1610 for the Clodio family, has a room dedicated to the Battle of Crete. The museum also displays weapons dating from the Greek Revolution of 1821 through to the Second World War.

The wider region also has cultural sites beyond Charkia: the Venetian church of Santa Trinita stands in the centre of Agia Triada; the village was also known as Santa Trinita under the Venetians. In Kavousi, the Church of Saint John the Theologian dates from the Venetian period. These places add to the destination’s cultural attractions, while Charkia itself is defined by its own landscape, the oak’s natural monument status and the possible interpretations of its name.

Nature and events in the destination

Nature attractions in the Arkadi municipal district include the nesting sites of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta-caretta) on the sandy beach. Systematic measures are taken to protect them. The Muloi Gorge includes a small river and the abandoned traditional village of Muloi, with its traditional architecture, old churches and caves. Another regional route, the Arkadi Gorge, begins at Arkadi Monastery and passes through impressive scenery on its way to the village of Pikri, which features significant elements of Venetian architecture. The two descriptions emphasise different features: Muloi brings the river and abandoned village into focus, while the Arkadi route highlights the journey to Pikri.

The events calendar also shapes what is on offer across the wider destination of Rethymno. The Renaissance Festival takes place every summer and features music, theatre and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions. The Rethymno Carnival is a traditional event with a parade organised annually by volunteers. Both offer a different way to experience regional culture than museums and historic buildings. When choosing a holiday apartment, the themes you are interested in may therefore be decisive: Charkia’s rocky landscape and local character, or the wider range of cultural, nature and event attractions in the destination of Rethymno.

Discover more destinations: Chromonastiri, Adele, Petrochori, Agios Vasilios, Garazo, Keramota, Pikris, Margarites.

Return to the main travel overview: Rethymno.