Arkadi Gorge Route
After the two-hours walking from the village of Pikri and having enjoy the magic of gorge's natural beauty you will arrive to the historic Monastery of Arkadi which is the universal symbol of Freedom.
Located to an altitude of 500m and at 23km from the town of Rethymno, you can visit the Holy Monastery of Arkadi, which has been engraved in the memory of all Greeks as a symbol of self-sacrifice and freedom during 1866-1869 revolution.
Unesco has declared it a European monument of Freedom. You will admire the facade of the church with both Venetian and Gothic elements and the well kept garden.
This is a walking route of 2 hours duration, through the Arkadi gorge which begins either from the area of the Monastery and ends at the village of Pikris or from the village of Kyriana. In the gorge of great natural beauty, representative species of Cretan flora and fossils can be seen. At Venetian Pikris, a walk through the picturesque alleys with their domed passageways is worthwhile, as is a visit to the great mansion of the Venetian lord Clodio with the impressive doorway and an inscribed pediment bearing a date (1610).