Fifteenth-Century Boutique Hotel in Rethymno’s Medieval Quarter

Every summer, the Cretan town of Rethymno resurrects its medieval history during a Renaissance Festival that brings parades of costumed knights and maidens down its narrow cobblestone alleys. Masked street artists perform in the commedia dell'arte tradition, and old battlements once used by the Venetian Empire will become theaters for ancient Greek plays. During the rest of the year, the town’s history is evident in its architecture, ranging from domed Byzantine churches to a sixth-century library. A traditional hotel built in the 15th century, Palazzo Rimondi blends into Rethymno's medieval quarter with a cobblestone courtyard and rooms framed by stone-carved arches and wooden oriel windows.

In the morning, enjoy breakfast and coffee on the hotel’s rooftop terrace. Downstairs, modern guest rooms contrast the Old-World architecture, designed with high ceilings and featuring white-on-white beds. Views from the modern guest rooms face either the pedestrian alleys leading up to the town’s Venetian fortress or the hotel’s small splash pool. At night, guests sip on cocktails in the courtyard, with an intricate mosaic yard at their feet and a starlit sky above their heads.

Crete: Large Grecian Island Steeped in History and Myths

Greece’s largest island, Crete attracts visitors for its ancient monuments and ruins. Greek-mythology lovers can see Ideon Cave, fabled to be the birthplace of Zeus, and the palace of Knossos, thought to be the labyrinth structure Daedalus built to hold the Minotaur. This palace is located about a 90-minute drive east of Palazzo Rimondi, but it is well worth the trip. Within its massive, maze-like remnants, the palace rewards visitors with griffin and bull frescoes, central court’s grand staircase, and the stone water channel used to drain the Minotaur’s bath water. Original wall paintings and figurines from Knossos have also been put on display in the Archaeological Museum of Herakleion, located 4 miles north.

If you’re interested in extending your vacation in Greece for another four days, check out the Groupon for Palazzo Rimondi’s sister property La Maltese Estate on the nearby volcanic island of Santorini—accessible by flights and ferries.

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