Argiroupoli is an interesting choice if you want to focus your trip on historic buildings and archaeological traces. The village has Venetian mansions and traditional Cretan houses. Remains are also associated with Minoan, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Roman civilizations. Argyroupoli has been recognized as a protected settlement since 1983. When choosing a holiday rental, these features can help you decide what to expect from the area.
Townscape and historic traces
The architectural heritage includes different types of buildings: Venetian mansions and traditional Cretan houses. It also includes remains associated with four different civilizations. Argiroupoli therefore offers points of interest ranging from architecture to archaeological history. If you choose your accommodation according to your interests, these themes can help guide you: would you mainly like to explore historic houses and the protected townscape, or are you also interested in archaeological evidence?
There are also points of interest in the surrounding area. Near Pente Parthenes is a preserved Greco-Roman cemetery with rock-cut tombs. The nearby springs of Agia Dynami are considered a lush oasis. This brings together two different aspects of the surroundings: an archaeological site and a description of the landscape. The houses and protected settlement refer to Argiroupoli itself; the cemetery and springs are described as nearby places.
Culture in the wider Rethymno destination
The wider destination of Rethymno offers additional, distinct cultural themes. The Old Town of Rethymno is designated as a protected historic monument and a traditional settlement. Its urban layout, established during the Venetian period, was later altered under Turkish rule. The historic centre lies below the Venetian Fortezza fortress. This urban history offers a different historical perspective from the houses and archaeological traces in Argiroupoli.
The museums in Rethymno also have different focuses. Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum 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 of Rethymno is housed in a 17th-century Venetian mansion; five rooms in its permanent exhibition showcase traditional crafts and folk art.
You can find further archaeological sites in the wider Rethymno destination at Eleftherna and Armeni. 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 phase of the 4th millennium BC through to the Byzantine period. The Armeni Necropolis is an extensive Late Minoan cemetery where more than 220 tombs have been excavated. They were family tombs containing several deceased people; the grave goods provide information about art, religion and the social organization of the time.
Landscape and seasonal culture
The coast of the wider Rethymno destination offers another distinctive landscape: Rethymno Beach is twelve kilometres long, starting at the historic town centre and extending eastwards to Scaleta. Its sand is fine-grained and light brown. As a seasonal cultural offering, the Rethymno Renaissance Festival takes place every summer; the programme includes music, theatre and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions. If a particular performance is important to your trip, check the dates for your travel period.
Argiroupoli thus puts the protected townscape, historic houses, and nearby archaeological and landscape features in the spotlight. Rethymno adds a distinct old town, museums, coastline and a recurring summer festival to this perspective.
Discover more destinations: Perama, Myrthios, PrĂnos, Adelianos Kampos, Kare, Vederi, Episkopi, Maroulas
Back to the wider travel guide: Rethymno.
