Asteri is situated on a hill and partly on the slope of the Arsaniótiko stream, which flows past the village to the west. The village’s cultural features include a memorial to those who fell in the German resistance and the folklore collection at the “Σπίτι του Πολιού”. In Asteri, the precise location and local history thus offer distinct points of reference for planning your trip.
Location and Remembrance
The topographical description encompasses both the hill and the slope of the stream. The watercourse flows past the village to the west. A memorial to those who fell in the German resistance was also erected in Asteri. It is a tangible place of remembrance in the village.
The “Σπίτι του Πολιού” and Its Collection
The “Σπίτι του Πολιού” houses a folklore collection. The local history museum is located in a traditional Cretan house with seven rooms. Textiles, old photographs, and reception rooms are on display. The house and collection give the subject of the visit a tangible form: the traditional architecture and room layout are part of the picture conveyed by the museum, alongside the objects.
Another exhibition venue is the courtyard of the traditional coffeehouse “Το σπίτι του Πολιού”. Tools used in traditional occupations are displayed there. Together with the collection in the house, this creates a local focus on everyday culture and objects passed down through generations, rather than on a single historical period.
If you are planning a visit to the museum or coffeehouse, check the visitor arrangements in advance.
Culture in the Wider Destination of Rethymno
In the wider destination of Rethymno, the old town offers a different cultural and historical perspective. It is designated a protected historic monument and traditional settlement. Its urban layout took shape during the Venetian period and was later altered under Turkish rule. The historic city centre lies below the Venetian fortress, the Fortezza.
The museums also have different areas of focus. Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno has been housed in a pentagonal building in front of the Fortezza’s main entrance. 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.
The themes can therefore be distinguished: in Asteri, the focus is on a folklore collection, textiles, photographs, and tools used in traditional occupations. The museums in Rethymno broaden the regional overview with archaeological history and traditional crafts and folk art. This distinction keeps the village’s features separate from the offerings of the wider destination.
Choose the Focus of Your Stay
When looking for accommodation, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on: would you like to centre your visit on Asteri, with its hillside location, memorial, and local collections, or are you planning a stay that includes other cultural destinations in the wider Rethymno area? Choose your holiday apartment based on the places you actually want to visit. For specific visits, also check the relevant visitor arrangements.
Discover more destinations: Margarites, Pikris, Livadia Keramoti, Kare, Atsipades, Damnoni, Erfoi, Drosia.
Back to the wider travel overview: Rethymno.
