Petres is a small coastal settlement with a sandy beach and a rocky seabed. This means that the sandy shore meets a stony underwater terrain. Administratively, the beach is in the municipal unit of LappaĂon. There are many small coves around Petres; the beach’s main cove is developed and has several facilities.
The main cove lies beside the outlet of Petre Gorge. The gorge gave its name to both the beach and the settlement. This makes the connection between the coast and the gorge a distinctive geographical feature of the area, without making the beach and gorge the same excursion destination.
Beach, Gorge and Church History
In the vicinity of the destination, small pools form in Petre Gorge, making them suitable for summer bathing. At one point, large rocks require some climbing. If you plan to visit the gorge, check local conditions beforehand; the rocky section is a separate practical consideration. The beach cove and the gorge therefore offer different landscape impressions: a sandy beach and rocky seabed in one place, pools among large rocks in the other.
The church of Petres also tells of the area’s older religious heritage. It is dedicated to Panagia Pammakaristos, also known as Kalotaxidiotissa, and was built near the ruins of an older temple. The church is also called Panagia Protoptemvriani. According to tradition, the older temple already bore this name. The church feast takes place on September 1, with many pilgrims in attendance. The traditional names and the location near the temple ruins thus connect today’s church building with the area’s longer history.
Rethymno as the Wider Destination
Those who also explore the wider destination of Rethymno beyond Petres will find a different focus in the Old Town. 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 center lies below the Venetian Fortezza fortress. The Venetian harbor is also part of the coast of the municipality of Rethymno.
The coastal landscape of Rethymno also includes a 12-kilometer-long beach. It begins at the historic city center and stretches eastward to Scaleta; its sand is fine-grained and light brown. In addition to Petres’ smaller coastal setting, the municipality therefore offers a long stretch of beach that is specifically described. When planning, it is worth keeping these different scales in mind and not treating the places as the same beach.
Rethymno also offers various points of cultural and historical interest. 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, by contrast, is housed in a 17th-century Venetian mansion. Five rooms in its permanent exhibition showcase traditional crafts and folk art. The two museums thus have different focuses: one places regional history in chronological context, while the other is dedicated to crafts and folk art.
The events calendar also offers a range of cultural experiences. The Rethymno Renaissance Festival takes place every summer, featuring music, theater and dance performances as well as art exhibitions. Carnival is a traditional event with a parade organized annually by volunteers. The church feast in Petres is held on September 1, while the Renaissance Festival takes place in summer. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these dates, check the specific event dates before making your plans.
Discover more destinations: Sfakaki, Triopetra, Skouloufia, Somatas, Fourfouras, Aghia Triada, Viranepiskopi, Platanés.
For the wider travel overview: Rethymno.
