Arkadi Monastery is located within 23 km from the city of Rethymno, on the northwestern edge of Psiloritis Mountain.

The Emperor of Byzantium, Heraklios, laid its foundations, as evidenced by various traditions, and then it was built by Emperor Arcadius in the 5th century AD to whom owes its name. Another point says that the name was given by a monk called Arcadius.
It is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior and to the Saints Constantine and Helen.

The building complex is a quadrangle, on which the cells and the auxiliary places are spread, with dimensions of up to 74x79 m, having a large courtyard in the middle, where the new main building of the church is.

According to testimonies and to historical sources, the Catholic was built between 1572 and 1587. The rest of the complex was built periodically from 1670 to 1714, as indicated by several inscriptions. After the great disaster of 1866 there were several built phases.

An inscription, that is saved on the front of the base of the bell tower, indicates that the temple was built in 1587 during the era of Venetian rule in Crete.

The admirable carved limestone facade with Gothic arches and obelisks, the Renaissance rosettes, the Corinthian moldings of the late Renaissance and the baroque spirals are a unique composition with strong and clear influence from the works of the great architects Sebastiano Serlio and Andrea Palladio.

Constantine Giamboudakis has historically connected his name with the Monastery of Arkadi and the liberation struggles of the Cretans, when, during the revolution of 1866-1869, he exploded the powder keg after the decision of the fighters who were besieged by the Turks, choosing sacrifice over surrender.

The sacred banner of revolution, the sacred vessels, the vestments embroidered with gold and the weapons are exposed at the museum of the monastery. There are also many manuscripts that are preserved in foreign libraries and centers of Orthodoxy.

How to get there
By car from the city of Rethymno you will follow the route to Heraklion and after passing the villages of Cesmes, Adele, Pigi, Loutra, Kyriana and Amnatos, you will arrive at the Monastery of Arkadi.
If your selection is the bus, you should be informed about the routes' service to and from the monastery, bus station tel 28310.22.212.

Accommodation
For your stay in the city of Rethymno you can book a room in one of the hotels, rooms and furnished apartments of the city or you can rent an agro touristic logging in the area.
In Rethymno and in nearby areas, and generally in Rethimno prefecture, there are hotels that can meet any requirement.
Below, you can see a list of hotels and accommodations.