The fortress of Fortezza dominates the hill Palaeokastro beside the old town of Rethymnon and is one of the largest forts of the Venetian Era. On this hill the acropolis of the ancient Rithimna and the temple of Artemis Rokkea were built but they have not survived through the ages.
The grand pentagonal fortress was built in 1573 and has a perimeter of 1300 meters. Along the walls there are four bastions (St. Lukas, St. Elijah, St. Paul, St. Nicholas), that served at the defense against enemies.
The fort is so large that it could be a haven for the entire city. Inside the fort there are barracks, a church, a hospital and warehouses. The Main Gate is located between the bastions of St. Nicholas and St. Lukas, to the point that the access to the city was easier.
The main gate is a large alley, which allowed easy passage of wagons and weapons. Next to the gate, there is the armory, which is a large two-storey building with arches in the interior, which now hosts cultural events and exhibitions. Walking to the bastion of St. Elijah, you will see one of the many tanks of the fort, which were used to collect water from the roofs, also you will see the theater of Erofili hosting events every summer.
There are two powder magazines in well protected places. Almost at the center of the fortress, stands the beautiful mosque of Ibrahim Khan, who was originally a Christian. Located nearby is the modern church of St. Catherine. Unfortunately there are few remains of the residence of the governor, but many civilian residences. You can even see the house of one of the two governor consultants and warehouses on the north wall, which are located on a very high altitude.
Despite the fact that it was great defensive project, Fortezza does not seem to have played any specific role, especially when compared with other equally large fortifications, such as Candia of Heraklion. The easy surrender to the Turks in 1645 is attributed to the absence of a ditch and the outbreak of cholera in the castle. Lastly, during the German occupation, the fort was used as a prison for resistance fighters.