Rethymno is one of the four prefectures of Crete stretching from the White Mountains to Mount Psiloritis - bordered by the prefectures Chania and Heraklion. Rethymno with its 25,000 inhabitants is the capital of the prefecture. Rethymno today counts 263 villages with an average number of 200 residents.
The climate is mild Mediterranean and particularly dry and warm. There is sunshine on 245 days of the year and temperatures range from 12° to 27° C. The prevailing winds are northerly and north-westerly with occasional strong hot southerlies from the African continent.