The Fortezza is the citadel of Rethymno on Crete, Greece. The Republic of Venice built it from September 13, 1573, until 1580. Military engineer Sforza Pallavicini designed it in the Italian bastioned style, and master builder Giannis Skordilis led the work. It stands on Paleokastro hill, the former acropolis of ancient Rhithymna.
The irregular walls total 1,307 meters and enclose four demi-bastions: St Nicolas, St Paul, St Elias and St Lucas. The Erofyli open-air theatre, opened in 1993, sits in the St Elias bastion.
Ottoman forces besieged the fortress in 1646, and the Venetians surrendered that November. The Ottomans converted the cathedral of St Nicolas into the Mosque of Sultan Ibrahim. Restoration has been underway since the early 1990s, and the Ministry of Culture and Sports manages the site.
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