An hour-long trip will take you from Heraklion to one of the sacred places on Crete. Arkadi Monastery is dear to the heart of every Greek person as a place of enormous sacrifice in the struggle for freedom against the Ottoman rule. Built by Venetian baroque style the church dates back to the 16th century. Arkadi Monastery is located in the Rethymno regional unit, 25 km southeast of the town and 80 km west of Heraklion.