The old city of Rethymno still preserves its old Venetian style and its later Ottoman influences to a great extend. It has been declared a protected historical monument and a traditional settlement. The old city of Rethymno is a typical example of a regional urban center; it is closely connected to the mainland of the Prefecture as an administrative, transportation, educational, commercial, tourist, and cultural center. For that reason, the city sends and receives strong influences to and from the mainland, which may be negative - like in the ‘70''s when the population of the city and Prefecture decreased - or positive, like in the last decades, when the population increased the area. It is obvious that the city is a key location for the development of the entire Prefecture.