The 'Turkish School': Historic Educational Landmark (1st Primary School) 🏫

The building known by Rethymnians as the **'Turkish School'** is one of the oldest surviving school buildings in Crete. It is located at a key point, next to the Church of Saint Francis, near **Mikrasiaton Square**, and today houses the city's **1st Primary School**.

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📜 History and Foundation

The history of the site as an educational establishment began as early as the **18th century**:

• **Establishment:** The original Ottoman school, which is not preserved today, was founded in **1795** by **Edhem Klapsa Bey** and operated as a **girls' school** (Parthenagogio).
• **Construction:** The current two-story building was constructed around **1890** and replaced the older one.
• **Preservation:** Due to its historical value, the building has been designated a **traditional preserved historical monument** since 1967.

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🏰 Architectural Elements and Doorways

The school presents an interesting combination of architectural influences, as it is located in the historic zone of the Old Town:

• **Entrance:** Its entrance is next to the Church of Saint Francis (Archaeological Museum). The Ottomans narrowed the **Venetian outer doorway** by building a smaller inner one.
• **Decoration:** An impressive **vine relief** is preserved between the two doorways. At the bases of the pilasters, damaged **lion reliefs** (Venetian symbols) exist, while higher up appear the symbols of the Ottoman Empire, crowned with a **crescent moon**.
• **Mausoleum (Türbe):** In the northeastern corner of the school courtyard, which is now part of Mikrasiaton Square, lies the tomb (**türbe**) of a Turkish soldier who was killed during the siege of 1646.

This building, which operated as a school for the Muslim population for a century, today continues Rethymno's educational tradition by housing the 1st Primary School.

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