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Here, unlike Candia  and Chania but like Siteia the
difference seems clear between civilian habitation and castle, between the
local population and the military. Rethymno is described by Provveditore Luca Michiel as a 'wretched and desolate city'1:
the fortification was indeed in distressing condition, and it could only
possibly have been used as a desperate last-resort refuge for its inhabitants.
The Venetian rulers worked industriously to restore the appearance of their
governors' territory. In 1578 Davide Bembo urged them to send timber and iron,
to be used not only to strengthen the walls, but to initiate construction of
the rectors'
residence and the public offices. There was clearly an
attempt to set an example and encourage the local population to come and
'fabricar et habitar' ('build and live') in the city (as Paolo Contarini
mentioned in 1578), but the citizens of Rethymno continued to build their low
houses even after the destruction of buildings which had been destroyed in the
razing operations. There was therefore bitter conflict between civilians
and the military, which even shed doubt on the function of the city. Natale
Dandolo, Captain of Candia, wrote in 1580 that it would be better to destroy
the fortress, which was a possible attraction for enemies, such badly guarded
'bait' for the Turks.
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