Towns & Villages

AGIA GALINI

Agia Galini: this former fishing village on the shores of the Messara Gulf has developed into a popular tourist resort. Hotels and apartments now crowd around this once picturesque village. Along the beachfront cafes and tavernas compete for the tourist trade. The area has an average water temperature of 18˚and 340 days of sunshine, and is ideal base to visit the ancient city of Phaestos and surrounding countryside. The nearby beaches of Previli ( Palm Beach ), Agios Giorgios and Agios Pavlos can be reached by taxi boat from Agia Galini.

PLAKIAS

This village on the south coast was once a quiet fishing village, popular with the independent traveller. Not yet taken over by the major tourist operators, it remains a relaxing place to visit. It has good beach, and a few good tavernas. From here, you can visit Preveli Beach and Moni Preveli, Preveli beach is one of Crete ’s most popular beaches. Between the village and the Preveli beach there are several secluded coves that are popular with nudists.

ANOGIA

This is the last village on the road to the Ida cave. The women of the village still keep their skill in weaving alive; here you can buy all manner of covers and embroidery. Anogia is a good place to start on a foot tour of the Psiloritis mountain range. The villagers have an independent and rebellious nature; during the war, the villagers played an active part in the resistance movement.

They hid allied soldiers and had the audacity to kidnap a high-ranking German officer, General Kreipe. The Germans responded by slaughtering all the men in the village.

Modern day Anogia sustains itself on a thriving tourist industry and sheep farming, the area is also known for it cheeses and wine. The area has also fostered many good musicians, amongst others the late Nikos Xylouris, his brother Psarandonis who continues the family tradition of playing music, Georgos Tramoundanis and Vasilis Skoulas play to audiences in Greece and around the world.

Anogia situated on the slopes of Mt. Psiloritis, is divided two half’s, the lower half is where the shops catering for the tourist are, around the small square are cafes where one can sit and watch the villagers go about their daily routines. The upper half is mainly accommodation. In July, the Yakinthia Festival starts with music, dance and ends with a large feast. In the mountain is the Ida Cave, and according to legend it is where the God Zeus was raised after being born in the Dikti Cave in Lasithi prefecture.

In 1884, archaeologists found over 3000 items that were presumably offerings to the gods, among them were gold and silver items.

If you are fortunate to be in the village when a wedding takes place, you are in for a treat. People come far around to experience the festivities. On the day of the wedding friends and family, escort the groom to the bride’s house, accompanied by music and the sound of gunfire. On reaching the brides house they receive food and refreshments amid more gunfire. Then they go to the church for the wedding, and after the ceremony, the fun starts. The village square is the stage for dancing and music, which will continues until sunrise. So if in Crete and you hear of a wedding about to take place in the village try to go there, you will have a memory for life.

AXOS

Axos: is a quiet village during the day, but in the evenings it comes alive, in the local tavernas Cretan folklore events take place for the tourist.

MELIDONI

Melidoni: is near to Anogia and in the cave here another tragedy occurred during the rebellion against the Turks. In the cave over 300 Cretans sought refuge here, the Turks ordered to come out, they refused, so the Turks threw burning materials through a hole in the top of the cave, and resulted in the death of the Cretans by asphyxiation.

ZONIANA

Zoniana: to the south of Anogia towards Perama is where you can explore the Sendoni Cave . The cave one of the best on the island has many stalactites and rock formations to admire, a walkway makes exploring a bit easier. Resistance fighters used the cave as a safe haven from the Turks. The cave, according to legend got its name after a resistance fighter or a local bandit who used the cave as one of his lairs.

BALI

Bali : is 38km from Rethymno a popular resort with five sandy coves nestled among promontories and hills. The beaches get crowded in the summer, but it is ideal place for watersports and diving.

MARGARITES

Margarites: once famous since ancient times foe its pottery workshops that produced everything from household items to the very large storage jars (pithoi) used by the Minoans. Today only, a few potters remain to carry on the tradition of the village. The village gets busy with coach loads of tourists in the morning, by the afternoon life in the village returns to normal and it is ideal to relax in one of the tavernas and admire the view over the countryside.

PARNORMOS

Panormos: is a small resortnear Rethymno, though the beach tends to awash with flotsam, it offers a more relaxed atmosphere from the busier resorts in the region. The village is built upon a site of an earlier settlement fro the 1 st century AD. A few remains from later developments are still visible, a Genoese castle on the harbour.

EPISKOPI

Episkopi: 23km south-west of Rethymno Episkopi is a traditional village where even today you can see the locals wearing traditional black clothes. The village is good place to experience the traditional Cretan way of life.

AGYROPOULIS

Argyroupolis: is 25km south-west of Rethymno, this delightful town that comprises of two villages. The town, built on the remains of the ancient city of Lappa , founded by the Dorians, is an ideal place to escape the heat of the city and resorts. Mountain springs run through aqueducts, seep from the stonework to the lower village to create a natural air conditioning.

Relax and have something to eat at one of the tavernas shaded by trees and vegetation. In the upper village, you will find the church of Agios Ioannis built in the 17th century. The main street will take you past the Roman gate with the inscription ‘Omnia Mundi Fumus et Umbra’ (All Things in This World are Smoke and Shadow).

Further along a street on the right leads a well-preserved 1st century BC Roman mosaic floor, comprising of circa 7000 pieces in six colours. Nearby is a 3 rd century BC marble water reservoir with seven arches. To the north of the upper town, a path leads you to a Roman Necropolis with hundreds of tombs cut into the hillside. Further, along the path you come to a plane tree reported to be over 2000 years old, it is so big a path runs right through it. In the lower village, you will find tavernas built around the natural springs.

Taking the path from the village leads you to a Roman Bath, also a water-powered fulling machine made of wood, used in the treating of cloth after weaving by beating the wet cloth to expand the fibres to make it feel thicker. Close by on the site of a temple dedicated to Neptune , stands St. Mary’s Church.

SPILLI

Spilli: is a charming mountain village with cobbled streets and equally charming houses.Spilli gets tourists by the busload on their way to the south coast, but in the evening, the village returns to the locals. Taking pride of place in the village is a Venetian fountain with water pouring from 19 lion’s heads, reputed to be the finest water in Crete . Spilli is a good place from which you can explore the surrounding area. 10km from Spilli along a dirt track, you come to the village of Patsos , in a cave above the gorge you will find the Church of Agios Antonios . This was and still is an important sanctuary for pilgrims who come here on January 17. Heading towards Plakias you will pass through the Koutaliotis Gorge, 8km before Plakias there is a turnoff that leads to Preveli beach and Moni Preveli.

 

AMARI VALLEY

Situated to the southeast of Rethymno, and between the mountains of Psiloritis and Kedros. In a setting of rural tranquillity, amid olive groves, almond and cherry trees, about 40 villages dot the valley. It is an ideal place to discover rural Crete .

Visit the Church of the Panagia in the village of Thronos . Inside there are some remarkable 14th century frescoes. At Ano Meros there is a memorial dedicated to the heroes of the resistance movement.

The village of Meronas, here is a church originates from the 14 th century, inside is a beautiful 14 th century fresco.

The village of Gerakari , which is famous for its cherries, in the spring it is especially beautiful when the cherry trees blossom. Many more villages with interesting churches and history are there for you to discover

In the village of Gerakari, you can buy fresh or bottled cherries and maybe taste the cherry brandy for which this area is famous for.

The village of Amari here you will find the oldest frescoes on Crete they are in the church of Agia Anna. And from the top of the Venetian tower, splendid views over the area are worthwhile. The Amari Valley is a great area to go walking and offers a wild and unspoilt nature, and offers an insight into the Cretan way of life past and present.