2021-10-21 19:21:40
There are plenty of villages in Crete. Just look at the map of the island to find out about it. Some of them are ordinary, unremarkable places. Some are traditional while others are more contemporary. The smaller ones, full of narrow streets and nooks and crannies, and the larger ones, where the buildings are more modern. However, there are several places in the Rethymno area that are worth paying special attention to. Therefore, the next part of the guide to interesting places in Rethymno Prefecture is devoted to villages that stand out with something special. Our list, as usual, is subjective and does not exhaust the topic, but we leave room for your own discoveries.
Traditionally, we put the described places on the google map. This will make it easier for you to find them.
Argiropouli - Ancient Lappa
Margarites - potters village
Mili - abandoned village
Mili is one of the few Cretan ghost villages, abandoned by its inhabitants. In Mila's case, the last of them moved out in 1972. The reason for leaving the village were numerous landslides that threatened its safety. Currently, a few houses have been renovated to meet the needs of visiting tourists. A walk between abandoned buildings, which nature is slowly taking, is quite an unusual experience. For people with vivid imaginations, comparisons with horror movies will certainly come to mind.
Agia Galini - the village of Daedalus and Icarus
Although Agia Galini is now a bustling tourist town, it is one of the villages worth visiting. The beautiful amphitheater arrangement of white buildings creates a view unparalleled in Crete. It is also a town closely related to history, as it was built on the site of the Minoan city of Sulia. It was here that the mythical Daedalus and Icarus were to hide from their escape from Crete. Their refuge was one of the caves in which the famous wings invented by Daedalus were to be built.
Spili - mountain village
Anogia - a village with traditions
Anogia is one of the most traditional villages in Crete. The close vicinity of the mountains and the mythical Ida cave determined the nature of the village's activities and the daily activities of its inhabitants. Here you can easily meet Cretans dressed in traditional clothes, and local women are talented weavers who create traditional Cretan fabrics. The area of Anogia was an important place already in antiquity, and also played a significant role during the independence uprisings during Turkish rule. Famous revolutionaries who took part in the fight for the freedom of Crete were born here. The Second World War also did not leave Anogia without a trace. The villagers paid the highest price for their involvement in the kidnapping of a German general. To this day, the villagers are tough, boisterous people who can even tell the police their rules.
Zoniana - a mountain village at the foot of Psiloritis
Zoniana is a close neighbor of Anogi, so both villages have a similar traditional and real character. Both Zoniana, Anogia, Axos and many other similar villages are located in the Psiloritis Natural Park area entered on the UNESCO list. It is a very specific area concentrated around the Psiloritis massif. The purpose of the park is to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Psiloritis area. EDAC B in the area worth a visit if only one of these villages, certainly immediately notice the difference compared to the tourist village of the northern coast. When passing through Zonona, it is also worth going to the nearby Sfendoni cave. The E4 route also runs near Zoniana, and there is also the interesting Zoniana gorge.
Axos - a village with Minoan roots
This is another mountain village located within the Psiloritis Natural Park . Its history dates back to antiquity because nearby was the ancient Axos, which was then one of the most important cities of Crete. The first excavations that were carried out here revealed a sanctuary dedicated to Aphrodite. Later, fragments of a Hellenic settlement and Greco-Roman tombs were found. You can see them at the nearby archaeological site south of the village. On one of the main streets there is also a small and very interesting Byzantine church of Agios Irene from the 14th century. Nowadays, the village is associated with the Museum of Wooden Figures, which exhibits over 100 sculptures made of local wood.
Selia - an atmospheric village
Selia is a mountain village overlooking the tourist town of Plakias. Decades ago, Selia was bigger and more significant than Plakias. However, the increasing tourist traffic meant that some of the inhabitants of Selia and the neighboring Mirthios built their hotels and taverns in Plakias. You can walk from Plakias, but the shorter road that leads here is very steep. This must be taken into account, especially on hot days. In Selia you will find old Cretan houses, a pleasant atmosphere and very narrow streets that can only be entered by a scooter or a donkey.
From the Rethymno area, we have also described places connected with history:
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