Rethymno has many picturesque villages that keep traditions alive and harbor hidden treasures. Here are five stops worth making, if you venture a few kilometers from the city of Rethymno, to discover the authentic soul of Crete.
Contemporary and traditional, developed and unspoiled, the Rethymno with its contrasts can satisfy even the most demanding visitor. The old town of Rethymno is a vast museum, but the hinterland of the prefecture generously offers an experience of authentic Crete.
Leaving behind the city with its Venetian elegance and sandy beaches, you will discover picturesque villages that will give you a strong taste of true, unadulterated Crete. In these places where people are close to their past, you will meet authentic Cretans and enjoy warm Cretan hospitality.
5 picturesque villages of Rethymno worth visiting
Margarites
Margarites, the beautiful village of potters, is located on the northern foothills of Psiloritis, at an altitude of 300 m and 27 km from Rethymno. It is a place with a unique color and character. The village’s pottery tradition (it is considered the largest pottery center in western Crete) is evident everywhere. Strolling through the alleys you will see large clay pots outside every house, ceramics hanging on the walls and storage jars adorning the flower-filled gardens. Today, at least 16 pottery workshops operate in Margarites, where you can see artisans working in the way of their forebears. It is worth making a stop at the village churches, at the restored Monastery of the Savior Christ and Saint Gedeon, as well as at Saint John the Theologian with the stone iconostasis.
Anogeia
Anogeia, the most renowned village of Rethymno, offers visitors an authentic experience of mountainous Crete. In this special place, in the "Upper Land" of Psiloritis, where people are close to their past, you will meet authentic Cretans and enjoy warm Cretan hospitality. You will discover the great musical tradition of the area (Nikos Xylouris, Psarantonis and Vasilis Skoulas were born here), shop for beautiful Cretan woven textiles and enjoy your coffee or raki in the company of black-shirted grandfathers at one of the many traditional cafes that exist in the village’s lovely squares. In Livadi, the picturesque square of Perachorio, you can visit the house where Nikos Xylouris grew up and the folk art museum of Michalis Skoulas (Grylios). From Anogeia you can set off to the Nida plateau, to the Skinakas Observatory, to Ancient Zominthos and to Ideon Cave, the cave where according to mythology Zeus grew up.
Axos
A village with a centuries-long history, on the northern slopes of Psiloritis, built in an amphitheatrical position, with views toward the plain between Psiloritis and the Talaia mountains. Entering the village of modern Axos today, one can immediately see that it is a remnant of a great civilization. The Acropolis, the Temple of Aphrodite, the tholos tombs, the remnants of the walls bearing signs of ancient times as well as the Byzantine stone-built churches (some with mosaics and others with frescoes) have at times been the subject of study by various historians.
Argyroupoli
Near the Chania-Rethymno border you will encounter this picturesque mountain village, which is known for its springs and its lush green landscape. Argyroupoli, which has been designated a traditional settlement, is built on the ruins of ancient Lappa, one of the most powerful cities of the Mycenaean period that is said to have been founded by Agamemnon. A walk through the alleys of Ancient Lappa will be unforgettable. Today many important ruins are preserved in the village, among which are two Roman baths, three basilicas and statues of Aphrodite, Zeus and Dionysus.
Maroulas
Southeast of Rethymno and 10 km from the city, lies Maroulas, a traditional village where the Venetian character is strongly preserved. According to tradition, the village took its name from the shepherdess Marouli, who, while grazing her sheep in the area, found a spring with cool water. Most of the buildings that still exist in the village today are from the Venetian period and are adorned with coats of arms on their outer doors. Of particular interest are the Venetian towers and the olive mill. Southwest of the village runs the Prasiano Gorge.
