Agia Galini is a very picturesque coastal settlement, 60 kilometers from Rethimno and about 70 kilometers from Heraclion. It “hangs” over the beautiful small port of the village.
There are many taverns, restaurants, hotels, rooms to let, cafeterias and tourist shops in Agia Galini, ATMs, supermarkets etc. The settlement is full of local and foreign tourists during the summer.
604 people live permanently in Agia Galini and their main occupations are tourism, agriculture and fishing. The Ksirokampos settlement is also under the Agia Galini local community with 38 residents, according to the 2011 census. Administratively, Agia Galini falls under the Agios Vasileios municipality of the Rethimno prefecture.
BEACH
A small path along the coastline that ends to the large and beautiful beach of the area is in the east side of the port of Agia Galini. Its eastern end is Kokkinos Pirgos.
The part of the beach near the picturesque settlement of Agia Galini is organized as there are many cafeterias and tavern.
The camping of Agia Galini is in the east, after the Platis River. The beach until there is pebbly, then, becomes narrower and with more rocks.
HISTORY
Agia Galini was built on the ruins of the ancient city of Soulia or Soulina that flourished till the 6th century and was the port of the ancient city of Sivritos or Souvritia.
The area was possibly inhabited again at the end of the 20th century. Agia Galini is one of the first areas of Crete where tourism flourished.
PLACE NAME
There are many versions about the origin of the place name of the settlement. It is said that, once, while she was sailing in a rough sea near the area, a byzantine princess or queen wished the sea to be calm (i.e. “galinia” in Greek). Her wish came true and ordered a church dedicated to Panagia of Galini to be built.
It is also said that the name came from the Galinos Christos Monastery that was in the area.
CHURCHES
The cathedral of the village is dedicated to Agioi Teseris Martires (Four Saints Martyrs).