Spili is a traditional, mountain settlement of the Agios Vasileios municipality in the Rethimno prefecture. The settlement is built amphitheatrically, on the western side of the Vorizi Mountain that is an extension of Psiloreitis. Spili is about 30 kilometers from Rethimno and one of the most beautiful villages of Crete.
The amazing fountain with the 25 lions’ heads with water flowing from their mouths is in the square of the village with the perennial planes. There are many taverns, traditional coffeehouses and various shops around it. It is worth wandering in the streets of the village and discovering the magnificent mansions and the old churches. Many traditional water mills are preserved in the settlement.
The entrance of the Kourtaliotiko gorge (that ends to Preveli) is also close to Spili and the E4 European “Spili- Gerakari” Path starts from the country church of Agio Pnevma in the north of the village.
564 people live in the settlement and there are banks, a post office, a health center, police and a conference room in it.
HISTORY
It is said that Spili existed from the Second Byzantine Era. But there are also written references for the settlement from 1577, in Barozzi, that is mentioned that the village is divided into two areas, “Spili epodes” and “Spili pera”.
The residents of the area played an important role during the Turkish and the German Occupation.
PLACE NAME
Spili (i.e. cave, in Greek) was named after the number of the caves in the Vorizi Mountain.
CHURCHES
The Cathedral of Spili is dedicated to Agios Pavlos. The Agios Georgios, Metamorfosi of Sotiras and Agioi Theodoroi churches are in the settlement.