Discover Amari

In the countryside, the traditional folk architecture until the first half of the 20th century, both typologically and morphologically, has its roots far back in the beginnings of the island's history. Essentially, the structure of the mountainous Cretan village of the beginning of the last century does not differ much from the image we find in the ruins of the Minoan settlement of Palekastro in Sitia, that of Gournia, the oldest settlement that has been fully excavated in Europe. Most of the villages of Amari are built mainly on mountain slopes or on hilltops.

They are usually densely built with narrow streets and houses joined together in such a way that communication from one house to another through the rooms was very easy. The center of the village was usually the church, around which the social life of the settlement developed. Typologically the simplest and oldest form of residence that we can observe in the Amari villages is the one-room ground floor, which in a single space housed all the daily functions.
See the villages of Amari here. Virtual Tour : https://www.amariguide.gr/%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%BE%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%AC%CE%B3%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7/

 

The Municipality of Amari

The area of ​​Amari stretches southeast of Rethymnon in a green fertile valley surrounded by the mountains Center, Samitos and of course Psiloritis. This is an area of ​​special natural beauty which is scattered by many small, picturesque villages that retain their traditional color. Thanks to its abundant springs the province is overgrown with fruit trees: oranges, cherries, apples etc. This is an area with a long history and important cultural monuments such as the Minoan settlement in Monastiraki, the ancient Syvritos and the numerous Byzantine churches. It is no coincidence that here, in the church of Agia Anna in Amari, are some of the oldest dated frescoes in Crete.!
In Amari the visitor can reach from the north following the provincial road Rethymno-Amari as well as from the area of ​​Eleftherna and Arkadi Monastery. From the south, the area of ​​Messara, access is from the area of ​​Agia Galini and from the west, following the beautiful route that starts from Spili and through the small plateau of Yous Kampos ends in the Valley of Amari. Today the visitor has the opportunity to tour these beautiful villages, to discover unexpected sights, to admire the wonderful nature of Amari by discovering it through hiking and to experience the rich tradition of the area through the festivals and the traditional festivals that are revived in the villages.

History

The Municipality of Amari holds a central position in the prefecture of Rethymno but also in the whole of Crete. The unique Natural Environment impresses and charms the visitor. Traces of human activity from the Neolithic era (6,000 BC) are found in the Municipality as findings of this period were discovered in various excavations throughout the municipality. In the northern part of the Amari valley, Veni dominates. Traces of archeological relics dating from the Late Minoan to Venetian times have been discovered on its plateau.
Ancient Syvritos was one of the oldest and most important cities of Western Crete with a residential center on the hill "Kefala" in the village of Thronos. In the place "Kokkinos Harakas" in Monastiraki there is a Minoan palace of the old palace period (2000 - 1700 BC). A large number of pits, thin chambers, seals, etc. have been found, from which we draw important information for the administrative organization of this society. In the area of ​​the village of Apodoulou has been excavated one of the most important Minoan settlements of central Crete.
In general, the area of ​​Amari from the Minoan period was the natural exit and passage from the southern coast of Crete and the fertile plain of Messara to the northern and western areas of the island. Traces of this Minoan road are stations and places that have come to light from the archeological dig. In the calm landscape with its incomparable beauty we find, in every part of the area of ​​the Municipality, scattered small tiled temples with rich interior decoration and well-preserved hagiographies that confirm the development of the area in the years following Greek antiquity.
The value of the Byzantine monuments of Amari is not only related to their large number compared to other areas, but mainly to their architecture, decoration and artistic expression. The richness and the high level of art influenced by the Byzantine period with local architectures, is reflected in many representations of temples with their hagiographies and ornate wood-carved iconostasis, in an impressive way that testify beyond the historical route and the great piety of the inhabitants.
Scattered temples with rich interior decoration and well-preserved hagiographies can be found throughout the area of ​​the Municipality of Syvritos. The richness and the high level of art influenced by the Byzantine period in combination with the distinctive architecture impress. Traditional settlements retain the glamor of the past. The architectural elements harmoniously connected with space and time give a special value. The people, dignified, hardworking and hospitable, custodians of the cultural heritage, preserve the local dialect and continue the history and tradition of the place. People who love their place very much, farmers who patiently cultivate their land, shepherds who tirelessly move in the mountains with their herds produce the almost organic, high quality and high nutritional value, local products (oil, dairy and meat, cherries, apples, pears, vegetables, etc.).

Learn about:
Monasteries
Tradition of Amari
Archaeological sites
Gastronomy

Source: www.amariguide.gr