Dörfer & Städte

Patsos

Amari, Rethymno · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A green village at the foot of Mount Soros.

Patsos is a picturesque village on the edge of the Amari valley, surrounded by lush vegetation. It has been inhabited since the Early Minoan period, around 3000 BC, and has a rich history.

The village is best known for the nearby gorge of Agios Antonios, with its chapel in a cave, pools and a small waterfall. Locals are known for their hospitality, and a couple of tavernas serve simple, local food.

The Amari valley lies between Psiloritis and Mount Kedros, one of the greenest and most beautiful corners of Crete. It's dotted with small villages, olive groves, orchards and Byzantine churches with fine frescoes. During WWII, the villages of Amari paid a heavy price for supporting the resistance, and memorials remember this. Today the valley is quiet and perfect for slow drives, walks and long lunches in village tavernas. The road continues south towards Agia Galini and the Libyan Sea.

Around Amari

Nearest town: Rethymno, about 20 km by road
Nearest airport: Chania airport (CHQ), about 65 km by road

Rethymno sits between the mountains and two seas, and it is the easiest region to combine with the rest of the island. Its old town and Fortezza are among the best preserved on Crete, with Venetian doorways, Ottoman wooden balconies and a long sandy beach right next to the centre. More about Rethymno