Rethymno Myli

General information

The village of Myli sits in the midst of a verdant oasis 6 kilometers from the Town of Rethymno. It actually consists of two settlements, Ano (upper) and Kato (lower) Myli, built in the heart of the Myli Gorge.

The area is rich in spring waters, which is why as many as 30 watermills were constructed there in pre-industrial times. The oldest reference to them is in a 1643 document, and, throughout the centuries, they were of key importance for the prefecture's sufficiency in wheat. However, in 1972, the settlement had to be abandoned due to the danger of a landslide and the inhabitants moved to the Neoi (New) Myli village, outside the gorge.

The mills have been deserted since the early 20th century and, today, only one of them has been restored, so that visitors can get an idea of how they functioned. With its small waterfalls and ponds, where visitors can take a refreshing swim under the shade of the lush plane trees, the gorge is a popular trekking destination. Apart from the ruined watermills and the ivy-covered houses, it is also possible to see a plethora of impressive chapels.