In April 2012 I visited Spili together with my wife. We went up there with car from Rethymno. Spili is a picturesque village located at an altitude of 430 metres, 28 kilometres south east of Rethymno. It is a small village with only 800 inhabitants. Spili is situated on the foot of the mountain Vorizi. The village offers an astonishing view. There are nice tavernas and small restaurants from which you have a nice view out to the village. It is surrounded by green trees, fountings, springs, chapels and churches. The main square of the village is lovely and has a fine stone fountain with name Kefalovrisi. Here is a row of stone carved 25 lion heads from where crystal clear water flows. The water flow every hour is 330 cubic metres. The fountain is rebuilt in years 2007-2008 and it is now very fine.
In the village was many nice small shops selling products made in Spili. The village is famous for producing unique weaving. One of the main attractions of the village are numerous traditional water mills still surviving near the river. Next to the village starts the most beautiful canyon of Rethymno the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. In year 1833 there was a hard battle against the Turkish army. In 1942 the village was destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War. Our visit to Spili was very good and intresting. If you travel to Crete make a visit to Spili we are sure that you will like this place.
