Spili (Crete)

Spili is a small town in the centre of Crete between the county town Rethimno on the north coast and the tourist resort Agia Galini on the south coast. If you drive through Spili by car, you should have a short look at the town, it is worth it.

The road goes through the middle of the city. The center is around the sharp bend of the through road. All the sights described below are less than 100 metres away.

The fountain of Spili is certainly the most famous monument of the municipality. In summer, the 25 lion heads in the fountain are filled with refreshing, cool water. The Spili lion's head fountain dates from the 16th century, the water comes from a spring above the town.

One of our favourite shops on Crete is the Maravel Shop right in the centre of Spili. Here you can buy hundreds of different traditional oils, spices and spice blends from Crete. There are also creams and other products from Aloe Vera, soaps, products such as cosmetics from donkey milk and goat milk, many great soaps, natural sponges from the Mediterranean and much, much more. Most things in the Maravel Shop are not expensive. Simply a great shop.

There are several other interesting shops with souvenirs, cosmetics and food in the immediate vicinity. The baker of Spili has delicious pastries such as cheese bags (Tiropita) and sweet puff pastry luggage with a kind of semolina pudding with cinnamon (Bougatsa). Nearby there is also a typical Greek fast food restaurant with gyros pita, souvlaki and the like. There are also some taverns and cafes in the bustling centre of Spili.

Further you should have a look at the big orthodox church.

Spili is a bishop's seat. Just outside is a large monastery with an academy of the Greek Church..

Politically, Spili gained in importance a few years ago. Due to austerity measures due to the economic crisis in Greece, municipalities were merged. Spili is now the capital of the municipality of Agios Vasilios. Even the tourist resorts of Plakias and Agia Galini, each 20 kilometres away, have been part of the new municipality since 2010.

How to get to Spili: You pass through Spili on the main road from the north coast (Rethymno) to the south coast (Agia Galini and Timbaki) through Spili. In both directions to the sea it is about 20 kilometers. From Plakias you first drive towards Rethimo via Lefkogia and shortly after the village of Koxare turn left towards Agia Galini. Between Spili and Rethymno is the cemetery Armeni, more than 3.000 years old and worth seeing.

Close to Spili is the village of Patos, a few kilometres away, with a great gorge, a place for excursions and a large new reservoir.