“There is something about Crete. There is a flame — let’s call it soul — something that rises above life and death. There is pride, defiance, bravery, and a wild spirit that makes you proud to be human...” Nikos Kazantzakis
 
This is how the soul of Crete is captured in the words of Nikos Kazantzakis, the eminent writer and native son of Crete.

Οι άνθρωποι του νησιού είναι αναθρεμμένοι με εικόνες και ήχους απ’ το βουνό του μύθου, της ιστορίας και της παράδοσης το οποίο πάντα διατράνωνε την ισχυρή του παρουσία.

The people of this land are raised with images and sounds drawn from the mountain of myth, history, and tradition — a mountain whose presence has always stood strong and unwavering. The unique character of Crete is shaped by the looming presence of Psiloritis, which dominates the island’s centre and plays a vital role in its very identity

There are many things that make the Psiloritis region unique.They are the myths of the mountain where Zeus was raised, the sounds of the cymbals of the mythical Curetes—the protectors of Zeus, the beating wings of the bronze giant Talos—the guardian of Crete. They are Europa’s journeyby the sea to Gortyn, the cries of the Minotaur in the mythical Labyrinth, and Ariadne herself, who wisely unravels her thread.The course of Ariadne’s thread leads to the passage from myth to the history of this land.

Human presence in the region of Psiloritis reaches back to the Neolithic era. Historical memory is inscribed across the landscape: in Minoan cities, in ancient paths cutting through mountain gorges, in sacred caves and pilgrimage sites of antiquity, in early Christian basilicas, and in countless Byzantine chapels and monasteries adorned with frescoes.Psiloritis has given birth to saints of the Christian faith, scholars, fighters, and heroes. Its modern history is written in revolts and in the blood of those who sacrificed themselves in difficult times.In literature, it became the cradle of the Cretan Renaissance, producing masterpieces, renowned poets, and icon painters.

The architecture of Psiloritis elevates craftsmanship — from the dry-stone walls that divide the cultivated terraces, to the shepherds’ circular stone mitata, to stone-built homes, cobbled paths, Venetian villas, and Byzantine churches with ornate bell towers. Whether modest or grand, all structures express the rich heritage of this land.

The Cretan muse speaks through the sound of the lyra and the bow of the master musicians of Crete, as well as through the songs and the taximia of modern Cretan musical creation, which keeps tradition alive and continues to evolve in defiance of time. The mantinades—couplets in fifteen-syllable verse—remain today a unique code of communication through which people express love, joy, and satire in everyday life.

The spirit of Psiloritis is also embodied in dance, which still holds a unique place in Cretan life, expressing the people's connection to the land, to nature, to love — even to death.

Ultimately, it is the people who embody the true spirit of Psiloritis. Raised in the embrace of Cretan nature, among gorges and wild herbs, they have forged their character in harmony with the land. Amari, Pano Riza, Mylopotamos, and Malevizi—rugged and humble regions marked by contrasts—stretch across the mountain’s four flanks. Its inhabitants learned to shape the stone and till the soil, to climb thyme-covered slopes, to listen to the sea breeze, to cultivate their land and live off its bounty, creating culinary treasures that have made their way to tables around the world. Most importantly, they offer their hospitality with a smile, a treat, and a kind word.
 
Psiloritis invites the visitor to become an initiate—guided through its secrets by sound, image, and lived experience. The warm embrace of the land opens to all who seek it, promising unforgettable moments and a profound connection.Here, in the very heart of Crete, the mountain pulses with life.
Psiloritis welcomes you to discover an experience that rises to meet your dreams.



HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS
The Psiloritis region of Crete is a land full of vivid images, fragrant aromas, and flavors—a bridge between ancestral memory and modern life. The locals live alongside the mountain that surrounds and shapes their daily rhythm.

Their lives are intertwined with the sound of the lyra and the energy of traditional Cretan dance. They compose mantinades (rhyming couplets), singing of love, life, and even death through heartfelt laments. Traditional festivals and folk rituals come alive with dancing, singing, delicacies, wine, and tsikoudia, breathing celebration into the fabric of everyday life. They continue to uphold customs through volunteer participation in village feasts, weddings, baptisms, sheep shearing gatherings, and raki distillation. Throughout the year, religious celebrations take place in villages and remote chapels, offering moments of prayer and reunion. Municipalities and cultural associations organize events, festivals, and conferences that enrich the region’s contemporary cultural landscape.

Due to its mountainous terrain, Psiloritis is a primarily agropastoral region. Livestock farming remains a traditional livelihood, while cheesemaking and dairy processing have advanced into modern, well-equipped artisanal units.

The lowland areas of Psiloritis are among Greece’s most productive olive-growing zones. Fertile lands support the cultivation of olive trees, vineyards for wine production, and fruit orchards. Thanks to the abundance of wild herbs, especially thyme, apiculture and the collection of wild herbs are also highly developed. Yet the lives of the inhabitants, who have traditionally been engaged in farming and livestock breeding, have changed radically with the advent of tourism.
 
 Tourism has brought new opportunities and activities to the inhabitants of the Psiloritis region, as the modern infrastructure developed in recent years has provided employment to many locals. Agrotourism units, cafes, taverns, folk art workshops, local shops, and tourism-related businesses now offer new prospects for the area. Along the coastal zone, fishing remains a traditional occupation among locals to this day. The people of Psiloritis create works of art using simple materials from the earth and the power of their imagination. Folk art is still alive and flourishing throughout the region, producing exquisite handmade objects. In Anogeia, Axos, and Zaros, the weaving tradition remains vibrant. In Margarites, the ancient craft of pottery thrives. In Alpha and Laga of Mylopotamos, traditional stone masons continue the art of stone carving. In Vizari and Anogeia, one can find woodcarving workshops, while in Kalogeros, there is a pottery workshop. Stone carving workshops also operate in Gergeri and Apostoloi, and traditional basket weavers can still be found in Nivritos. Zaros and Gergeri host two exceptional instrument makers, while in AnoMeros of Amari, there is a traditional leather boot (stivania) workshop. Many women still practice home-based crafts such as crochet, preserving age-old techniques.