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Armeni
The village Armeni consists the natural extension of the city of Rethymno (9 km distance) to the south and lies on the southern road. It slowly turns into a tourist destination for locals and foreigners. It is already a commercial center of the region. Elements that make the area into a popular tourist destination are the widely known Late Minoan Cemetery of Armeni, the homonym traditional village and the beautiful natural environment. The village is located within a small distance from the beaches of Rethymnon both the northern and the southern ones. It is also famous for its cool climate during the summer. The involvement of residents in the agriculture and livestock make it suitable for the development of rural tourism by creating farms that can be visited by anyone.
Highlighting the cultural elements of the area, the revival of the traditions of the place through activities of the Cultural Association allow, in conjunction with the existing cultural-sports center, entertainment, learning the traditions and having fun. Thanks to the traditional way of manufacturing products from the field to consumption, it is possible to monitor actions of particular cultural interest. Finally, the natural environment with its beautiful paths ideal for trekking (such is path E4), jogging, cycling and horse riding offers the possibility of thematic tourism.
The history of the village
Armeni is a traditional settlement of the Municipality of Rethymno situated in the homonymous prefecture, which owes its name to the Armenian soldiers who were brought here in the year 961 A.D. by General Nikiforos Fokas when he liberated Crete from the Saracens. But today there are no residents of Armenian origin, who have moved to Sfakia, Rodakino etc. In the area of the village there was a city dated back in the Minoan period, as evidenced by the Late Minoan Cemetery (1350-1200 BC) found during excavations in position Prinokefalo, 1 km far from the village Somata where visitors can see 300 chamber tombs. The village is situated in the center of Armenokampos at an altitude of 380 meters and has a population of 379 inhabitants.
Venetian-Ottoman occupation
During the Venetian rule (1212-1669), Armeni were actually two villages, called Lower Armeni and Upper Armeni respectively. During this period people came from various parts of Crete, mainly from Sfakia, and settled here. Visitors are able to see preserved Venetian gates, arches etc. During the Turkish occupation (1669-1898) Upper Armeni was inhabited only by Turks who later fled and the settlement was deserted and never occupied again.
