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Prines is a small historical village, 7 minutes away from the town of RethymnonThe village of Prines was a central place during the Venetian occupation of Crete. The church of St. Nicolas at the edge of the village dates from the 13th century. It may be a small, traditional and quiet village, but all the necessary shops and facilities can be found there, including:
Two supermarkets
A traditional coffee place and a taverna
A butcher's shop with Cretan, top quality, meat
A shop with Cretan dairy products and honey
A gas station
The village itself is surrounded by nature and is ideal for people who like quiet and traditional places. Also the town of Rethymnon is very close, offering many and diverse opportunities for entertainment and night life. Also, Rethymnon, being at the gravity center of Crete, is the ideal base and starting point for your exploration of the beautiful island of Crete.
Specifically, the village of Prines is seven (7) minutes away from the center of the town of Rethymnon (central Crete) and another seven (7) minutes away from the beautiful beach of Episkopi. All the other parts of Crete, Chania, Heraklion, and Agios Nikolaos are just a short drive away. Specifically, Chania is 40 minutes away, Heraklion 1 hour, and Agios Nikolaos 1 hour and 40 minutes. Although there are public transportations available to tour around Crete we highly recommend that you rent a car as this is the most convenient and quick way to explore Crete.
Additional historical data about the village of Prines are recorded by Barozzi (1577) and by Kastrofilakas (1583) as “Prines and Dependencies”, and by Vasilikatas (1630). With a population of 430, in the censuses of 1881 and 1900 the village is ascribed to the Municipality of Atsipopoulo, with approximately 520 inhabitants, while since 1928 Prines is known as the birthplace of Markos Kaloudis, a member of the revolutionary "Holy Company" who distinguished himself in battle at Dragatsani and Frangokastelo. Kaloudis died in 1886, having left his entire estate to the District of Rethymnon, to fund the education of local born teachers.
The village is noted for its picturesque alleyways and the traditional stone houses; Other local attractions include the Bemboyiannis Mill and a traditional olive press.
The municipal ward of Prines extends to the small village of Vederi, known for its Venetian buildings. A magnificent stone-threshing floor is visible to the right of the road linking the two villages.
The Church of Agios Antonios (1833), featuring icons by Ioannis Stathakis, is also well worth visiting.
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