Agia Galini is a popular seaside resort, located 61 km southeast of Rethymno and 68 km southwest of Heraklion, about midway along the south coast of Crete. Agia Galini in Greek means “Holy Serenity” and that’s the description everyone will give to this place as it is very peaceful and the sea is always calm.
Thousands of tourists spend their holidays in this place, enjoying the old harbour, the excellent beaches and the traditional village, which looks like time has never passed. In the past, Agia Galini was a small fishing village, but in the 60’s it saw large tourism development. The whole south of Crete became popular alongside hippies and naturists, enjoying the natural beauty at its fullness. Still, nowadays the area has a lot of fans who still visit the village every year. Agia Galini is a modern resort with all amenities provided to its visitors, but still maintaining its traditional character. You will find many options for your accommodation, restaurants, shops and entertainment. The village is built on the hill of a mountain and you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Libyan Sea.
North of the village you will see the cliffs of the Cretan White Mountain, Psiloritis. West of Agia Galini you will find many beautiful rugged caves, which you can visit only by boat, but it will be worth your time. One of them is the famous Cave of Daedalus, the legendary craftsman of Greek Mythology and father of Icarus. They say that this cave was his workshop. You can also take a boat to the nearby beaches such as Preveli and St. George. Watching south of Agia Galini towards the Libyan Sea you will see two small islets, Paximadia, which you can visit by boat and swim in amazing beaches untouched by human hand.
No one really knows the origin of the name Agia Galini, but the most popular story is about a Byzantine princess who was travelling to Jerusalem and her ship fell into a storm. She then started praying to the Virgin Mary, begging her to rescue them and swore to build a temple for her. Indeed, holy Mother heard her prayers and the ship managed to approach the small natural harbour of Agia Galini which is never wavy. The small princess kept her oath and built a church named “Panagia Galini”, the old church which still stands in the cemetery of Agia Galini.
Agia Galini, is a small, tortuous village, with small old houses in the village which seem squashed by the larger apartments bouncing up in the area and the hotels in Agia Galini, built to accommodate rising numbers of visitors. What makes Agia Galini unique is the amphitheatrical layout of its houses on the hill, offering a wonderful view of the harbour and the Bay of Messara. The view of the village from the harbour is similarly lovely, especially in the evening and at night.
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