Amnatos


Amnatos is a local community of the Rethymno Municipality in the Rethymno of the region of Crete established by Kallikratis reform. Previously, it was part of the municipal district of Municipality of Arkadi.
Amnatos is a traditional settlement and is classified in Class II, that is of "average cultural value". Buildings with Venetian architectural elements are scattered throughout the village. In 2005 Amnatos received an award of the "cleaner and organized traditional community".

Geography

It is located on the northeastern edges of the Gargano mountain, 17 km southeast of Rethymno, on the way to Arkadi, at an altitude of 320 m. It has a view of the North Sea and the Cretan mountain Psiloreitis.

Origin of name and history

The location of the village appears to have been inhabited since ancient times and it is believed that the name Amnatos has Minoan origin. Ancient Greeks used to call amnion all those vessels used at their time to collect the blood of sacrificed animals.
The area was occupied by the Venetians and the Ottomans.
Nowadays, the local community of Amnatos consists of four settlements: Amnatos, Kapsaliana, Pikris and the Arkadi Monastery.
;Population of Amnatos
Settlement19401951196119711981199120012011
Amnatos372328276213193196147156
Kapsaliana5831271612421
Arkadi Monastery40603223181396
Pikris183205151111121776455
Total653624486363344290222218

Attractions: monuments, temples, and important buildings

Among the many Venetian buildings in the village of Amnatos, there is a house with a particularly impressive doorframe. The crown of the gable has the inscription: "INITIUM SAPIENTE TIMOR DOMINI".
There is also a folk museum and a Municipal Museum of the History of Greek Education.
Amnatos is the home village of Harikleia Daskalaki, a heroine of the Arkadi holocaust. A statue of her is found in the square of the village.

Transportation

There is bus service from and to Rethymnon in this area.