Alones
The Alones is a village located on the road that leads to the southern part of the prefecture of Rethymno, 34 km southwest of the city of Rethymno.
A small village built at an altitude of 510 meters at the foot of mountain Kryoneritis, the Alones is surrounded by lush vegetation, in a quiet landscape, where the only dominant sounds are those of nature. Many species of remedy herbs grow in the area with griffon vultures and golden eagles stretching their wings above them and nesting on the slopes Krioneritis.
The village was named Alones because it is built in the shape of the threshing-floor and it was surely mentioned in the Venetian censuses of the 16th and 17th century. It is probable, though, that it was inhabited much earlier. The ancient Phoenicia located between Sellia and Rodakino, on the southern coast of Crete, had been the port of the Ancient Lappa, the today’s Argyroupoli. The village of Alones is located on the axis that connected these two cities. Moreover, the road, which connected Sfakia with the northeastern and western parts of Rethymno, was passable only through Alones. Remains of this road Rethymnon – Agios Konstantinos – Roustika – Alones -Amygdaloporos – Spiliou Lakoi – Kallikratis exist even today. The Alones was actually the junction of main roads of that time.
During the German Occupation, the Alones had been one of the major centers of the National Resistance in Crete, with participation of the whole village, highlighting many important personalities.
Patron saint of the village is the Apostle and Evangelist Ioannis, who celebrates on September 26, while in the village there is also the church of Agios Onoufrios.
The approximately 100 permanent residents of Alones are mostly engaged in animal husbandry and horticultural products.
