Vederi

Vederi in the prefecture of Rethymno is a small village located 1 km from Prine and 10 km approximately west of the city of Rethymno.

The Vederi, which played a protective role for the Prine village during the pirates’ raids because of the site it was built on (at an altitude of 170 meters) and its view towards the sea, took its name from the Italian “Vedere” (observe).

The settlement of Vederi, with permanent residents no more than 50 persons, is among those villages that have maintained over the centuries the Venetian architecture pure, since even today on the narrow alleys of the village the visitor can see houses with turrets, imposing gates, stone cornices and domes.

The village appears in the Venetian censuses of the 16th century and is referred by the name «Vuerus».

A beautiful natural landscape stands out in Vederi. Southwest of the village and stretching over 1,000 meters in length, an impressive oak forest lies, while on the northwest there is a valley with large kermes oaks, bushes, laurels, wild carobs and other. In the northern part, the olive grove of the village “Venerata” dominates with centuries-old olive trees planted during the Venetian era. The gorge of Vederi is one of the important natural attractions that can be enjoyed by the visitors.

On the slope of the village there is the church of Agios Ioannis Theologos, who celebrates on June 24, an old Renaissance style church with an impressive bell tower and valuable iconostasis.