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People
Human activities
The area of Amari is mainly agricultural and stockbreeding. The locals are occupied with the breeding of goats and sheep, the cultivation of olive trees and vineyards for wine production, grains at lowlands and fruit trees at the mountain areas. The fruitful land of Amari produces olive oil, wine and dry goods. The cherries and morellos from Gerakari and Meronas villages, as well as the apples and pears produced in Amari, are well known. The edible olive from Ampadia is distinguished as it is a product with protected destination of origin. At the mountain areas aromatic herbs are collected. The dairy products of the area as well as thyme honey are of excellent quality. The visitor will come across centers of folk art at the wood sculpture workshop of Vizari village, at the pottery workshop of Kalogeros village, at the stone dressing workshop of Apostoloi village as well as at the Baskin shop at Ano Meros etc. The housewives maintain the knitting with the screw beg as a domestic activity.
Hospitality - Events
Time has not affected the land of Amari. Nature, villages and tradition remain pure. Hospitality is offered in a simple and sincere way. The residents, tireless guards of the small earthly heaven love Amari passionately. They honor the celebration of their Saints, respect tradition, and preserve the rock build houses and their Byzantine churches. Also, they preserve their customs by participating voluntarily in celebrations, weddings and christenings, at the sheering of sheep and during the production of raki.
All year long, there are religious celebrations at the dorps and the churches, where the residents meet in order to pray and get together with food and quality wine. As an example we refer to the celebration of Genesios of Theotokos at Fourfouras village, the ascend at Profitis Elias at Kedros, the celebration of Agios Titos at Neus Amari, the Metamorphosis of Sotiras at Ano Meros and the celebration of Agia Marina at Monastiraki.
The Municipalities of Sivritos and Kourites organize cultural events at their dorps during summer. At Fourfouras village, the metropolis of Lampis, Sivritos and Sfakia offers spiritual, cultural and social work unwearyingly. During Clean Monday at Neronas village the carnival proceedings come to life. Many visitors come to admire the games such as “lerades”, the camel, “Chotzas”, the shoemaker, the bear and the match-maker as well as other traditional games.
The past few years there is a traditional harvesting and threshering at Fourfouras and Meronas villages that is worthwhile watching.
Tours
An ideal way to come to contact with the beautiful nature of Amari is by taking the provincional road network by car, bicycle or on foot following the magnificent nature loving routes of the area as well as the European E4 hiking trail. Amari calls us to discover the hidden treasures in its picturesque villages, hiking paths, Minoan dorps, Byzantine churches, rock wind mills and shepherds’ shelters (mitato). It calls us to take part in speleological explorations, ascend the mountain of Psiloritis from Vistagi, Lochria or Kourites villages with an intermediate route or stay at the shelter of the Mountaineering Club of Rethymnon at the site of Toumpotos Prinos. Tourist infrastructures have been created in order to accommodate the visitors. Having Amari as a basis, the visitor can experience the beauty of the nature as well as the beach and the coasts of the Libyan sea.
