Ardaktos

The village of Ardaktos is located in the prefecture of Rethymno and is approximately 40 kilometers away from the homonymous city, in the direction towards Agia Galini.

Its name, Ardaktos, was borrowed from the thorny plant Araktillinos, which was abundant in the area and was used for weaving.

The early establishment of the Ardaktos settlement is described in a Venetian census from 1583. The residents of the village participated in various struggles, with the most notable being the uprising of Daskalogiannis in 1770.

In total, the permanent residents of the village of Ardaktos number around 160, and despite being a small settlement, it has produced several notable individuals and scientists, including six of the key leaders of the Preveli Monastery.

The village of Ardaktos has several churches, such as the Church of Agia Marina, which is the oldest in the village and has Byzantine frescoes, and the Transfiguration of Christ, a small temple at the entrance of the village where a large festival is held on its feast day.