Prines, Rethymno
Prines is a small community in the municipality of Rethymno on the island of Crete, Greece, about 5 km west-southwest of the town of Rethymno. The community includes the village Prines (about 895 people) and the nearby settlement Vederoi (about 42), for a total population of 937 in 2021. The two settlements are designated as preservable traditional settlements to preserve their historical style and character.
Historically, Prines was an important stop during Venetian rule (1204–1669). The name may come from a Venetian lord nicknamed "Prince" or from a local bush called Prinos/Prinari. The village church, dedicated to St. Nikolaos, dates from the 13th century.
Most residents work in agriculture, especially olives and olive oil, with some animal farming and a few small factories. Before 1932 Prines was the seat of a community that also included Vederoi and Gerani. In 1997 the Prines community was merged into the Nikiforos Fokas municipality, and after the 2011 Kallikratis reform it became part of the Rethymno municipality.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:11 (CET).