Pigi is a local community of the Rethymno Municipality in the Rethymno regional unit of the region of Crete established by Kallikratis reform. Previously, it was part of the municipal district of Municipality of Arkadi. Capital of the new municipality is Rethymno.
Geography and history Pigi is located 9 km east of the city of Rethymno, on the road towards Arkadi, at an altitude of 60 meters, 1 km from Adele village. It is situated in the heart of a fertile and relatively smooth area, which in older times it was called Aryan. It is noteworthy that the English traveller Robert Pashley was the one who first wrote about the origin of the name of the village, 170 years ago. The relevant note is the two-volume book of this great traveller, printed in London in 1837. He says among other things: "In Pigi - the name comes from a rich source that supplies the village with excellent water." Pigi is being inhabited from the Venetian period onwards.
An airstrip that used to be near Pigi was a strategic target for the German forces during the Battle of Rethymno in World War II. Population of PigiHellenic Statistical Authority, Digital Library (ELSAT), Census (Greek and English) Settlement 1913 1920 1928 1940 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 20012011 2021 Pigi 471 570 446 449 417 414 360 299 311 336 401 454 Agios Dimitrios - 72 98 103 115 79 65 54 75 116 177 209 Pigianos Kampos - - - - - - - 165 50 200 279 288 Total 471 642 544 552 532 493 425 518 436 652 857 951
Attractions There are many churches and chapels inside/close to the village: Agia Paravskevi Church, Virgin Mary, Agios Georgios of Koutroulis, Agios Georgios (church cemetery), Agios Ioannis and others. Agios Nikolaos church is decorated with frescoes of the 14th century, St George Church has frescoes bearing the date 1411.
Transportation There is bus service (KTEL) from/to Rethymno serving this area (services for Kyrianna and Loutra) Bus timetables (in german) retrieved at 21 April 2012
See also List of settlements in the Rethymno regional unit Pigi Airport
References
External links Photo Gallery, Web site of municipality of Rethymnno retrieved at 9 April 2012 Cycling routes, Web site of Tourism Promotion Committee of Rethymno Prefecture, retrieved at 9 April 2012