Windmills of Seli Ambelou , Oropedio Lasithiou

The Windmills of Seli Ambelou form a row of 24 stone windmills along the northern rim of the Lasithi Plateau, near Psichro. Each mill has a semicircular outer wall and a rotating wooden roof that turns the sails into the prevailing northwest wind. The mills were used to grind grain for the plateau's villages until the mid-20th century.

The mills were built during the Venetian occupation of Crete and are more than 400 years old; they originally stood at Zaronas. In the late 19th century they were moved to the northern rim of the Lasithi Plateau, near Psichro, to grind grain for the plateau villages. They kept working until about 1950, when they were among the largest wind-powered mills in Greece.

Locals call the mills anemomyloi, and each was run by a single family that ground the plateau's wheat and barley between millstones. The semicircular stone walls sheltering the sails are the feature to look for; the row is still a landmark during the plateau's potato-growing season.

The mills sit about 3 kilometers from the village of Tzermiado and are easily accessible, allowing visitors of different abilities to explore the area comfortably. The site remains largely unchanged with quiet pathways and plenty of space for wandering, making it best to take your time and walk at your own pace.

Unlike similar mills found on other Greek islands such as Karpathos, these structures display a more refined and formal appearance with their characteristic semicircular walls. They stand as the most elaborate examples of this architectural style in the region.