Douli is a small village built at a distance of about 29 kilometers from the city of Heraklion. Its recorded history takes us back to the Venetian period. The earliest reference to the settlement is found in a document of the Ducal Archives of Khandaka dated 1372, where it is mentioned as the feudal property of Nic. Venerio. Venetian presence is also confirmed by the frescoed church of Saint Nikolaos on the edge of the settlement, which dates back to the 13th or 14th century. 

It is possible that the name of the village is related to its first settler, who was called Doulis, or that it was a village inhabited by slaves (=doulos in Greek). It is not rare for a village to receive such a name because of its first inhabitants, who managed to gain their freedom from being slaves. 

Today Douli belongs to the Municipality of Gortyna. It is a rural village and its population is engaged in the cultivation of vines and olives, but also livestock, due to its mountainous character. Its few inhabitants are hospitable and try to keep their village alive through renovations of outdoor spaces and use of indoor spaces for cultural activities.