MUNICIPALITY OF
ASTEROUSSIA

Villages and Communities:



AHENTRIAS

The village of Ahentrias is in the County of Asteroussia Monofatsi with a population of 367, situated on an altitude of 680 m., 12 klm. South East of Pirgos. People are mainly cattle breeders aand shepherds and their products are much in demand and very famous on the island.
The Prefecture of Monofatsi is first recorded in a census by Barozzi in 1577.
The most important religious feast of the village is the Transfiguration day of Christ on August 6. Also it is worthwhile visiting the Byzantine church of Saint Dimitrios.

ETHIA

The village Ethia is nearly on the top of the mount Sfentilia (altitude 970 m.), a mountainous community of the County of Asteroussia Monofatsi, approx. 2 klm. East of Pirgos. The village is first recorded by Barozzi in 1577. The name of the village comes from the tree Itea which means willow tree.
The sightseer is welcomed into a traditional cretan village, with many renovated stone-built lodgings.
The visitor can also see the technique the shepherds used to built stone stockyards for their sheep. The population is 480.
In the wider area you can visit the small churches of Analipsi, Virgin Mary, and Prophet Elias who is the patron saint and on whose name day on 20th of July, a traditional cretan fair is held
The village's products are mainly oil, raisin, dairy products and vegetables.

LIGORTINOS

The village of Ligortinos is in the County of Monofatsi which is administered by the Municipality of Asteroussia with a population of 610, located on an altitude of 380 m. and it is10 klm. North of Pirgos.
The name of the village Ligortinos (Ligordine) was first recorded in old manuscripts in 1271.
It was also in a census by Barozzi in 1583.
Late Minoan archaeological finds of Ligortinos are in the museum of Louvre.
Moreover, in Monumenti Veneti (Venetian Monuments) Gerola refers to an old fountain constructed by an ingenious technician dated back to the Roman Times.
The name of the village is Pre-hellenic. The Cultural Association Club of the village helps keep its tradition, from the narrow stone alleys to the monuments like the old Aquaduct. There are also remains of old churches like the Holy Trinity. The patron saint of the village is Saint Haralambos and on his name day on February 10, a religious traditional fair is held. The community of Plakiotisa pertains to Ligortinos with a magnificent dam.

PARANIMFI

The village of Paranimfi is on the mountains of Asteroussia East of Kofinas on an altitude of 520 m., in the county of Monofatsi. The village population is approx. 300.
An old manuscript of Handakas back in 1280 A.D. refers to the village as Paramithi which is obviously Paranimfi written wrong.
The sightseer can experience all the traditional hospitality of this Cretan village. It is worthwhile visiting the Abas place which is 800 m. far from the village where you can admire the amazing panoramic view of the sea-side community of Tris Eklisies (Three Churches), as well as the 200m. high waterfall. You should also visit the church of Apostle Paul on an mountainous countryside. The church has remains of old wall paintings.

PROTORIA

The village of Protoria is in the County of Asteroussia Monofatsi on the west banks of the river Anapodaris and 4 klm. north west of Pirgos.
The name of the village which Hourmouzi Vizantios referred to as Praitoria, indicates its Roman origin and therefore it is over 2,000 years old. First recorded in a census conducted by Barozzi in 1577 A.D. The village is referred to as Pretoria Apano and Pretoria Cato.
The modern village of Protoria with its paved alleys and the yards full of flowers, has a populations of 275. The old church of Michael Archangel is worthwhile visiting. On its name day on 8th of November, a traditional cretan fair is held. The coffe shops of the village serve greek coffee and raki (local drink with alcohol).
The village's products are mainly oil, grapes, raisins and early fruit vegetables.

TEFELI

The village is in the County of Asteroussia Monofatsi, 12 klm. North East of Pirgos on an altitude of 350 m. and it is first recorded in an old cencus by Barozzi in 1577 A.D. The modern village of Tefeli is one of the biggest villages in the County of Asteroussia with a population of over 1000.
The village's saint patron is Saint John and on his name day a traditional cretan fair is held.
Many traditional coffee shops, taverns, a beautiful wood, a scenic of natural beauty like the Saint Paraskevi spring and the remains of the ancient Pirathos in the community of Pirathi, are located in and out of the village of Tefeli. The community of Aposelemi pertains to Tefeli.

KALIVIA

The village of Kalivia is in the County of Asteroussia Monofatsi, 45 klm. far from Heraklion on the way to Arkalohori - Partira - Drapeti - Kalyvia, 12 klm. North East of Pyrgos.
A beautiful and quite big village built on an altitude of 240 m. and with a population of 610.
First recorded in a venetian census by Barozzi in 1577 A.D.

The village's religious fair is held on 21 of November on The Presentation of Virgin Mary day.
The community of Neohori pertains to Kalivia.

MESOHORIO

The village of Mesohorio is situated in the County of Asteroussia Monofatsi, 55 klm from Heraklion, on the road to Pirgos-Rotasi-Mesohorio, and at a close distance of Pirgos (approx. 5klm. East)
First recorded in a census conducted by Barozzi in 1577.
The modern village of Mesohorio has a population of 809. The main products of the village is oil, grapes and vegetables, also the water here is crystal-clear.
The sightseer is worth visiting the Church of Virgin Mary dated back in 1570 and the Chapel of Michael Archangel in the area of Pentamis.
According to the local people, the residents of the communities of Pentamis, Mesoskafis, Kavalopetras, Gorgianos, Agios Konstantinos, Agios Spiridonas and Agia Paraskevi resided the modern village of Mesohorio which is situated in the middle of the above communities and therefore named Mesohorio (The Middle Village) .
The patron saint of the village is Saint John the Theologian and a fair is held on his name day, on the 29th of August.
Other sights near the village are the Chapels of Agios Vlasis, The Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Agios Spiridonas.

HARAKI

The village of Haraki is North of the County of Asteroussia Monofatsi approx. 38 klm. far from Heraklion on way to the villages of Peza-Houdetsi-Apanosifis-Metaxohori, and 17 klm from the village of Pirgos.
The village was named after a big ditch which is in the middle of it.
First recorded in a census conducted by Barozzi in 1577.
The modern village of Haraki has a population of 323. The communities of Mades and Vorias pertained to the village of Haraki.
One of the village's fairs is on Saint George day on the 3rd of November .

You can relax at any of the many traditional cafe's (capheneia) and you will be welcomed by the locals who are mainly shepherds. PYRGOS

The village of Pirgos is the capital of the County of Asteroussia in the Prefecture of Monofatsi with a population of 1100.
It 's a hilly village situated on an altitude of 290 m. and it is 50 klm far from Heraklion on the way to the Knossos - Peza- Houdetsi- Tefeli- Ligortinos- Protoria- Pirgos.
Further access to the village of Pirgos is from the town of Mires towards the villages Agii Deka-Asimi-Pirgos.
First recorded in 1577 in a census conducted by Barozzi.
Saint George and Saint Konstantinos, two aisle Churches are amongst the sights of the village decorated with well maintained wall paintings.
A religious traditional cretan fair is held every year on the 6th of August on the Transfiguration of Christ.
According to the tradition, that chusrch used to be a convent.
The west district of the village is the Kalogeriko (monastic) named after the monastery of Prophet Helias which remains were recently found.
The village was named after a castle situated in Apano Pirgos which literally means castle and it was also first recorded in a 1st century A.D sign.
On the 1st of May a feast is held in the wood west of the village where there is a refreshments shop.
Other festivals are being held during the Carnival organized by the Municipal authorities.
The village of Pirgos provides enough facilities like notary's office, hotel, taverns, mini markets and many shops, a bank and the main public services at the Town Hall.

HARAKAS


The hilly village of Harakas is in the County of Asteroussia in the Prefecture of Monofatsi on an altitude of 310 m., it is 5 klm. West of Pirgos and 50 klm. far from Heraklion, on the road to the villages of Peza-Houdetsi-Tefeli-Protoria.
First recorded in a census by Barozzi in 1577. The modern village of Harakas has a population of 923. It was named after a big 40 m. cliff at the South West end of the village.
The west side of the cliff is a sheer drop and only some pigeons have their nests there. In the east side of the cliff there is a path which leads to the beautiful small byzantine chapel of Christ Lord overlooking the wider area.
The modern village of Harakas is one of most important villages with many facilities such as the Medical Center, the High School, taverns, and a variety of shops. It is also a historical village since it was bombed and four people were killed on the 30th of May 1944 during the 2nd World War.
The sightseer is worth visiting the Church of Saint Paraskevi and Saint John's Cemetary.

PLAKIOTISA


Taking the right branch at the crossroad after the village of Ligortinos on the way to the village of Pirgos is the community of Plakiotisa in the County of Asteroussia.
It is a very old community first recorded in a census by Barozzi in 1577. The inhabitants used to reside the village Anogia in the Prefecture of Milopotamos before moving into the village.
The village of Plakiotisa has many springs and recently a dam was constructed which helped in the development of the area. People are mainly occupied in farming (vineyards and olive trees).

PIRATHI

The village of Pirathi is in the County of Asteroussia, 3.5 klm. east of Tefeli. It is situated approximately where the old town of Pirathos was discovered and therefore named after it.
The village was first recorded in census by Barozzi in 1577.

PRINIAS

The small community of Prinias is in the County of Asteroussia, 6 klm. South of the village of Pirgos on an altitude of 560 m.

MADES

The community of Mades is in the County of Asteroussia, 2 klm. West of the village of Haraki.
According to N. Platonas the name Mades comes from the prehellenic word Ma- Da which means Mother Nature. First recorded in a Venetian census.

MOURNIA

The community of Mournia is in the County of Asteroussia, 6 klm. North of Pirgos.
First recorded in 1583.

NEOHORI

The village of Neohori is in the County of Asteroussia which has been pertaining to the community of Kalivia since 1920.
The village is first recorded in scripts in 1374.

KEFALADO

The village of Kefalado is in the County of Asteroussia 2 klm. North East of the village of Ligortinos.

AMIGDALOS

The village of Amigdalos is in the County of Asteroussia, 6 klm. far from Harakas on the road to the village of Paranimfi.
It's a beautiful hilly village situated on an altitude of 530 m. nearly at the foot of the Mountain of Asteroussia called Maroulia.
First recorded in a cencus by Barozzi in 1577.

APOSELEMI

The village of Aposelemi is in the County of Asteroussia East of the village of Tefeli. It is an old community and it is recorded in all Venetian censuses.
The name of the village and the river is said to be arabic.

AGIA FOTIA

The village of Agia Fotia is in the County of Asteroussia, 1,5 klm. West of the village of Harakas. The old community of Agia Fotia is recorded in all Venetian censuses.

VORIAS

The village of Vorias is in the Conunty of Asteroussia, 42 klm. far from Heraklion on the road to the villages of Apanosifi-Haraki.

DORAKI

The small village of Doraki is in the County of Asteroussia, 1,5 klm. South West of the village of Harakas. First recorded by Barozzi in 1577.
Local sights of interest: The Byzantine Church of Michael Archangel and the Church of Virgin Mary.

ROTASI

The hilly village of Rotasi is 2 klm. East of the village of Pirgos on an altitude of 250 m. in the County of Asteroussia.
First recorded in a contract in 1301 and also in a Venetian census.
Just outside the village is a district called Rotasini Kefala where the ancient town of Ritiasos according to Homer was discovered, so the village was named after it.
Water reservoirs, wall parts and byzantine churches with wall paintings were rescued from destruction through the centuries.
In the Asprolivada area which is near the village of Rotasi a treasure consisted of copper tools and weapons was found in 1956. Also in the Farmakara area an old cemetary dated back to the Geometrical times was discovered.
East of the village there is also the Church of Tabaras underneath which a circular tomb was discovered.

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