Kato Valsamonero, Rethymno

Kato Valsamonero (Κάτω Βαλσαμόνερον ) Rethymno

Kato Valsamonero or Varsamonero is a village in the municipality of Rethymno, in the regional unit of Rethymno, Crete. According to the 2011 census it has 193 inhabitants. It is 14 km from Rethymnon and is built at an altitude of 250 m. Its name comes from the aromatic plant balsam or barsam, as it is called in Crete. [1]

Historical data

The village is mentioned by Francesco Barocci in 1577 as Varsamonero Cato in the province of Rethymno. In the Venetian census of 1583 by Kastrofylakas he is mentioned as Cato Varsamonero with 209 inhabitants and Francesco Bazilicata in 1630 mentions the village as Cato Varsamonero. [1] After the Ottoman conquest of the island, the inhabitants of the village were expelled and Turks settled. Only the miller was allowed to stay. [2] In 1834, according to the Egyptian census of that year, 30 families lived in Kato Varsamonero, all Muslim. [1]

The 1881 census mentions the municipality of Atsipopoulo and had 260 inhabitants, all Muslims. In the 1900 census, Kato Varsamonero had 35 inhabitants and belonged to the same municipality. [1] The Turks left the village, fearing attacks, and sold their properties, and families from 25 villages settled in the village. [2] In the 1920 census it belongs to the community of Fratzeskian Shares. [1] In 1925, Kato Valsamonero was annexed to the community of Gonia, in 1928 to the community of Fratzeskian shares and in 1932 it was designated a seat of the homonymous community, which remained until the Kapodistrian administrative division, when the village was annexed to the Municipality of Nikiforos Fokas [3].

Population censuses

In detail, the demographic course of the village according to the censuses:
Census 1900 1920 1928 1940 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 1991 2001 2011
Population [1] 35 126 181 232 183 180 170 167 223 193

Education

From 1866 to 1912, students from the village attended primary school in Fratzeskiana Metochia. A school in the village was founded in 1911, but began operating in 1917. The school operated in the early years in the village mosque, which had been properly arranged. In 1968 the building of the primary school was completed, which continued to operate until it merged with the primary school of Gonia. [2]

Points of interest

The cathedral of the village is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The cemetery is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior. Other temples within the village include Agia Paraskevi, Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos and Panagia. [4] The church of Agios Ioannis is a single-aisled vaulted wall and has a fresco inside. Two layers of murals are preserved. The oldest is dated to the end of the 12th (according to Ioannis Spatharakis) or the beginning of the 14th century (according to the Galas-Klaus-Borboudakis) and the second around 1400. [5] Among the frescoes are the Transfiguration, the Nativity, the Myrrh Bearers, the Massacre of the Innocents, the punishments of the infernals and more. [1] Ruins of a Venetian church are also preserved in the village. The north and east walls and part of the arch are preserved. On the north wall is also the door decorated with a serrated strip, but without the lintel, and an arched window. [6]

About 1.2 km west of the village is the Perdiki abyss. Vasilikata states that in the darkness light appears to come from inside. [1] Other caves in the area are Tripiti and Vassile Cave, southwest of the village, where in 1944 a Pan-Cretan Resistance Conference took place. [2]

Personalities

George I. Lionis (1916 - 1969) - Military and resistance to World War II [2] [7]
Giannis Marinakis (1965 -) - Footballer with 60 appearances and 9 goals in the First National and two participations with the National Youth. [2]

References

Spanakis, Stergios (1993). Cities and villages of Crete over the centuries, volume Α΄. Heraklion: Graphic Arts G. Detorakis. p. 245.
"Kato Valsamonero Rethymno". RethNea.gr. October 9, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
"Kato Valsamoneron (Rethymno)". Residential Changes - Detailed. EETAA-Hellenic Society of Local Development and Local Government SA Retrieved October 21, 2019.
"Rethymnon Province". www.imra.gr. Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos. 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
"ST. JOHN". digitalcrete.ims.forth.gr. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
"Lower Balsamonero - Ruined Church". digitalcrete.ims.forth.gr. Retrieved December 11, 2019.

George I. Lionis: The soldier phenomenon in the epic of 40

External links

Traditional-Folklore Association of Kato Balsamonero "NIPOI"

Municipal unit Nikiforos Fokas
Municipal Community Atsipopoulo
Agna (Αγνά, τα)
Atsipopoulo (Ατσιπόπουλον, το)
Βιολί Χαράκι, το
Panorama (Πανόραμα, το)
Community Agios Konstantinos
Agios Georgios (Άγιος Γεώργιος, ο)
Agios Konstantinos (Άγιος Κωνσταντίνος, ο)
Community ΆνωAno Valsamonero
Ano Valsamonero (Άνω Βαλσαμόνερον, το)
Monopari (Μονοπάριον, το)
Community Gerani
Gerani (Γεράνιον, το)
Petres (Πετρές, ο)
Community Gonia
Agios Andreas (Άγιος Ανδρέας, ο)
Gonia (Γωνιά)
Community Zouridi
Zouridi (Ζουρίδιον, το)
Community Kalonyktis
Kalonyktis (Καλονύκτης, ο)
Community Kato Valsamonero
Kato Valsamonero (Κάτω Βαλσαμόνερον, το)
Community Malaki
Ano Mallaki (Άνω Μαλάκιον, το)
Kato Mallaki (Κάτω Μαλάκιον, το)
Community Mountros
Velonado (Βελονάδον, το)
Μούντρος, ο
Community Prines
Vederoi (Βεδέροι, οι)
Prines (Πρινές, ο)
Community Roustika
Palailimnos (Παλαίλιμνος, ο)
Roustika (Ρούστικα, τα)
Community Saitoures
Saitoures (Σαϊτούραι, αι)
Community Frantzeskiana Metochia
Φραντζεσκιανά Μετόχια, τα

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