Ano Valsamoneron, Rethymno

Ano Valsamonero is a village in the Municipality of Rethymno in the Regional Unit of Rethymno, Crete. It is located 14 kilometers from the city of Rethymno at an altitude of 380 meters. The name of the village comes from the aromatic plant balsam, which is known as varsamo in the Cretan dialect. The community of Ano Valsamonero also includes the settlement of Monopari.

History

The area has been inhabited for centuries, with the nearby Monopari castle having been built in the late 12th or early 13th century. The village itself is mentioned by Francesco Barozzi in 1577 as Varsamonero Apano. In the Venetian census of 1583 conducted by Kastrofylakas, it is listed as Apano Varsamonero with a population of 141. During the Egyptian census of 1834, the village, recorded as Epano Varsamonero, was inhabited by 25 Muslim families.

In the 1881 census, Ano Valsamonero was part of the municipality of Atsipopoulo and had 201 residents, all of whom were Muslim. Until 1910, the village was predominantly inhabited by Turks. After their departure, the first Greek families to settle were from Sfakia. In the 1900 census, it had a population of 93, together with Monopari. The village became the seat of its own community in 1920. In 1925, it was officially designated as the seat of the community, a status it held until the administrative reforms of the Kapodistrias plan, when it was incorporated into the Municipality of Nikiforos Fokas. Today, it is part of the Municipal Unit of Nikiforos Fokas within the Municipality of Rethymno.

Family and Social Life

Following the departure of the Turkish population around 1910, the village was settled by Greek families, primarily from the Sfakia region. The history of the modern village is therefore closely linked to these families. Among the first families to establish themselves in Ano Valsamonero were the Malandrakis, Sfinias, Venierakis, Foustaligerakis, Iliakis, and Vougiouklakis families. The local economy is based on olive cultivation and livestock farming. A cultural association for the village was founded in 1977, and after a period of inactivity, efforts have been made by younger residents to reactivate it.

Points of Interest

Monopari Castle

Located 1.5 kilometers south of Ano Valsamonero in the settlement of Monopari are the ruins of a Venetian castle. It was built on a steep rock, and its name is believed to be a corruption of the Italian Bon Riparo, meaning “good fortress.”

Churches

There are three churches in the village: the main church dedicated to the Koimisi tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Theotokos), the church of Agios Georgios (Saint George), and the country chapel of Agios Antonios (Saint Anthony).

Primary School Building

The building of the former Primary School of Ano Valsamonero has been officially designated as a monument. It is considered a noteworthy example of a special-purpose building from the 1920s and is important for the study of the history of school architecture in Crete. It also serves as a point of reference connected to the memories of the local inhabitants.

Notable People

• Emmanouil Bougioukalos: A fighter who participated in the Cretan Revolutions.

Settlement: Key Points

• Location: Ano Valsamonero is situated 14 kilometers from Rethymno at an altitude of 380 meters.
• Historical References: The village is recorded in Venetian administrative documents from 1577 and was a predominantly Muslim settlement during the Ottoman period until 1910.
• Historical Significance: The area is associated with the Venetian-era Monopari Castle. The modern history of the village was shaped by the settlement of Greek families from Sfakia after 1910.
• Current Status: It is a Local Community within the Municipal Unit of Nikiforos Fokas, belonging to the Municipality of Rethymno.
• Population Data: The population of the village has fluctuated over the centuries, with a significant decline in recent decades.

References

• Wikipedia