Monopari, Rethymno

Monopari is a semi-mountainous village in the Regional Unit of Rethymno, Crete, located at an altitude of 380 meters. It is situated 15 kilometers southwest of the city of Rethymno, near the border with the Chania Regional Unit. The village is built west of the Rethymno – Agia Galini road, between the settlements of Ano Valsamonero to the north and Kato Malaki to the southwest.

Name and History

The name “Monopari” is a corruption of “Castello Bonriparo,” the name of a fortress located on the nearby hill known as “Kastellos.” In Italian, “Bon Riparo” means “good fortress” or “strong redoubt.”

After the Fourth Crusade in 1204, Crete was sold by Boniface of Montferrat to the Venetians. However, in 1206, the Genoese pirate and Count of Malta, Enrico Pescatore, occupied the island. He fortified Crete by building or reinforcing several fortresses. One theory suggests that Pescatore built Bonriparo as one of these fortifications. Another version states that the fortress was built earlier, during the Byzantine era under the Komnenos dynasty around 1185, and was known as the “Tower of the Melissinoi.”

The Bonriparo Fortress

The fortress was constructed on a steep and isolated hill, naturally protected by a ravine. Fortification walls and towers were built only on the northern side, which was the main entrance accessed by a narrow path. The other sides of the hill are sheer cliffs, providing natural defense. Inside the fortress perimeter, there are ruins of three buildings, which likely served as barracks, warehouses, and a water cistern. The location offers an extensive view over a large part of the Rethymno prefecture, extending to the Akrotiri peninsula in Chania.

Revolution of the Two Syvritoi

The fortress is historically connected to the uprising known as the “Revolution of the Two Syvritoi,” which involved the two mountainous provinces of Rethymno, Amari (Ano Syvritos) and Agios Vasileios (Kato Syvritos). The revolt, also known as the revolution of the Skordilis and Melissinos families, lasted for 19 years, from 1217 to 1236.

The conflict began when the castellan of Bonriparo, Petros Filikanevos, stole horses and livestock belonging to the powerful Skordilis family. Ioannis Skordilis protested to the Venetian Duke of Crete, Paolo Querini, who ignored the request for justice. This inaction triggered a major rebellion led by Konstantinos Sevastos Skordilis and Michael Melissinos. The mountainous provinces served as the base for the rebels, and the revolt soon spread throughout western Crete. After numerous battles in which the Venetians were defeated, the rebels gained control of the region.

The protracted conflict concluded in 1236 with a treaty that was favorable to the Cretan rebels. The Republic of Venice granted feudal lands (cavalries) and extended rights to the local inhabitants (villans), including the right to arrange their daughters’ marriages and provide them with dowries. The Cretan lords were officially recognized by Venice and given a status equal to that of Venetian feudatories.

Administrative Information

Monopari was officially recorded as a settlement in 1925, when it was annexed to the community of Ano Valsamonero. According to the Kallikratis plan, it, along with Ano Valsamonero, constitutes the local community of Ano Valsamonero, which belongs to the municipal unit of Nikiforos Fokas within the Municipality of Rethymno. The grandfather of the Rethymnian musician and watchmaker Stelios Foustalieris (1911-1992) was from Monopari.

Settlement: Key Points

• Location: 15 km southwest of Rethymno, at an altitude of 380 meters.
• Historical Significance: Site of the Bonriparo fortress, which was a central point in the “Revolution of the Two Syvritoi” (1217-1236) between local Cretan families and Venetian rulers.
• Origin of Name: A corruption of the Italian “Bonriparo,” meaning “strong fortress,” the name of the historic castle.
• Current Status: A settlement belonging to the local community of Ano Valsamonero, in the Municipality of Rethymno.
• Population Data: The population of Monopari has been recorded as follows:

References

• Wikipedia
• Rethnea.gr