Oreino, Ierapetra

Oreino (Greek: Ορεινό), also known as Orno (Greek: Ορνό), is a village and the seat of the homonymous community in the municipality of Ierapetra, in eastern Crete. According to the 2011 census, it has 101 inhabitants. It is built at an altitude of 620 meters, on the slopes of Mount Afentis (1,475 m), 29 kilometers northeast of Ierapetra. The Oreino Gorge, 5 kilometers long and ending near Koutsouras, starts from the village. Inside the gorge is the frescoed Byzantine church of the Transfiguration of the Savior.

Historical data

Oreino was originally built on the top of Kastri, opposite the current location of the village. Stergios Spanakis mentions that the name of the village comes from the word oreino (Greek: ορεινό), which means mountainous. The oldest known mention of the settlement is in a document of the Ducal Archive of Chandax, in 1368, when it was a fief of Nicoletto Dandulo. It is mentioned as Orno by Francis Barozzi in 1577. The village is mentioned in the Venetian census of 1583 as Orno with 217 inhabitants. In the census of 1630 and 1671 it is mentioned as Orno, while in the Egyptian census of 1834 it is mentioned as Torno (t’ Orno) with 16 Christian families. In 1881 it had 357 Christian inhabitants and 3 Muslims. Since 1900 it has been referred to in the censuses as Oreino.

Population evolution according to censuses:

Sights

The pine trees and Lake Skafi

Oreino is considered something special and unique in Lasithi, as it emerges verdant, amidst a forest area with pine trees. Moreover, although it is a place that has avoided tourist development, it is a destination for every season of the year, having very close to it both Lake Skafi and the Gorge of the Red Butterflies – a name that, of course, immediately impresses those who hear it.

The Gorge of the Red Butterflies

The Gorge of the Red Butterflies may not be as famous as that of Ha, for example, but those who have crossed it consider it among the most beautiful in Crete. Its special name, of course, is due to the fact that it is inhabited by red butterflies. Once they were countless, but in 1993 a devastating fire broke out here, which significantly damaged their population. Now, 30 years after the disaster, the vegetation has been restored, but the red butterflies have not returned to their previous numbers. If you are lucky, however, you will see some of them popping out of the surrounding phrygana and other bushes, as you cross their “home”.

The gorge starts from Oreino and reaches the coastal village of Koutsouras, which is a holiday destination for the people of Lasithi. The route is estimated at about 6.5 kilometers and you will travel it in 4 hours of hiking.

How to get to Oreino (and to a wonderful tavern)

Oreino is part of the wider area of Ierapetra – the largest city in Lasithi in terms of population – from which it is just under 30 kilometers away. Calculate that, by road, you will get here in half an hour to 40 minutes.

Those who visit the area usually do so as a day trip, having their base in Ierapetra, since, as we said, the village is not touristically developed, so it does not have accommodation infrastructure. The mild winters make Oreino a suitable destination for every season of the year. The route is very easy, as, after Ierapetra, you only have to move northeast, following the provincial road of Kato Chorio-Siteia, which passes through Oreino. From the village, now, another road starts, which connects it with Thrypi.

Reason to visit Oreino, however, beyond nature, is also the food. The village, that is, may have only one cafe and one tavern – called “Orno” (tel: 697 324 1863) – but the reputation of the latter has spread to Lasithi, with the result that many flock there to taste the Cretan cuisine in its most traditional and handmade. The menu includes snails with coarse, myzithropita, staka with eggs, as well as various cooked dishes (wonderful, for example, the stuffed vegetables, but also the goat, which is baked in a wood oven). Even the dakos is their own preparation, many vegetables come from their garden, while it is worth trying their raki.

Settlement: Key Points

• Historical References: First mentioned in 1368 by the Venetians as “Orno”.
• Location: Located in eastern Crete, in the municipality of Ierapetra.
• Historical Significance: The village has a rich history dating back to the Byzantine era.
• Population Data: See table above.
• Current Status: A quiet village, known for its natural beauty and traditional tavern.

References

• Ορεινό Λασιθίου – Wikipedia
• Ορεινό: Ένα χωριό με λίμνη, φαράγγι και… κόκκινες πεταλούδες | Travel.gr