Krasi, Heraklion

Krasi (Κράσιον) Heraklion

Krasi is a village and homonymous Municipal District of the province of Pediada, at an altitude of 600 m. In the Municipality of Hersonissos in the prefecture of Heraklion. It is located in the northwestern foothills of Mount Selena, which has an altitude of 1,559 m., At a distance of 46.3 km from the city of Heraklion. The main occupation of the inhabitants is olive cultivation and animal husbandry.

In the northeast of the village, in the northern foothills of Selena, forests of azilakas, holly and maple trees survive. An exception is the small plateau at the foot of the settlement and on its northeastern side, which, although small in area, has very fertile soil and covers with its crops a large part of the nutritional needs of the inhabitants.

Historical data

Krasi refers to contracts of 1280 Crassi and in 1583 had 169 inhabitants (Kastrofylakas, K94). During the Turkish occupation, there were no Turks. Kazantzakis was parading at this point and this can be seen in his works, such as in "Captain Michalis", scenes of which take place in the shadow of the old plane tree, in Selena, etc. A circular vaulted tomb with Cycladic influence was excavated at Armi. The excavation was carried out by Spyros Marinatos.

Sights

At the highest point of the village is "Megali Vrisi", a spring with abundant water, which irrigates a large area, with many fruit trees, mainly walnuts. Vrises in Krasi is one of the most beautiful water supply complexes in Crete. According to the sign, they were built in 1890 at the expense of the community by Mohican craftsmen who were sought after and renowned. There are two fountains and as mentioned by the inhabitants, the upper fountain and the lower one. They are all vaulted with a trough each. Right next to the lower fountain are the stone troughs of the village where in the old days it was the meeting place of women and small children since they spent endless hours there washing clothes.

Near the spring there is a huge plane tree with a trunk circumference of 24 meters and an extensive square is shaded, where the stay during the summer months is pleasant and the social events of the village are organized. The plane tree is known for its size [1] and its age [2], which is estimated by residents to be over a thousand years old, between 1,800 and 2,000 years old.

Sources

Heraklion and its Prefecture, published by the Prefecture of Heraklion.
Municipal Unit of Malia
Project: Promoting the age-old plane tree in Krasi

References

Eleftherotypia Archived 2009-02-16 at Wayback Machine., 18 August 2007
We Stay in Greece Archived 2006-08-28 on Wayback Machine., ERT, Journey to Avdou, Wine and Cherry

Municipal unit Malia
Municipal Community Malia
Malia (Μάλια, τα)
Municipal Community Mochos
Mochos (Μοχός, ο)
Σταλίς, η
Community Krasi
Krasi (Κράσιον, το)

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