Ano Viannos, Viannos

Ano Viannos is a village and the seat of the municipality of Viannos, located in the Heraklion regional unit on the island of Crete, Greece. It lies at an altitude of 560 meters on the slopes of Mount Dikti.

History

Ano Viannos stands on the ruins of the ancient city of Biennos or Vienna, which was an independent city-state that minted its own coins. These coins depicted the head of a woman on one side and a flower on the other. Biennos existed until the late 9th century AD and is mentioned in the 9th “Taktikon” by the Bishop of Vienna. It seems to have then succumbed to its powerful neighbor, Ierapetra. Few traces of the ancient city remain today.

During the Venetian occupation, Viannos was the largest village in the Castellania Belveder. The 1583 census recorded 1,006 inhabitants. In 1834, there were 103 Christian and 90 Turkish families. By 1881, the population consisted of 335 Turks and 918 Christians. The village was completely destroyed by the Turks in 1822 and 1866.

In 1943, during the Nazi occupation of Greece, Viannos and the surrounding villages were the sites of mass executions. Approximately 400 people were killed in reprisal for resistance activities in the area.

Settlement: Key Points

• Historical References: Ancient city of Biennos or Vienna, mentioned by Stephanos Byzantios and in the 9th “Taktikon”.
• Location: Heraklion regional unit, Crete, Greece. On the slopes of Mount Dikti.
• Historical Significance: Site of ancient city-state, scene of mass executions during WWII.
• Population Data: See table below.
• Current Status: A thriving village and the seat of the municipality of Viannos.

Population

Landmarks and Attractions

Ano Viannos has several notable churches:

• The church of Agia Pelagia (Saint Pelagia) with frescoes dating back to the mid-14th century (1360).
• The church of Agios Georgios (Saint George), with frescoes by the painter Ioannis Mousouros (1401).
• The church of Mikhael Arkhangelos (Archangel Michael), with damaged frescoes.
• The church of Agia Marina (Saint Marina).
• The church of Agios Dimitrios (Saint Demetrios) in the Plaka area.
• The church of Agia Aikaterini (Saint Catherine).

Other attractions include:

• The plateau of Omalos, where the famous “Patouchas” (a local resistance fighter) had his hideouts.
• The Viannos gorge, which starts just outside the village.
• The monastery of Agia Moni (Holy Monastery), a men’s monastery located near the entrance to the Kavoussi gorge.

Cultural Events

• “Kondylakia”, cultural events held annually throughout the municipality of Viannos in honor of the writer Ioannis Kondylakis.
• An annual memorial service and official commemoration for the victims of the Nazi executions on September 14th.

Ano Viannos Today

Today, Ano Viannos is a thriving village with a population of around 900 people. It has a health center, banks, a citizen service center (KEP), a day center for the elderly (KAPI), a kindergarten, a primary school, a secondary school, a high school, tavernas, and rooms to rent. The cultural association “O Patouchas”, founded in 1957, is active in the community. The local football team, also called “O Patouchas”, plays in the second division of the local championship.