Partira, Minoa – Pediada

Partira is a village in the Municipality of Minoa Pediada, Heraklion regional unit, Crete, Greece. It is located at an altitude of 390 meters, approximately 39 kilometers from Heraklion city.

The main occupations of the residents are viticulture and olive cultivation, with the village economy based on the production of olive oil and wine. Partira has a primary school and a kindergarten.

History

The name Partira first appears in documents from the Ducal Archive of Chandax in 1368. The village is mentioned in the 1583 census of Castrophylacas as two separate settlements: “Partira Catto” with 121 inhabitants and “Partira Apano” with 42 inhabitants. During the Ottoman period, the village had 22 Turkish families in 1834 and 128 Turkish residents in 1881.

The current inhabitants of Partira are descended from people who moved to the village from the Lasithi Plateau, Mochos, Merambelo, Ierapetra, and Asia Minor.

Churches

• Church of Agios Panteleimon: A village church.
• Church of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity): Another village church.
• Church of Agia Marina: A village church.
• Panagia Kera: A pilgrimage site dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Festivals

The village celebrates two main festivals (panigyria):

• May 28th
• June 27th

Nearby Villages

The municipal district of Partira includes the following villages:

• Mikri Episkopi: Formerly the seat of the Bishopric of Arcadia. During the Ottoman period, it was inhabited exclusively by Turks. In the 1583 census, it appears as “Piscopi de Arcadia” with 105 inhabitants.
• Badia: Possibly named after the Italian word “abbadia” or “badia,” meaning “monastery.” It had 71 inhabitants in the 1583 census.
• Tourloti: Had 24 inhabitants in the 1583 census. During the Ottoman period, it had 5 Turkish families in 1834 and 65 Turkish residents in 1881.

Partira Dam

The Partira Dam is located 32 kilometers south of Heraklion city and west of Partira village, at an altitude of 300 meters. Completed in 2000, it has a capacity of 380,000 cubic meters of water. The dam collects water from the Patsideros River, a tributary of the Anapodaris River.

The dam is accessible from Partira by following the road to Mikri Episkopi. Mikri Episkopi is an abandoned medieval settlement with panoramic views of the lake. The Byzantine church of Sotiras Christos (Christ the Savior) is located there.

Village Key Points

• Historical References:
  • 1368 documents from the Ducal Archive of Chandax.
  • 1583 census of Castrophylacas as “Partira Catto” with 121 inhabitants and “Partira Apano” with 42 inhabitants.
• Location: Municipality of Minoa Pediada, Heraklion regional unit, Crete, Greece. 39 km from Heraklion city.
• Altitude: 390 meters
• Historical Significance: Venetian and Ottoman-era records.
• Population:

• Current Status: Active village with a primarily agricultural economy (olive oil and wine production).