Yiannis Parmakelis, a sculptor renowned for his work, has made a significant impact on Crete. 

Among his notable creations is the monument to the Holocaust of Viannos in Amira, serving as a poignant tribute to this tragic chapter in Cretan history.

The Viannos Holocaust ranks as the second largest in Greece, following only the tragedy of Kalavryta. Each year, the local community commemorates the memory of the victims with a series of solemn events.

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In 2004, Savvas Petrakis conceived the idea of creating a Museum of Fine Arts in Keratokampos and managed to convince some of the most significant contemporary Greek artists to create high-quality aesthetic works and donate them to the Viannos Art Gallery. Many of these works were inspired by the natural beauty of the Viannos landscape, the area's rich cultural heritage, and the significant history of Viannos in general.

Thanks to funding from the Region of Crete, a collection of approximately 200 works found a permanent home in a privately owned space starting in 2008. This space was built on the location of an old factory that was donated to the Vigla Cultural Association of Keratokampos-Kapsalos. The association managed the development of the space, which was officially opened by the former President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias.

More information HERE.

Located at the exit of the Afrati Gorge is a convent dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, it was built by three Cypriot nuns, who had formerly built the church of Agios Demetriou in Keratokampos.  The convent was inhabited until 1842, but was deserted between 1842 and 1865.

On the 15th of August, the convent hosts a grand feast, which attracts numerous pilgrims from the nearby villages.

Information: orthodoxcrete.com

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The monk Artemios established the Monastery of St Anthony approximately in 1880. According to legend, Artemios initially selected the exit of the Arvi Gorge, where the sanctuary of Arvios Zeus was situated, as the site for the monastery. However, he later relocated it to a higher point on the eastern slopes of the hill, where he constructed the initial cells of the monastery.

The monastery experienced moments of great prosperity in the past, but today only some of its ruined buildings remain, among them two churches dedicated to St Anthony.

Info/Photo: orthodoxcrete.com

Kato Symi houses the most significant antiquities of Viannos.

The Neopalatial (Middle Minoan III b) Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Krya Vrysi is among the most important ancient sanctuaries, and notably, it is the sole documented place of worship in Crete and Greece that operated continuously for many centuries without interruption.

Established around 2,000 BC, the sanctuary's location aligns with Mt Athos, as indicated by Ptolemy, and is situated between ancient Tsoutsouras and Ierapytna (modern Ierapetra). Worship in this region commenced during the Middle Minoan Era and persisted until the Roman imperial years. Artefacts from the Symi sanctuary are presently housed in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

Info/Photo: Wikipedia