The village of Agia Varvara in Crete
.
Agia
Varvara is a village of around 2,000 inhabitants, 30km southwest
of Heraklion town and situated on the main road to Phaestos and
Tympaki. It is an agricultural area with many shops selling
agricultural products. Santa Varvara and its neighbouring
villages of Panasos, Gergeri and Nyvritos are renowned for the
cultivation of very good quality cherries. Interesting things to
see in and around Agia Varvara include the Apanosifis Monastery
dedicated to St. George. This monastery was thought to have been
built during the Venetian occupation in around 1600. During the
Turkish occupation the monastery became a spiritual centre but
was destroyed in the 19th century during the War of Independence
however, it was, thankfully, rebuilt. The main church was
damaged by an earthquake in 1856 but has been restored. Inside
are some precious Holy relics of gospels, silver crosses and
vestments. Close to Agia Varvara, in the village of Prinias, are
the remnants of the ancient city of Rizenia. Excavations have
revealed two archaic temples and findings also include carved
representations of human figures and animals which are now
exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Herakleion.