- Location30 km southeast of Heraklion
- Altitude340 meters
- PopulationAround 1500
- Τourismmetropolitan center of pottery in Crete
- History long history dating back to 1379 and was a fief of the Kornaros family during the Venetian period
- Churchessix churches and seven chapels
- Festivities"Festival of the Thrapsanian Potter," the Feast of the Holy Cross, and the Thrapsanian Carnival
Just 30 km southeast of Heraklion lies the metropolitan center of pottery in Crete, Thrapsano. The village belongs to the municipality of Minoa Pediada and is situated at an altitude of 340 meters.
The association of Thrapsano with pottery is not accidental, as until the 1940s, pottery was the main occupation of the village’s residents, especially in the summer months. Thrapsano’s inhabitants are considered worthy successors of Minoan pottery, with large jars being the most characteristic example of Thrapsano craftsmanship. Even today, many of the approximately 1,500 inhabitants have established pottery workshops, contributing significantly to the local economy through their production. A significant portion of the population is also engaged in agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of olives and vineyards, while flower cultivation has developed in recent years.
It is worth visiting the village’s primary school, which, as locals say, is the "jewel" of Thrapsano. The primary school has completed 130 years of operation, having been built in 1930, and is one of the oldest schools in the Heraklion region.
The village has a long history, with the first official mention of Thrapsano recorded in 1379 in a document from the Ducal Archive of Chandax. There are also mentions in Turkish and Egyptian censuses. One important event was the settlement of the Notaras family after the subjugation of mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. Thrapsano was a fiefdom of the Kornaros family during the Venetian period, and there are several references to the family's influence, as locals held them in high regard. Specifically, the Venetian-Cretan Andrea Kornaros, who was the area’s feudal lord, is described by Stergios Spanakis as "a true Cretan in thought, feelings, and language, like most Venetian-Cretan families living in Crete at the time." According to Andrea Kornaros’ 1611 will, he left the village, along with his luxurious house and part of his rich library, to his brother, Vincenzo Kornaros. During the Ottoman period, the area belonged to the fief of Elhaj Ali, who imposed a tithe on Thrapsano’s potters from their sales, as they used clay from his land.
The village’s name is closely connected with its fame for pottery. There are several theories about its origin. One theory suggests that "Thrapsano" comes from the verbs "break" and "bake," referring to the frequent breaking of vessels during the firing process. Another theory links it to the verb "warm," referring to the potter who heats the kiln and bakes the pottery.
Thrapsano’s traditions are also rich in legends, with the most notable taking place around the well outside the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin, known as Panagia Pigadiotissa. The well of Panagia Pigadiotissa was used by the villagers for water. Many stories tell of people falling into the well, only to be miraculously saved as the well would overflow and bring them safely back to the surface. One such story is mentioned by local Antonis Mavrantonakis, who wrote a booklet about the "Miracles of Panagia Pigadiotissa," recounting how, at age 10 in 1914, he fell into the well and emerged unharmed. Another story by Agapios Lantos in his book "Sinners' Salvation" describes how Andrea Kornaros witnessed a woman falling into the well and being saved by the water, changing his previously skeptical views on miracles.
In a village rich in legends, fairies could not be absent. According to local myths, every night in Livades, fairies would dance, enchanting anyone who happened to pass by, and the celebration would last until the rooster crowed.Near the village is Lake Livada, which was created when potters excavated clay for their pottery. Today, the lake is closely associated with the village’s pottery tradition.
Thrapsano is home to six churches and seven chapels. The most notable churches include the Church of the Holy Cross, the Transfiguration of the Savior, Panagia Mesochoritis, Panagia Pigadiotissa, Saint George, and Saint Anthony.
Among the village's important events is the "Festival of the Thrapsano Potter," which takes place around July 17. The festival includes a three-day exhibition and a large celebration at the village's primary school. Another significant celebration is the feast of the Holy Cross, which occurs on September 13. During the village’s carnival celebrations, held on the Sunday of the carnival season, visitors are swept up in the festive samba rhythms. Another celebration takes place on Clean Monday, marking the start of Lent.