Thrapsano: The Village of Pottery

Pottery production in the village of Thrapsano has been active since the years of Ottoman rule. In fact, the Turks referred to the village as Tzomlekzi, which translates to the ‘village of potters’.

Even to this day, the tradition of pottery production continues in Thrapsano. The region's abundant and high-quality clay resources led its inhabitants to engage in pottery early on, establishing the village as one of the largest pottery centres on the island.

Thrapsano is a spacious village situated at an altitude of 340 metres. Its current economy is primarily reliant on three key sectors: pottery, agriculture, and to a lesser extent, animal husbandry.

Its primary school, established in 1870, is among the oldest in Heraklion. Unfortunately, it sustained significant damage in the 2021 earthquake.

Photos:  “Handcrafted Crete”, Isabella Zambetaki, Region of Crete