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People
Human activities
The people of the area are farmers, stock breeders and bee masters. Their main occupation is the cultivation of olive trees and vineyards producing exceptional virgin olive oil and wine from old Cretan varieties. The two water bottling units in Zaros and Gergeris as well as the fish breeding in Zaros play an important part in the economic growth. The intense partnership spirit has helped in the creation of the cottage industry that involves honey production, desserts, wild herbs, sour frumenty, pastries, wine bottling and the production of dairy products. Tens of folk artists preserve their traditional arts. In a tour around the area, we suggest you to visit the area of Zaros in order to see the telary workshop and the well known instrument making workshop, the area of Nivritos in order to buy basketfuls from the basket makers and the area of Gergeris in order to see the beautiful handicrafts made of wood and stone as well as the music instruments in the traditional instrument making workshop. Don’t miss to visit the Museum of Cretan Ethnology in Vorous village, a template museum with faceted research and publishing undertaking for the folk arts, daily life and the agricultural technology of modern Greece. It is also worth visiting the small ecclesiastic museum of Zaros next to the church of Agia Kyriaki.
Hospitality - Events
The area of Pano Riza offers many surprises to the visitor that wants to mingle with the hospitable residents in their folk gatherings. These gatherings take place during religious celebrations, social events such as weddings, christenings, shearing as well as during local anniversaries and celebrations. The Cretan Lyre and traditional Cretan dancing are necessary in every celebration following a particular music tradition of the place. We suggest you to participate at the celebration of Agios Giorgis at the 3rd of November in Gergeris where the new wines are tasted, to the “Apokriyiomata” that are traditional proceedings at Clean Monday in Gergeris (wedding, bear-like dancing), at the celebration of Agios Methodios in Nivritos at the 25th of June, where the transferring of the remains of the saint takes place with the escort of equestrians. It is also worth visiting the pasturing celebration of Agios Yannis of Rouvas at the 23rd of September. Celebrations take place during summer at the Municipality of Zaros, Rouvas and Tympaki, with an interesting cultural event, the Festival of wind instruments within the framework of the summer celebrations of the Municipality of Rouvas called “celebrations of nature and people”. During August the celebration of water at the lake of Zaros and the celebration of honey in Vorizia are very popular. In the Monastery of Vondisi take place a variety of events organized by the Cretan Youth organization where expatriates from around the world are accommodated.
Tour
The area of Pano Riza has a mild tourism development, with respect to the protection of the natural and cultural environment. The elegant agro touristic units that have been built as well as the accommodation places offer first class hosting and unique tastes in the spirit of the Cretan generous offering. The visitor is also offered with alternative activities such as mountaineering, climbing, speleology, nature loving excursions and wild nature observation. The visitors have the opportunity of a variety of getaways in order to see the beautiful wetlands of the Gergeris reservoir, “Vromolimni” (the grave of Digenis), the reservoir of the dam of “Faneromeni”, the lake of Zaros, and the Litheos and Koutsolidis rivers. The visitors can also cross the Vorizia and Gafari gorges and explore the Rouvas forest following the paths. They can even reach the plateau of Nida or the observatory of Skinakas. After arrangements the visitors can be accommodated to the climbing resort of Samari at the Municipality of Zaros and the Agios Ioannis climbing resort at the Municipality of Rouvas. The coast of South Crete (very close to the area), is ideal for those who want this kind of gateway.
