ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΡΟΥΣΟΧΩΡΙΩΝ ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΟΥ

The Gazepis’ mill
This mill, dating from the mid 19th century, was built at the entrance of the village Nipiditos. It was named after its first owner, “Gazepis”, as he was called back then. The word Gazepis in Turkish means indignant. However, the real name of the miller was Mathios Apostolakis. The mill was a sign of financial prosperity and its owner was a successful merchant who left the business to his son. He himself kept the mill during the period of German occupation, when it used to be a meeting point for the residents who were forced to take part in the so-called “angareíes” (chores). It has been declared as a protected monument by the Ephorate of Modern Monuments.

The existence of a Minoan settlement in Nipiditos is indicated by the pre-Hellenic name of the settlement. A remarkable Minoan settlement was discovered in 1983 near the position “Xerokambos” and it is dated from the beginning of the New Palace period. It was then a minor excavation that brought to light a significant rural installation.
 

It does not come as a surprise that in a very old settlement, dating from the first Venetian period and well known for its rich oil production, there is quite some infrastructure for producing olive oil. The existence and operation of an oil press at the village of Panagia has been widely known, however it is interesting that a traditional oil press has been converted into a visiting area. It is an old factory that keeps its machinery, a so-called fabrica, which reminds us of the cultural heritage of the village. The Fabrica has been purchased by the Cultural Association of Panagia, who have been responsible for its restoration. Nowadays you can visit it with a free entrance.
 

A remarkable Venetian fountain is located at the fairly big settlement of Panagia, dating at least from the early Venetian times. The fountain is located at the center of the village and limestone has been used for its building. There are also some Venetian facilities and warehouses in the settlement. So the settlement of Panagia was proved to be a focal point for the Venetians that ruled the area, probably due to the significant cereal production in the wider region.