Discover Maza: Church Art and Local History

Maza and its historical landmarks

Maza lies at an elevation of 160 metres on the hills south of the Vrisiano River. The village is home to the church of Agios Nikolaos on the central square and a stone-vaulted well on its northern side. The church of Christ the Savior stands just outside the village; Greek Kamara lies farther north than the well. These location details distinguish the buildings in the village from the historical sites in the surrounding area.

Agios Nikolaos: Frescoes and inscription

The single-nave, vaulted church of Agios Nikolaos stands on Maza’s central square. It preserves frescoes by the painter Ioannis Pagomenos dating to 1325. The terms “single-nave” and “vaulted” describe the building’s architectural form; the frescoes add a specific artistic feature. An inscription above the entrance identifies the church as “Agios Nikolaos of Mazianos” and suggests that the village is older than the church. Thus, the same building brings together a date for the frescoes and a relative statement about the history of the village.

The well and the tradition about the name

A stone-vaulted well with troughs for communal use stands on the northern side of Maza. Its location and design make it a different local landmark from the church on the central square. The origin of the name Maza is also explained by a local tradition. According to the story, Crete was known in Byzantine times as Ekatopolis, meaning “Hundred Cities.” Many people are said to have gathered at this place, and the name Maza is explained as meaning “mass” or “crowd.” To understand the place, it is helpful to distinguish between the two: the church and the well are physical landmarks, while the explanation of the name is told as a tradition.

Historic buildings in the surrounding area

The 16th-century church of Christ the Savior stands just outside Maza. Farther north than the stone-vaulted well on the northern side of the village is Greek Kamara, one of the oldest surviving arched bridges in Crete. It was built in the Hellenistic period (323–30 BC) and later extended. On a shared timeline, Greek Kamara was built before the frescoes of 1325 in Agios Nikolaos and the 16th-century church of Christ the Savior. This places the different historical landmarks in chronological context without confusing the date of the frescoes with the church’s construction date.

On foot through Apokoronas

The Chania Trails APO 05 route offers a different perspective. It passes on foot through historic villages in Apokoronas, including Maza. The route therefore broadens the focus beyond individual buildings to encompass several villages, with Maza explicitly named as one of its stops. Check current route information before setting out. If you are looking for hotels in Maza, you can decide whether you would rather explore the local history through its church, well and tradition about the name, or see Maza as part of a walking route through Apokoronas.

Discover more destinations: Agia Marina, Alikianos, Mouzouras, Dramia, Vamos, Ravdoucha, Galatas, Douliana

For the broader travel overview: Chania.