map of Crete Kato Vianos or Kato Viannos is situated 65 kilometer southeast of the capital Heraklion on the road Heraklion - Arkalohori - Kato Vianos. The village, like the upper Ano Vianos suffered greatly under German occupation during World War II. The residents of both villages arose and many men were killed or captured. Also, the area was bombed intensively. In memory of these horrors a magnificent monument was erected in the nearby village of Amiras. This is I think the most impressive war memorial on the island.

The main site of the village of Kato Vianos is the Sotiras Church in the cemetery. In this ancient Byzantine church are very beautiful and well-preserved frescoes. The church is located on the left hand side of the road, just before you drive into the village when you drive in from the north. A little further away if drive from Ano Vianos to Keratokampos you can see the Byzantine church of Agia Pelagia on the right side of the road, which also contains frescoes (this church was closed when we were there in 2015). This church is not on a hill above the village of Ano Vianos, as stated on some websites, but just underneath it.

The village of Kato Vianos itself is very quiet and you will find old stone houses and fruit trees, grape plants and flowers in the streets. Along the road that runs past the village of Kato Vianos stands the the Panagia church which dates back to 1847. In the wider area of Kato Vianos there are Byzantine churches, Minoan remains and clean beaches, amongst which the pebble beach of Keratokampos and the pretty and large beach of Tsoutsouros. On the route to the lower village of Kato Vianos you will pas the Byzantine Sotiras church (on a graveyard) with frescoes and also on the route to Keratokampos you will pass and old church with remains of frescoes.