Simantra is an old refugee village built by refugees from Artaki in the sea of Marmara (in Asia Minor) and Simantra in Kappadokia to which it owes its name. In 1922 the residents established in Simantra and in 1924 in correspondence there where it was once named Karkara. The place inhabited by refugees had various names. The central area was Karkara and belonged to the community of Portaria together with other communities.

The name Karkara was, as said, a variation in the name of the monastery Karkalou. A lot of people initially worked on the monastery