Minoan Art★1870 Wood-Stone Mezzanine

Self check in only, late afternoons i am available. Car rental is suggested if you want to explore the area. A prestigious character property in a traditional, rural village a mere 15 km from the sea(Agios Nikolaos & Malia). This spacious property from 1870 was renovated in 2006 with loving attention to every detail. Check my local guide! Beaches, Archaeological places, Museums, nature places, churches and monasteries, back way routes, food and drink suggestions and local producers! The space (if you're picky, this place isn't for you, house is next to nature!) Only self check-in is available with gps links, directional photos & video with the way to home. I will be able to come in house after 20:00 to give you more information about house or area(available also through Airbnb chat, links, email). The accommodation comprises an open plan living/ dining area with fitted kitchen and a breakfast bar, a stylish ground floor bathroom and a spacious mezzanine bedroom with high ceiling. Features include sinks that have been cut out of solid stone, a breakfast bar made out of the finest iroko timber, the floor paved with flat stone and wide grouted to include decorative pebbles. The internal walls are largely exposed to reveal pointed stone and externally there is an attractive stone walled terrace and an outside water supply for ornamental purposes. 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom / towels available /2 air condition / wood stove/ kitchen / yard 1 Invertor Passion ECO 12000btu 2 Simple air condition 9000btu I am available to give you information about locations and routes, mostly after 15:00. if you want you can ask my suggestions for your own tailor made tour. Guest access Included for guests - Fully equipped kitchen - Food* (cottage has some pasta, rice, in cases of late arrival, etc.) - Linen and towels - Electric stove for cooking Air-conditions are heating the house but slow in winter. Woodstove is suggested for heating. Self check in available - i can give you info through Airbnb app - gps links and directional photos. Other things to note INTERESTING VILLAGES AND PLACES TO VISIT: Time to other locations via car: -Agios Nikolaos: 15min -Kritsa: 20min -Kroustas 25min (+5 from Kritsa) -Katharo plateau: 55min(+30min from Kritsa) -Kroustas forest: 60min(+30min from Kroustas) -Lasithi Plateau: 60min -Heraklion Airport: 60min -Malia: 20min -Ierapetra: 45min -Sitia : 1h:15m VOULISMENI village The house is in Voulismeni, a small charming unspoiled inland village about 100 people just 1,5 klm from the town of Neapolis and within 15klm of the cosmopolitan town of Agios Nikolaos and beaches(Closest beaches are in Agios Nikolaos, Malia, Elounda & Kalo Chorio, more details below). Voulismeni have a small taverna(Kafenion Dimitris) and the nearby town of Neapolis offers a good selection of local shops, supermarkets, café/bars, restaurants, traditional bakeries and more. Panagia Vigliotissa church & Paschaligo is a trekking path next to house and Fraro monastery, a non renovated Catholic Monastery of the Order of the Franciscan monks, where Its founding dates back to the second half of the 14th century, when monk Petros Filagris lived, who later became Pope Alexander the 5th. NEAPOLI Neapoli is surrounded by the beautiful Cretan countryside and the surrounding area is quite mountainous with the rich olive groves of Lasithi. Neapoli is a traditional Cretan province town with narrow streets and cobbled roads. It is a lively provincial town with a population close to 2,500 people and the main square of Eleftherios Venizelos Square is teeming with life with most of its cafes and bars located on this square, where you can enjoy a cool beer or your food, while having fun with your company. Some very popular cafe with tourists and the locals is the cafe Oasis, Driros cafe & Kentron cafe and at the top of the square adjacent to the park you will find The Finikas Taverna, which opened in 2020 and is very popular with the locals and visitors alike. Take a stroll around Neapoli’s streets with its small traditional houses and the larger neoclassical ones(between hospital and main square) highly suggested that make up the neighborhoods of our small town. Neapoli is also home to a music festival that is held in early August every year called “The Square Festival”. One of the main attractions of Neapoli is the Church of the Assumption, or Megali Panagia, as it is more commonly known, which dominates the central square. The size of the Temple impresses as it is the largest in eastern Crete. In the Central Square you will also find the Folklore & Historical Museum with a rich collection, which will take you on a journey into the past of the beautiful province of Mirabello. Neapoli has everything you would expect to find in a small town such as supermarkets, local shops with products from the wider area of ​​Mirabello and all of Crete, traditional bakeries, butchers, clothing and shoe shops, hairdressers, a range of shops for household needs as well as freelance engineers, architects, doctors, etc. AGIOS NIKOLAOS TOWN Different to all other towns in Crete, Agios Nikolaos manages to mix - upon the three hills which support its girth - an arty, leisurely, sleepy and yet also bustling place. The town sits partially upon the ruins of the ancient city of ''Lato pros Kamara''. Voulismeni Lake, the town’s jewel and one of the landmarks, is known for its many legends, according to one of Greek Mythology, Apollo and Artemis are bathing in its waters. The sweetwater lake becomes one with the sea through a narrow canal and is surrounded by red rock formations and lush vegetation. Around the lake, there are several cafes, bars and restaurants making the place pretty animated at day & night. The town has three faces to the sea: The Lake and port, Kitroplatia beach and the Marina. Also you can find a lot of beaches in town, like Ammoudi beach, Votsalo beach, Kitroplatia beach and more! Agios Nikolaos is the municipality with the most beaches in Greece because of its nice Mirabello bay! Further more you can find plenty of seaside cafes & restaurants or next to the beach that you will choose to swim! ELOUNDA Elounda is located in east Crete, north of Agios Nikolaos and south of the seaside resort of Plaka. Elounda was once a picturesque fishing village in the lovely Mirabello Bay. In the hills around Elounda there exists a mineral unique to Greece, called “akonopetra” or whetstone, a type of fine emery used to make whetstones and emery paper to hone tools. Once discovered by tourism, Elounda developed into a resort famous for its beautiful scenery and the luxury hotels which are still being built in the area. It is said to be the place with the most five-star hotels in Greece. all over the world. This is also part of its magic, as many people dream of spreading their towel on the beaches of Elounda, where some famous person has been swimming. SPINALONGA ISLAND- PLAKA & ELOUNDA Spinalonga is a small island near Elounda in East Crete. It is also known as the Leper Island, as lepers from Crete and the rest of Greece were quarantined there until 1957. Spinalonga is the most visited archaeological site in Crete after Knossos. The strategic position of the rocky islet for the control and defense of Elounda harbor has marked it with a turbulent history of fierce battles and much human suffering. Plaka village is famous for its pebble beach viewing Spinalonga island and nice seaside cafes & restaurants! KALO CHORIO Kalo Chorio village its very famous for Voulisma beach that is one of the most nice beaches in Crete! Next to Voulisma beach you can find two more nice beaches Agios Padeleimon and Karavostasi beach to enjoy you day with more privacy! Kalo Chorio has also some tavernas and cafes if you want to spend more time there! FOURNI Village - KARIDI Village - MONASTERY ARETI Fourni its very famous for its 3 restaurants-taverna in village, a lot of local visit them to eat there. Its next to Elounda & Plaka beach(12klm/10-15min) and has also a lot of villages around to explore a visit some remote beaches & tavernas to amaze you with their food. Fourni is constituted of 3 villages, Kastelli, Pano Horio and Kato Horio. The famous "School of Kerapolitissas" functioning in the past as the center for intellectuals. On this land many interesting monasteries & a lot churches are preserved, and some people call the area the Holy Mountain of Crete. Hardly 5 kilometer from Kato Horio is another settlement, “Dories” reporting to the Hellenic nation of Dories. In the next settlement of “Karidi” visitors could see the church of “Timios Stavros” (Holy Cross), the ruins of “Kardamoutsa” an old monastery as well as the Byzantine church of “Agii Apostoli” which has been qualified as archaeological because of its impressive murals. At the end of the way we discover the historical Monastery of "Areti”, dedicated to Saint Trinity and situated in the middle of a stony and arid valley planted with some olive trees, cypresses and almond-trees. The Monastery of Areti was built during the Venetian period and has reached a big prosperity. It was the Seat of Bishops during the Ottoman domination. Today is completely restored and constitutes a unique attraction. KRITSA An alive village of Crete just at 9 km. from Agios Nikolaos. Kritsa first became inhabited in Minoan times, and its inhabitants are considered direct descendants of the ancient Cretan city Lato. During the Middle Ages and until the more recent times, Kritsa was the biggest village of Crete, with its 40 churches, extended on the entire south-west coast of Mirabello gulf until the plateau of Dikti. PANAGIA KERA 8km from Αghios Nikolaos and 1km from Kritsa, is found the tripartite Byzantine church of Panagia Kera. One of the most ancient churches in Crete, dedicated to Virgin Mary, Saint Anna and Saint Antonios. The church celebrates on August 15. KRITSA - KATHARO PLATEAU 16 km from Kritsa and 25km from Aghios Nikolaos, you will find the plateau of Katharo at 1200m on the foot of Lazaros. Katharo is fertile territory and holds shady Holm oaks, a wellknown target for Greeks and foreign climbers and nature lovers. Gorge of Kritsa The gorge of Kritsa begins at the north-eastern exit of the historical village of Kritsa and ends up at a flat area 2,5 kilometres to the north. Continuing in the watercourse from this point, one arrives at the entrance to the second section of the gorge, which is a lot more difficult. After a tiring climb, it leads to the foot of the Tsivi peak, over Katharo plateau. PS: East Crete is the most hot area in Greece & the municipality of Agios Nikolaos has the largest number of awarded beaches in Greece! KROUSTAS Kroustas is a small village close to Agios Nikolaos on the island of Crete, Greece. Kroustas is known for its magnificent view of Mirabello Bay. It is also known for its traditional cuisine including myzithropites (special cheese pies), ftazymo bread and aiga vrasti (boiled goat). In the past people of Kroustas were shepherds and land workers. However, nowadays, following the booming of the tourist industry in east Crete, most of the village people work in the nearby resorts of Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. Characteristic of Kroustas is the smell of Raki distillery in October, the dry but cool summers, the dry and rocky landscape and the old ladies with the black scarfs and the wrinkled faces. What could you buy from Kroustas? Pure food like honey, almonds, walnuts, myzithra (soft sour cheese) and raki (locally distilled spirit). KROUSTAS FOREST HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE PARK One of the rare forests of eastern Crete was first systematically settled and intensively used by man about four thousand years ago. In the older Minoan Palace period (1500 BCE) many agricultural installations (pens, enclosure walls) and house foundations were built with large blocks and are visible on the surface until today. The park offers marked paths through the forest along which many of the - unexcavated so far- Bronze Age ruins can be visited. SISSI - MILATOS Seven kilometres from Neapoli is the settlement of Vrahassi spread out on the rocky slopes of Anavlohos. Vrachasi is a village of a few hundred people and typical of many around, but it has some interesting features and the traditional Cretan architecture is well preserved here. The main square of Vrachasi sits close to the road and has an excellent view into the valley below, through which passes the main highway between Agios Nikolaos and Heraklion. Milatos Village is a picturesque community about a kilometer before the coastal Milatos settlement. Many Europeans have bought old village homes here, and refurbished them in the original style. Armed with a camera, a walk through the narrow village streets will provide you with many wonderful snap-shot memories of your holiday. Milatos Cave Lace up your sneakers and grab a flashlight and a bottle of water, and off you go to explore this very interesting site. Archaeological findings indicate that human activities in the cave date back to the Neolithic period. Also Milatos cave is famous for local genocide that took place there, when the Ottoman empire killed over 2000 people that were hiding there from them. Sissi village is very famous for its tavernas next to the sea! KAVOUSI village - The ancient Olive Tree of Azorias The legendary olive tree in Azorias is located 1 km south of the village Kavousi and very close to the homonymous archaeological site of Azorias. This olive tree is a natural monument; it is the oldest olive tree in the world! Indeed, it is grafted on a rootstock of a wild olive tree, making it the oldest sample of grafting in the world. The olive tree has been declared by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities as a natural monument because of the large size of its trunk and because of its location near three ancient settlements: Vrondas, Kastro and Azorias, where several artifacts related to olive oil have been uncovered. The tree is located on the site of Azorias, on the road leading to the settlement Avgos. It belonged in 2008 to George Grammatikakis and it is a tree of Olea europea, of the variety Mastoeidis, locally named "mouratoelia". In 2004 Olympic games of Athens a branch of this tree made crown for 400 meters of women. KOUROUNES - FRATHIA This is a very nice roadtrip if you want to explore and feel the remote Crete! Kourounes (carrion crows) is in the middle region of northern Mirabello, in a distance of 4 km from Neapolis & 8 from Fourni. Going north we reach the settlement of Frathia first and then the settlement of Perambela. Other smaller settlements next to Perambela, in a different and surprising landscape, are Petros, Peronides, Nofalias, Dilakkos, Adravatos, Romanos, Amigdalias, Souvlos and Finokalias. THE ANCIENT CITY OF DRIROS The first archaeological findings of this ancient city were discovered at the North-west side of Neapolis. Driros was completely unknown until 1855 when the plough of two farmers revealed the stone signboard with the oath of adolescents of Driros. This important finding was transported by the Turkish authorities to Heraklion and later to Istanbul. It’s an important archaeological site! AGOROI - KOUNALI - TSAMBI - AGIOS ANTONIOS - ANOGIA Roadtrip to Anogeia beach for private swiming and in the way back eating in Kounali village at the only taverna there(Kounali taverna) with amazing food! At the north side of Neapolis there is a road leading to small villages and settlements reaching down to the Cretan Sea. The visitor can access these villages from Milatos too. The first settlements are Kounali and Tsambi and then the small village of Agios Antonios. A bit further to the north we come upon the settlement of Anogia built on the slope of the mountain and not far from the sea. It’s a place known for its clean atmosphere. At the end of our way we face the splendid and unique view of the Cretan Sea and we can swim in the clear-crystal waters of this completely isolated beach. The Plane Tree of Krassi village In the village square of Krasi, near Malia, there are three plane trees, trademarks of the village. The most important of them is the platano in the center of the square, which is considered to be the oldest and most majestic of the plane trees in Crete. The perimeter of the trunk is about 24 meters and its age is estimated at 2400 years, as it is said that each meter of the perimeter represents 100 years of growth. It is bulky, has huge branches and dense foliage covering the entire square. Next to the tree there are two springs that have crystal clear water throughout the year. The plane tree over its long history has witnessed countless events. It was the center of the social and intellectual life of the area. It is known that Nikos Kazantzakis, the most famous Greek writer, spent several summers of the decade with his friends in Krasi, the birthplace of his wife Galatia Alexiou. LASSITHI PLATEAU Lassithi Plateau is one of the few areas in the Mediterranean with permanent inhabitants at an altitude over 900 metres. Have your camera loaded as there are many photo opportunities, especially early in the morning and in late afternoon. Its very famous because of the traditional tavernas, the big argicultural production, the monasteries, the famous windmills spot and pf course Dicteon cave! Also in Lassithi plateau is the first attempt of paratroopers in history by Hitler! There are also many small villages on the plateau which maintain their traditional color and character. Don't hesitate to come out of your car and walk along the little streets. You will be rewarded with nostalgic sights of windmills and authentic farm living. Reading most tourist guides about the area, you are sure to see it described as a plateau of 10,000 windmills. There are also some old black and white photos showing thousands of windmills scattered throughout the area. Unfortunately, most of these windmills, with crude pumping engines and iron towers of simple technology, no longer exist. Originally, the locally-constructed windmills made their appearance in the valley at the end of the 1800s. During the 1950s there were about 4,000 of the structures offering invaluable assistance to local farmers. Today, with more modern means of irrigation and power supply, that number has been greatly reduced, depriving Lassithi of its unique identity. However, there is much renewed interest in the restoration of the windmills, which would bring back the picture of the Lassithi Plateau as it once was. Exiting the Lassithi Plateau and heading towards Heraklion, there's an area just before the village of Kera where 24 stone flour mills dating back to the 1800s once stood. They operated until the end of WWII, but today most are in various stages of ruin, with only three restored so far. Just beyond this area is the Kera Monastery, famous for its beautiful frescoes. Anyway, they're both worth a look if you have the time! DICTEON CAVE The famous cave where Zeus was born, is located here. The Dikteon Cave (or Dikteon Andron or Dictaean Cave) is one of the most important and famous of the 3,000 caves in Crete and the 8,500 in Greece. It is in the impressive Dikteon Cave, rich in stalagmites and stalactites, that Zeus was born according to legend. This is why the Dikteon Cave was already famous in antiquity, dedicated to the worship of the greatest of the gods, as the many offerings found there indicate. In our days the Dikteon Cave continues to receive many visitors, no longer worshippers, of course, but travellers from all over the world. SUMMER IN CRETE: During the summer months there are a lot of festivals concerning local monasteries, ancient temples and local products. For example the Eftazimo (traditional bread) festival in Kroustas, the Afentis Christ festival in Voulismeni (6 August) and celebrations for Mother Mary in August, in Neapoli (15 August). EASTER IN CRETE: Easter is possibly the best experience you can have on Crete! Check Easter in Agios Nikolaos You can celebrate with the locals in Agios Nikolaos. The faithful start gathering round the lake at 11 p.m. on Easter Saturday in order to get the best viewing positions. The priests come to the lake from a nearby church around 11:30 and the service of the Resurrection is held on a special platform. The atmosphere is magic! At midnight the chant “Christos Anesti” (Christ is Risen) is heard, and night turns to day as hundreds of fireworks are let off. At the same time the effigy of Judas, hanging on a raft in the middle of the lake, is set aflame. SPRING IN CRETE: Springtime is a perfect season for walking and you will find botanic beauties nowhere else to be found. You will enjoy the most attractive face of Crete, and it will offer you a carpet of flowers, high mountains capped with snow and villages that shows you daily life with all its social aspects. Snow falls in the mountain villages and the White Mountains are usually snow-covered from November to April. WINTER IN CRETE: Many visitors to Crete think that the island is only for summer holidays. But Crete is a perfect winter destination. By winter (November until late March). The island lies in the subtropical part of the Mediterranean and offers mild winters with many sunny days with pleasant temperatures. Mid October to Xmas is possibly the best time of year in the Southeast with consistently calm and sunny days. The locals are "more alive" than in the summer, since there is lots of work to do in the olive groves, fruit gardens and buildings. The sheep graze the fresh green from the mountains. When coming to meet Cretan friendship there's no better season than the winter. Touring around with a car, walking the country side, biking, bird watching or just strolling through the cities will offer you a relaxed holiday. In December and January, you can join the olive harvesting and follow the entire oil production from harvest to oil. I can inform you and arrange local activities depending on the period! September: Collection of vegetables October: Planting garden, Preparation of grapes November: Distillation of raki (traditional drink made of grapes) December: Olive oil collection January: Olive oil collection February: Fruits and wild herbs collection Registration Details 00001256895