Crete is the largest and most populous island of Greece and the fifth largest island of the Mediterranean Sea. Hundreds of tourists visit it every year due to the excellent weather, the traditional element that remains intact and of course the unique and amazing sea.
Our villas are built in Rogdia and Agia Pelagia, two extraordinary locations that offer an exceptional view to the sea and invite you to create your memorable summer holidays.
Rogdia is a village just 20 kilometers from the City of Heraklion, which sits upon a mountain overlooking the glorious Cretan Sea. The village and its surroundings is famous amongst the local Greeks for the place to get the very best in Greek local cuisine. The tavernas on Rogdia are famous for their quality and ambiance and are sought after by the locals who know where to get the best food in the area.
The village of Rogdia has an ancient origin in the Venetian era where it was part of an outpost to the mediterrenean world. There are still medieval structures to be found in a walk around the village area and strolls throughout the countryside. There are areas filled with places to explore by foot or by car, including the gorge of Spiliotissa for the naturalist wanderer. The gorge starts at sea level in Paleokastro, an ancient ruin at sea side, and moves up toward the old mill of Koukos. From this mill, one takes a steep walk up to a waterfall of Rechtra, which has a height of 10 meters. There is a cave in the middle of the gorge, which is an area used by many as an area of contemplation.
One can explore the Venetian tower in the village and see the example of the lost Venetian architecture from the medieval time of knights and warriors. Another area to explore is the monastery of Savvathiana, high up above the surrounding areas, where the trek around winding small roads, lead to a secluded spiritual haven that will leave you with a permanent memory of a special place of peace and worship. Once you make you way up to the secluded top of this mountain, you approach an open gate, welcoming all travelers to a secluded garden of beautifully maintained fruit trees and flowering trees. Pathways lead you throughout the stone medieval style church and living areas of the old monastery. The old monastery transformed into a nunnery years ago, and now is run by nuns who welcome guests and show their Cretan hospitality with a tour of the grounds or a discussion of their spiritual life. They have a loom operation there that produces beautiful embroideries and cloth coverings, done in the ancient way that was done by Penelope, in the Oddessy.
The original church of the monastery lies toward the back end of the grounds, in part of a mountain cave, which the original church founders used as a hideout from the avenging sea pirates of the middle ages. The Monastery also has an ancient icon called “Great are you, Lord”, painted by a renown icon artist, Ioannis Kornaros.
Further up the mountain of Rogdia are areas of gorgeous vistas that only eagles usually see. You can also find horse riding facilities in the area above the Rogdia village. The area offers the visitor natural wonders, spectacular vistas of the sea and wonderful dining experiences, all with Cretan hospitality and friendliness that is world famous.
Agia Pelagia, located 21 km west of Heraklion, is the area encompassing a beautiful azure blue cove, which has a white washed fishing village that is now home to hotels and tavernas and fishing boats. The sea and sun kissed area go from sea level to the steep and beautiful hill side surroundings that create a Riviera like atmosphere in the glorious contrast of sun and blue seas all around the viewer. The main beach is a long and narrow beach, with out of the way coves to explore. There is an area called Evresi where a small shrine called Santa Pelagia can be found. There used to be an ancient monastery at the beach where worshippers sought cures in the waters of the beach.
The beach of Agia Pelagia is known for its incredible hues of blues, and calm waters protected by the natural mountainous harbor. One can find sun beds and umbrellas for rent and sea sports and diving are available for the ocean bound enthusiasts. The beach of Agia Pelagia has many tavernas, cafes, bars, atms, and shops for the guests who want to enjoy the wonders of the Cretan beaches, with the comforts of the modern tastes.
Above the beach of Agia Pelagia, is the cliff top oasis of Santorini villa ( a ten minute drive from the beach).
The drive from the Villa to the beach is a winding drive with panoramic views of the Sea and sky that, alone, is an adventure to remember.
Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the Prefecture of Lasithi, is a wonderful coastal town lying 66km east of Heraklion. It has approximately 8500 residents and it is one of the most highly developed tourist towns of Greece.
The trademark of Agios Nikolaos is the picturesque Voulismeni Lake located in the center of the town. It was used a small harbor where fishing boats used to stop and nowasays it attracts many visitors who want to take a walk. Apart from that, Agios Nikolaos has many beautiful beaches and bays like Kitroplateia, Ammoudi and Ammos beach, and all of them are within walking distance from the city center.
Chania is the second largest city of Crete with a population of approximately 60.000 inhabitants. It lies along the North coast of the island, about 135km away from the city of Heraklion and some consider Chania to be the most beautiful city of Crete.
If you visit Chania, make sure to wander in the Venetian Harbor, the old harbor of the city with the narrow shopping streets and the waterfront restaurants and cafeterias. Also, in Chania guests can find some of the most famous beaches of Crete like Elafonisi, Balos and Falasarna.
Rethymnon combines rarely found elements such as the old town’s charm and history with the short proximity to a long and sandy beach. It is a unique summer destination and although it is the third largest town in Crete, it feels totally different than Chania and Heraklion.
It has a provincial air and provides an idyllic scenery for your romantic holidays. It preserves much of its Venetian and Turkish appearance and it one of the best preserved medieval cities of Greece. Like Chania, there is a Venetian Harbor in the harbor area of Rethymnon, a great place for those who want to stop and enjoy their coffee or drink while they admire the magnificent view. It is definitely a destination worth visiting!
The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is regarded as one of Europe’s most important museums. The present building was constructed between 1933 and 1937 since the original building was destroyed in 1856 by an earthquake.
This museum has a variety of collections from all over Crete, covering more than 5500 years of the island’s history. The most famous exhibits are the treasures of the Minoan civilization since the Archaeological Museum is considered their home. It is located in the city center of Heraklion and it definitely worthy of a visit.
Knossos is probably the most famous Archaeological site of Crete. It was the center of the Minoan civilization and it is only 5km south of the city of Heraklion. Knossos flourished for about 2 thousand years and the Palace of Knossos is the largest preserved Minoan palatial center.
It consists from four wings around a central courtyard that contain the royal quarters, the workshops, the shrines, the storerooms and of course the throne room and the banquet halls. You can easily reach the Palace of Knossos either by car or by the public means of transport.
The Venetian Fortress of Koules is considered the trademark of the city of Heraklion. It dominates the entrance of the harbor and it is ideal for those who want to take a walk and enjoy the tranquility of the sea. The Venetians used to call it “Sea Fortress” (Castello a Mare or Rocca a Mare) but its current name, Koules, is the name given by the Turks and it means Water Tower.
Today, Koules gazes proudly across the Sea of Crete reminding of the glory of the old Venetian Chandax. It is said that many Cretan rebels were tortured to death in those damp and dark rooms. Nowadays, Koules is open to visitors since it operates as a museum and it offers a great view from above.
Lygaria is located 21km north west of Heraklion and it is very close to Wine Dark Sea Villas. It is an ideal destination for those who wish to enjoy the sun and the crystal-clear waters. It is also ideal for families since the Bay of Lygaria is closed and protected from the winds that usually blow in the area.
Nearby the beach, there are the ruins of the old Monastery of Panagia Ligariani where many monks used to live in the past. The region took its name from the same monastery, which also took its name from the beautiful plan “osier” which is called ligaria in Greek.
Mononaftis is a wonderful pebbly beach, located 24km northwest of the city of Heraklion and it is very close to our properties since it is just 1km north of the main beach of Agia Pelagia.
According to the tradition, a ship was sunk here and only sailor survived. Thus, this story gave the name Mononaftis to the beach since it means “One Sailor” in Greek. The beach is sheltered from the north winds that usually blow in the area since it faces to the East. That is the reason why Mononaftis is so popular among the locals.
Fodele is a village well worth visiting. It is built in an area of orange groves and according to the history of the area, this was the site of the ancient town of Atsali that was the port of the ancient Axos. Today, in Fodele guests can find many craft shops and tavernas.
Fodele is also famous because of El Greco, since El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) was born and raised here before travelling to Spain. His house still remains in Fodele and houses a small collection of memorabilia and some reproductions of his famous works.
Lions Square or the Fontana Morosini is probably the most common meeting point of the locals in Heraklion. It is an ornate Venetian fountain with four lions with water gushing from their mouths. It is one of the most important monuments that the Venetians bestowed on Heraklion and it was built in order to offer a solution to water supply problems of Heraklion.
If you visit the center of Heraklion it will be among the first things that you will see. Around Lions Square, you will find plenty cafeterias, bars and taverns and the start of the 25th August pedestrian street that leads to Koules.
Balos is probably the most famous and most photographed beach in Crete. It is located approximately 56 km northwest of Chania and only 17 km away from Kissamos. It is formed between the Cape Gramvousa and the small Cape Tigani. Balos is famous for its turquoise waters, the exotic scenery and the wonderful natural beauty.
Balos with its exotic white sand and turquoise waters offers a beach ideal for young children, since the sea is very shallow and warm. One trademark of the Balos beach is that in many places the sand has a lovely pinkish color due to the millions of crushed shells.
Elafonissi is located 76 km west of Chania and 5 km south of the Monastery of Chrysoskalitisa in the southwestern part of Crete. Elafonisi often “breaks” into two pieces, giving the impression of being a separate island. It is a Nature 2000 protected area and it is full of dunes with sand lilies and junipers.
Elafonisi is the house of the endangered turtles careta careta and several rare animal nests. Thus, it is forbidden to remove any plants, animals and sand from the area. On both sides of the peninsula, exotic beaches with white sand and turquoise waters are formed, reminding of the Caribbean.
The palm forest of Vai is located around 6km from Palaikastro in Lasithi and it is one of the most famous sights in Crete. Some people consider Vai as one of the most beautiful and special places in the whole Mediterranean. Vai is famous not only for its forest, but also because of the large sandy beach spread out at its foot.
Its name derives from the word vai that means palm in Greek. It is the largest palm grove in Europe with more than 5000 trees. The exotic sandy beach with the white sand reminds of the African and Caribbean seascapes and it is a destination definitely worth visiting!
The pal grove of Preveli is located about 35 km south of the city of Rethymno and about 10 km east of Plakias. The beach of Preveli or the Lake Preveli (as it is also known) can be found at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotikos Gorge where Megas Potamos is flowing.
It is one of the most famous beaches in southern Crete and that is why it attracts many thousands of visitors every year. During the 60s and the 70s it was a favorite destination for the hippies. The river Megas Potamos forms a large lake about 500m long and it is full of water throughout the year. People usually swim in the cold ponds formed in the gorge.
The beach of Matala is located 68 km southwest of Heraklion on the boundaries of the plain of Messara and the Asterousia Mountains. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Crete and it is probably the most famous beach of Heraklion. It is famous for the carved caves in the rocks where the hippies used to live in the ‘70s.
Also, it is located close to Phaestus, the second largest palace of the Minoan civilization. Matala used to be the port of Phaestus and during the Roman Times it became a port of Gortyna.
The beaches of Rodakino in Rethymno is located 43 km south of Rethymno and close to Plakias village. It is a wonderful destination for families and for those who wish to relax and enjoy the crystal-clear waters since it is quite isolated with no facilities, amenities or any other type of organization. The atmosphere is really peaceful and calm.
Polyrizos is one of the beaches in Rodakino and it is located amidst the olive groves that run on down to the sea. It is a really sandy beach with shallow waters, cliffs and some coves. In contrast to the other beach of Rodakino, Polyrizos is slightly organized with umbrellas and sunbeds.
