Spectacular Stone Villa with Pool in Forest and Great Sea & Mountain Views
About
Villa Estia is located at the foothills of the White Mountains of Crete. It enjoys a spectacular views to Mt Psiloritis and Georgioupoli beach, Kalyves beach and entrance of Souda bay, and of course the mountain range is so close you feel you can touch the mountains. Estia is surrounded by a forest garden and an impressive stone pool. Guests who seek tranquility and off the beaten track holidays in a small Cretan village will find their paradise here. Villa Estia - its name taken after the name of the ancient Greek goddess of home and the family - is an authentic traditional mountain house made of stone and wood. There are no pictures hanging on the walls because we consider stone patterns an art in itself. The stone walls provide natural coolness all day. Estia on the ground floor has a spacious master bedroom, wooden double bed and a study. Large bathroom with king size bath tub is beside it. The second bedroom has wooden beds plus a folding bed. The ensuite WC includes shower. On the first floor a spacious room with great landscape views encompasses a fully equipped large kitchen with dining table for 6 and living room with fireplace and 2 sofas. One of the sofas unfolds into a double bed. Cupboards are large in all rooms to provide storage room for long stays. The pool (28 sq. mtr surface, depth 1,70) is kidney shaped (8,5 by 4 mtrs) and includes a shallow toddler paddle area. It is secluded among high trees and offers a high level of privacy. It is styled like an old water tank plastered inside and rounded on all sides. The water is crystal clear and overflows one side of the pool making the sound of a stream. The robust stone barbeque is close by and encourages eating around the pool. The location is very quiet, at the outskirts of a small shepherds village called Melidoni. There are many interesting walks in the area leading to a gauge, mountain paths, and of course more advanced walks up the mountain tops. There is interesting village architecture to photograph . We offer tips, guidebooks and a detailed map with all the walks. The district of Apokoronas where the house is located is famous for Aptera archaelogical site, byzantine churches and monasteries, picturesque villages of Fres, Armeni, Vamos and others, Kiliaris river with orange trees, Kalyves and the renouned Georgioupoli sandy beaches and Kournas lake. Best quality meat and dairy products you can get directly from shepherds, and fresh fish from the fishmongers in Kalyves. The houses are located 30 minutes drive from Hania (Venetian port, museums and city life) and 40 minutes from Rethymnon medieval city as well. The long beaches where mainstream tourism goes to are also 25 minutes away from this quiet retreat. So you are close to the main tourist scene in a unique tranquil location. Besides the maps and guide books, in the villas you will find a welcome pack including basic dairy products (milk and butter), Graviera cheese, bread, thyme honey and olive oil. Bed linen is changed weekly while extra towels are stored inside the houses for your convenience. The houses are cleaned once a week by us. Pool is cleaned and ph level checked every 3 days. Many of our guests who have stayed in Estia return. Most of our guests love the house, view location, and especially the microclimate that provides best temperature and atmoshpere outdoors even when everywhere else they may be experiencing a heatwave (you don't really need the a/c if you open windows). However we need to inform you of some issues that have made some guests uncomfortable: 1) There are fluctuations in water pressure in the high season in the specific region. The problem we faced with water cuts in 2024 is solved for good but there are pressure differences. 2)To reach most villages in Crete you need to have some driving experience (going up narrow curves). There are 3 such curves to reach Melidoni of Apokoronas which are easy for the average driver. If you are a new driver gaining your experience by exploring and staying in villages in Crete is not a good idea. 3)From 15th September onwards until the end of the season the temperature is cooler than warm June /July /August in the specific region. To dine outside after sunset may be ''nippy'' -you need to wear a light jumper. Pool temperature in October gets warm after 12:00pm. By October brief showers start and cloudiness can last 2 - 3 days (not every day is sunny). 4) BBQ is used only when there is no wind according to the forestry's department's rules. 5) The TV channel range is very basic and misses some sports channels. For football matches on a large screen you need to visit many cafes in Kalyves with lots of football enthusiasts. If you feel comfortable with the above this villa is right for you. And perhaps the above issues are in fact what attract you. We do not rent the villa in November to April because it costs 50 euros a day to heat it well and because weather is Tourist License / Licencia de turismo N °: 00000555890