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Maheri Village Houses, Cretepeaceful location • close to island sites of interest
Apartments & Villa: • 1 or 2 bedrooms (sleep 2-4) • veranda with furniture • well-equipped kitchen with kettle, toaster, hob, fridge & iron (oven in 2-bedroom apartment & villa) • living/dining area • bathroom with shower • courtyard garden Activities available: • cookery classes (on site) • walking (we provide notes) • cycling • horse riding (20km) • windsurfing (5km) • nearest tavern (10mins) • nearest beach (20mins)
In the splendid west of the island of Crete, dominated by the magnificent White Mountains soaring up to 2,500 metres, the lush hillsides are watered by springs, rivers and lakes and are dotted with picturesque villages, all just a few minutes’ drive from long white sandy beaches. There is a palpable sense of history and tradition here, with Byzantine chapels, historic villages and the fascinating Venetian town of Chania showing constant reminders of the historic struggle of the islanders.
The picturesque and unspoiled hamlet of Maheri is set in rolling hills just a five-minute drive from quiet sandy beaches. This idyllic setting of cypress and pine trees, features fascinating local architecture, interspersed with Byzantine monasteries and ancient churches. Nearby you will find many fascinating villages and beaches to explore, all within a short distance of Maheri. The former fishing villages of Almerida and Kalives, a few kilometres away, both have lovely sandy coves and beaches, plus an array of intriguing restaurants and cafeterias, as do many of the inland villages, like Stylos, with its shady square surrounding a bubbling spring.
Recently declared a conservation area, the inhabitants of the tiny hamlet of Maheri are determined to encourage the restoration of old dwellings and this includes the impeccably restored Maheri Village Houses, a labour of love for owners Costas and Roula. The houses consist of three 1-bedroom apartments and two 2-bedroom apartments sharing a pool cleverly tucked away on the hillside, plus a 2-bedroom villa with its own pool. All have been carefully restored using only local craftsmen and traditional building methods and materials. With thick stone walls the houses remain pleasantly cool in summer and this, along with the owners’ environmentally friendly practices, negates the need for air conditioning.
The old water storage tank below the collection of houses has been converted into a wine cellar and there is also a tiny kafenion, with pavement seating perched on a shaded viewing terrace, where traditional Cretan snacks are occasionally available. Costas's wife, Roula, prepares delicious home-cooking two or three times a week using home-grown organic produce and guests are encouraged to enjoy the fruit from the gardens, including mulberries, greengages, oranges, lemons, apricots and almonds, plums, figs, grapes and melons.
Maheri is an ideal base from which to enjoy much varied walking along ancient trackways and through dramatic gorges; to discover the many historic and archaeological sites on the island or simply to relax on one of the many wonderful beaches. Prices & travel 2009
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