房源位置

The Kamara House is situated next to a 14th century orthodox church and only a few steps from “Platanos”, a cobble-stoned square that features an elderly plane tree offering great shade throughout the summertime. Next to the tree there are two natural springs, one of which is still in use today. As the stonework around the springs reveals, this is the oldest recorded area of Vrachasi.
VRACHASI VILLAGE
Retaining its original character and local lifestyle, Vrachasi is an ideal choice for a relaxing escape in the island of Crete. It nestles amphitheatrically on the rocky slopes of Anavlohos mountain, at 365 meters (just over 1.000 feet). It is inhabited by a few hundred people, has many natural beauties, historical and archaeological sites and an excellent climate.
Walking around the village you’ll come across plenty of gardens with colourful flowers, fragrant bushes, narrow cobbled streets, old water fountains, several old windmills and the olive oil factory (open throughout the winter). You can also visit the traditional house folk museum and the beautiful churches of historical and cultural significance. You will enjoy from many spots the amazing view of the Cretan Sea with the surrounding mountains and observe houses that preserve elements of traditional Cretan architecture.
In the community you’ll find a small but well stocked grocery store, as well as a handful of small restaurants (“tavernes”) and cafés (“kafeneia”), where you can taste genuine local gastronomy and enjoy a “raki” or “tsikoudia”, the traditional distilled alcoholic drink of Crete. Being produced from the leftovers of the grapes that were pressed for the wine making process, “raki” is the symbol of Cretan culture and hospitality. It is consumed as an indication of friendship and functions as a social means of communication.
Taking the road downhill from the Kamara House you can reach the main square (“plateia” in Greek) of the village that sits close to the road. From there you can enjoy the stunning view of the olive oil valley bellow and of Selena, one of the impressive mountains surrounding Lasithi Plateau (the largest and most famous plateau in Crete). Sitting on the wooden benches under the trees, letting the breeze caress your face, offers an unparalleled experience. With a bit of luck you may catch a glimpse of the Griffon Vultures that nest in the cliffs at Selinary Gorge, a Natura area well worth to visit.
Opposite to Selena stands the imposing Anavlohos massif, an area of significant archaeological interest that has been under excavation since 2007 under the auspices of the French School at Athens. The Anavlohos represents a key-site for the scientific understanding of the transition period leading from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. The path from the village that leads you up to the top of Anavlochos requires a 30 minutes medium difficulty ascent.

Vrachasi offers the perfect starting point for more mountain routes that lead to other unique places such as the old Monastery of St. George Vrachasiotis, built during the Byzantine Era (late 1500s), the famous monastery of St. George Selinari, the cave of Peristeras and the rare Azilakas forest, a dense and untouched forest with Holm Oak trees, a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region.
Vrachasi is also close enough to reach a wide range of beaches. Less than 10 minutes’ drive is the small and always calm sandy beach within the picturesque Sisi port. Potamos (river) is a long sandy beach next to the archaeological site of Malia, where you can combine swimming with a visit to the Minoan Palace (15 minutes drive). Tip: Don’t leave without tasting local delicacies and fresh fish at the beach tavern, under the tamarisk tree.
During the summer cultural events are organized by Vrachasi’s Cultural Society, but there are also a lot of festivals in nearby areas concerning local monasteries, ancient temples and local products such as the Eftazimo (traditional bread) festival in Kroustas, the Afentis Christ festival in Voulismeni (6 August) and celebrations for Mother Mary in Neapoli (15 August). A series of traditional music festivals are also being held throughout the summer in surrounding communities.
At a distance of 1.2km from the residence there is public transportation (bus) but we would strongly recommend hiring a car as it would be difficult to make the most of all that the large island of Crete has to offer without one!
- Heraklion Airport: 45min
- Agios Nikolaos: 20min
- Elounda - Plaka: 40min - 50min
- Lasithi plateau: 50min
- Sisi: 10min
- Selinari: 5min
- Malia: 15min
- Ierapetra: 40min
- Knossos archaeological site: 1hour