Villa Maria, Kissamos

All around Villa Maria, there is evidence of Crete's ancient and glorious past. Dig in the garden and you'll find curious bits and pieces - knock plaster off the walls and you can see that the houses were built with whatever stone was to hand - without too much thought given to its historic significance or beauty.

Maria was built about 150 years ago, right next to the ancient 'Loutro' or Roman Baths, dating from around 100 BC.

Recently discovered, these baths and the surrounding land have been purchased and excavated by the Archaeological Department of the Greek government.

This is a place of intense depth. In the still of a summer afternoon you can imagine and almost feel the tingle of the thousands of lives that have passed by here.

This house is sited in an area of genuine Cretan culture - there are no foreign-owned housing estates or tourist accommodation nearby.

Villa Maria is a two bedroom house, comfortably sleeping four, or even five / six for a short period if children sleep in the sitting room.

It has a pretty front garden and patio area. A lemon tree, two grape vines and masses of flowers and creeping vines throw shade over the sitting areas. All windows have fly-screens and shutters.

Beside the house there is a private pathway to the front door and alongside this path there is a vegetable garden. Villa Maria sits back to back with Joanna, but each is completely separate with different entrances.

In keeping with its surroundings, the house, which has been considerably renovated in recent years, is fitted and furnished in the distinctively cool and unostentatious local style. There is a central, lofty hallway from which the four rooms - sitting room / kitchen, two double bedrooms and a large shower room / toilet, all lead. There is an additional shower-room and WC en-suite to the main bedroom. Kitchen facilities are such that of course one could live here permanently... there is a gas cooker and oven, refrigerator, washing machine and lots of kitchen cupboards and utensils.

Maria is for those who wish to absorb the cultural and ethnic spirit of this area - this is not tourist accommodation and it is not for those who would wish to stay in luxury or for those who want their ethnic experience "gentrified". This comfortable house invites its guests into the heart and spirit of the community and the residential district of this natural, easy-going working town. There is no tourist accommodation anywhere near.

There are frequent bus services to Chania and all points on the west of the island and all the local shops and facilities are within easy walking distance so that car hire, whilst useful, is not absolutely essential.

Kissamos-Kastelli is still mainly an agricultural area, increasingly prosperous from the expansion of its port, and the ferry services to the Peloponnese and to Piraeus. This is also a significant and important archaeological location. There are numerous local sites, although many are hidden and not initially obvious and in the near future a beautifully renovated museum will be opening that will display many of the more valuable items unearthed from the 6,000 year history of the region.

Whilst the local economy is not based on tourism there are of course good bars and restaurants, and many excellent small shops, but most are designed to appeal to the local residents rather than to an influx of foreigners. This is the charm of the Villa Maria and the town of Kastelli itself - they are both truly Cretan and truly real...

Prices

This house is available for thirteen-week rental periods up to one year or even longer. This is not a tourist house. Prices vary according to length of contract and time of year but as a guide they start from around €170 per week in winter and €210 per week in summer and our prices INCLUDE all charges for gas, water, electricity, heating logs for winter (if appropriate) and local taxes. The houses are fully equipped - you need only bring your clothes. The only extras would be the telephone/internet (ADSL Broadband) line rental and any call costs which we just pass on to you at bare cost to us.

This is exceptional value - often at around one third of normal tourist accommodation rental prices. We have clients for short and long-term rental from all over the world and no two requirements are ever the same so do please ask for a specific quotation appropriate to your circumstances.

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Telephone us in London on: + 44 (0) 207 263 7080

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