Property and local area description
House Description
SMARAGDA ART HOUSE: This, early twenties, medium sized country house of 56m2, has been recently restored by its architect-owner with style and personal character,and can accommodate up to 4 persons. It is laid out in one level, with its back façade (where the main entrance gate) towards the old market street and two other facades looking towards east and the sea. Its main façade opens to a side courtyard of 17m2, while an exterior stair leads to a 45m2 top view terrace with splendid views to the sea.. The house comprises two main rooms, separate kitchen and a bathroom (with shower). There is one double bedroom and one large, oblong sitting room with fireplace and an eating corner, furnished with a stylish couch that easily converts into a double bed. The kitchen is fully equipped with a four ring electric plate and an oven, a refrigerator-freezer, dishwasher, coffee machine, toaster, electric kettle etc.
THE VILLAGE OF ANATOLI,folding down a slope behind the city of Ierapetra, is dating from Venetian times having kept its architectural and agricultural character. It is listed as one of the most beautiful villages of Crete and is renowned for its healthy climate, peaceful environment and the proximity to beautiful sandy beaches of southeastern Crete. With 600m altitude, surrounded by wild countryside, gigantic rock formations and natural spring waters, has been famous from past times for its healthy, dry climate in summer and warm and sunny during winter.
LONG TERM WINTER RENTAL (November-April)n.
“The warmest and sunniest part of Greece” where furthermore snowfall is rare, turns the village into a favorite escape for long term Autumn-Winter-Spring sojourns. Furthermore as the house is equipped with central heating and fireplace makes it especially comfortable for warm and mild climate lovers.
In the price are included all bills (electricity, telephone, water, fuel) excluded cleaning and changing of linen (35 euros/cleaning-linen is provided
WHERE TO SWIM:Sandy beaches extend either to the northeast (the gulf of Mirabello), or to the southeast (Libyan Sea). At Kalo Chorio (ancient site “Istron”) are found two of the most famous beaches of Crete with azure waters, “Voulisma” and “Agios Panteleymon”, while east of Ierapetra extend kilometers of sandy beaches and small sea gulfs, among which the best are Agia Galini (next is Kakkos Bay Hotel, laid out in another beautiful gulf and open to the public), Agia Fotia, Ferma, Koutsounari etc.On the other side of Ierapetra the village of Myrtos offers also a beautiful, sandy beach. Beyond Myrtos extend very interesting places to visit and swim, up to Keratokampos, with beautiful, calm Cretan landscape and isolated beaches (no villages or towns around).
You should not miss a day trip to Chrissi Sand Island (the Golden Sand beach), the most renowned beach island (no building activities are allowed) in Crete. Natural environment of exceptional beauty, beach with sand and azure waters. Boat schedules from the port of Ierapetra.This part of Crete has some of the most renowned monuments you should not miss on your first visit, together with others, representatives of the rich island’ s history.
SITESEEIN
IN THE VILLAGE: There are 3 walking paths starting from the village and leading to places of outstanding natural beauty and two Byzantine-Venetian chapels with a famous collection of icons. There is also a mini market and a family tavern with hearty, inexpensive food, both open all year around. At 12 km the city of Ierapetra offers all facilities of a big city (supermarkets, bars, restaurants, banks, doctors, shops etc.)G:
IN THE AREAOne of the top archaeological sites is Zakros (the fourth palatine site of Minoan Crete) set in beautiful landscape, from where you descend to the seashore picturesque village of Nea Zakros, for swimming and eating in isolation.Another Minoan city is Lato, flourished during classical and Hellenistic periods, is located on the outskirts of Agios Nicolaos, where you can admire the model of planning of an archaic Greek city, also recognizable in Roman cities, and depicted, as prevailing idea in cities through ages, even close to modern times (ex. Regency Street, London as an attractive city spine with monuments).Another archaeological site of Minoan times is Gournia, excavated recently (1900) also in a beautiful landscape.On the way to Lato, stop at the Byzantine Church of Panagia Kera, considered a unique monument of its kind in Crete, all frescoed from 13th to 14th century, depicting the techniques towards renaissance, before the style was transferred to the West with the fall of Constantinople.
Vai-Moni Toplou, frescoed medieval monastery dating from the 14th century, and important castle stronghold during Venetian times. From there you can swim in Vai Bay one of the most famous shores of Crete, with fine sand and Palm trees, and visit Itanos, the last eastern city of Minoan times, with ideal port location for exchanges with Anatolia and Egypt.
Another interesting area to visit is the archaeological site of Palaikastro, a Minoan village and a hellenistic sanctuary, devoted to Zeus Diktaius. It has an impressive site by the seashore.
Dikteon Cave-The Psychro or Diktaeon Cave is an impressive archaeological site, located at the Lassithi Plateau, near the village of Psychro. It contains a Minoan to Archaic period sanctuary of Zeus, who according to mythology was born there, before being taken to the Ideon Cave and nurtured by the goat Amaltheia. A 15 min donkey ride will bring you to the entrance of the cave, while it is worth visiting some of the villages of the Plateau, like St. George, St. Constantine and also Psychro.
Spinaloga castle fortified island (from Venetian times, now a museum area).
Archaeological Collection of Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra.