Hellenic Homes Crete

The property for sale is own land of 285m²; ideal for those who enjoy walking and nature, being away from the hustle of modern life and still close to all kind of amenities. The estate is walled and has a small garden area, and two (2) cosy "Avlis" (court yards) where one can fully appreciate the offered privacy and have great gatherings with friends.

Crossing the 1st "Avli" the entrance door opens into a small hall leading us to the kitchen/dining area where a lot of the traditional features, such as wooden ceiling, arches, were kept and restored with love to details. The fitted kitchen includes gas and electric cooker, oven, extractor, fridge/freezer, and a functional work island kitchen is placed in the centre. At the right hand side, next to the dining area, a small wooden stair takes us to the air-conditioned sitting / TV area with a small balcony offering stunning views of the mountains, and external stairs to the 1st "Avli".

Also from the kitchen area, passing another hall, the full bathroom (bathtub, shower, basin, toilet) and a spacious bedroom with built-wardrobes are reached. Furthermore through this hall, with its utility room including washing machine and fridge freezer, the 2nd "Avli" with storage space is attained.

Going back to the entrance hall, which is currently also used as study and has a nice bas-relief, one will find a charming sitting area (or 2nd bedroom), breathing the calm atmosphere of the past, with an old fire place practical used now for storage purposes.

The house is connected to telephone/ADSL, and is fitted with solar panel, satellite dish on the roof, and wood stove in the kitchen/dining area.


Location

The village of Vafes is found at the "foot" of the majestic "Lefka Ori" (White Mountains), an area blessed by its calming beauty and Cretan grandeur, among the cypress and olive trees. Vafes is a historical village, situated 37km from Chania at an altitude of 210m. It dates back to 700AD. Many historical battles have taken place here throughout the village's life. A building from the Venetian times is operating today as a traditional tavern.

Vafes is historical, traditional and preservable settlement, built of stone carved by the named "pelicans" of Apokoronas, centuries ago. This happened up in the mountainsides of the Municipality of Krionerida, where the rivers of the nearby villages Vrysses and Georgioupolis have their springs. There are about 170 residents in Vafes, involved mostly with agriculture, but also highly motivated in the past few years with matters of the environment and preservation of the cultural heritage. The residents are highly activated in Agro-Tourism. This attracts the interest of visitors in the settlement. There are two main caves in the area. The well known cave of Krionerida went down in history when in 1821 during the Greek revolution, the Turks caused asphyxiation to 130 women and children of the village that sought refuge in the cave. The other is a bigger labyrinthine cave with unknown length. The people of Vafes are proud of their history which starts from the Venetian occupation. The villagers have taken part in all the Cretan revolutions providing some of the greatest chieftains. Their ancestors excelled around Greece as well as in Greek scommunities around the world.

Geographically Vafes is ideally situated to explore the real Crete, away from the industry of mass tourism. You can follow the trails that lead all the way up to Lefka Ori or just go out for a drive through all the villages of Apokoronas. You can visit one of the many caves, and collect local flora, or take a relaxing walk through the Gorge of Krionerida. Visit the two Venetian bridges, the watermills of the river Boutakas, the beautiful chapels and the 1000! year old monastery of the Asomati (without bodies) Saints. Worth noting is that the monastery was privately restored. All of the above are within a 3km radius. If you choose to drive off further, you will then find the villages of Nippos, Fres, Tzitzifes, Alikambos and Embrosneros. Landscapes of a unique beauty, Byzantine and Venetian monuments and lots of activities offered by Apokoronas await the visitor all the year round. In addition the beach of Georgiupolis is but a few kilometers away from Vafes (10 min by car).


Why Greece?

* It has strict build density regulations, which will avoid major developments in future and thus overbuilding
* Only 3½ hours from London and many European cities making it a viable weekend break holiday destination
* Voted by the Lonely Planet Guide 2010 as one of the top 10 countries in the world to visit

Price (Euros) 150000

Previous Price (Euros) 175000

Build area (m²) 123

Land area (m²) 285

Storage yes

Mountain View yes

Inside Village yes

Garden yes

Number of bedrooms 2

Baths 1

Air Condition yes

Electricity yes

Water yes

Phone yes

Distance to airport, km 42

Distance to beach, km 11

Town Distance, km 36

Internet Connection Available