Idili

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The word ‘idyllic’ springs from the Greek word Idili, and it’s easy to see how the two are connected when you visit this gorgeous stone-built family guesthouse in all its Cretan glory.

Lying serenely – and very conveniently – on the coast between the towns of Rethymnon and Heraklion not far from the beach, the property offers three separate apartments called Honeysuckle, Hyacinth and Jasmine! And speaking of nature, it’s located amidst orange and lemon trees, surrounded as well by herbs and indigenous plants.

This was actually a historic house built towards the end of the 19th century, just a 2-minute walk from the beach and the traditional little village. The owners did an excellent job of renovating the property and dividing it into three great apartments while maintaining the heritage and architecture of the original building. The traditional furniture pieces and some local antique pieces collected by the owners add a very authentic touch that ties the Cretan past to its present.

If you visit in winter, you’ll love the stone fireplace, while in summer you’ll appreciate the eco-friendly mosquito net over the bed to guarantee a good night’s sleep, complete with high-end Cocomat bedding. Also noteworthy are the sunny verandas where you can catch a whiff of the local herbs and flowers.

GASTRONOMY CRETAN STYLE

Crete is famous for its excellent healthy cuisine, and the Idili Guesthouse is no exception to this rule. A homemade breakfast with hand-rolled dough, organic honey, jams made with fruits from the garden, and local herbal tea, along with fresh orange juice and organic omelets all promise to delight your palate in the morning. Add to this the homemade herb and cheese pies, along with its very own home-baked cake, and you’ll be starting your day with a heavenly breakfast.

For those lucky enough to book half-board accommodation, your meals will feature authentic local flavors from the rich virgin olive oil slow-cooked meals, mouthwatering ‘meze’ starters, lots of salads, sweets and local liqueurs. Keep in mind that the garden is full of fruit-bearing trees and herbs, lending the freshest ingredients to the kitchen’s dishes.

What’s more, the property offers cooking lessons where you learn local recipes and Cretan basics, before sitting down to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You can even buy some local products such as olive oil, local wine, organic honey, liqueurs such as Tsikdoudia and Rakomelo, and much more.

ACTIVITIES

Not far from the little town of Panormo you’ll find a wealth of attractions, from nature-filled hiking paths and archeological sites to historic monasteries and breathtaking gorges. Traditional villages and fabulous beaches dot the landscape. Hike, bike or take the bus to some of the interesting spots and villages such as Margarites, Melidoni, Eleutherna, Arkadi Monastery, Milon Gorge and of course nearby beaches. The owner Mr. Markos will be happy to tell you about the area and arrange bike rentals. You must hike around, visit the local wineries and Paleo-Christian churches, and get in touch with Cretan nature. Sometimes on the premises there are Cretan music nights performed by local artists, another way of enjoying yourself while encouraging local tradition and culture.

Worthy of note as well is the beach of Geropotamos 5km away, which is adjacent to some marshes and attracts a variety of birds (great for birdwatching). The Caretta Caretta turtle also nests on the beach. Also nearby, Kitrenosis beach, also called Spilies, is home to the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal.

GREEN PHILOSOPHY

The owner Markos has taken many small steps in this direction, such as promoting local heritage, biodiversity, tradition and gastronomy. Details such as solar water heating, organic olive-oil toiletries, energy efficient appliances, slow food, and organic food products enhance Idili’s green property, which is made out mostly of traditional building materials such as marble, wood and stone.

Rethymnon

The province (nomos) of Rethymnon, is sandwiched between those of Herakleion to its east and Chania to its west. Lacking its own airport yet easily accessible from Chania or Heraklion, this region is one for the more adventurous traveller. The rolling hills of the Amari valley are ideal for cycling, walking, or just relaxing in a landscape of sumptuous beauty. Gorges cut their way through limestone, before reaching the sea, depositing rainwater in winter and hikers in summer. Mountain villages are fabulous places to escape the heat and see traditional craftwork. And then there’s the towering presence of Psiloritis (Mount Ida), the island’s tallest mountain, which at 2,456 metres above sea level, rises a full three metres higher than that of its nearest rival, Mount Pachnes, in the White Mountain (Lefka Ori) range of Chania. Read more below...

Rethymnon itself vies with Chania for the accolade of 'most attractive city' on the island with its Venetian architecture and winding streets, juxtaposed with Ottoman minarets and a rather pleasant modern town. It has its own sandy beach a short stroll east of the main town with a number of bars, restaurants and coffee shops, lining the road opposite. Tavernas cluster around the old-harbour, perfect for romantic evenings and a seat with a view, but the best food can usually be found a street or two back. Worth visiting in the area are the Rimondi fountain and the Venetian Fortezza (more about these two in the Landmarks section).

The city’s archaeological museum, situated at the fortezza’s eastern flank, is a favourite on the island, and the Historical Folklore Museum is also well worth a visit. A park in the new city can be a very relaxing way to spend some time, and sip at a coffee. The park doubles up as an open-plan zoo but is not worth visiting for that reason alone. If you find yourself in Rethymnon city, at the end of July, there’s a wine festival. There’s also a fabulous carnival, leading into the forty days of lent but check when it commences as Easter is a highly movable feast, and as a consequence, so too is the carnival.

Crete has such a wealth of important archaeological sites that, on the face of it, the province of Rethymnon might appear not to be over-endowed in this department, but there are enough, covering every period from final Neolithic (circa 3600 BC) to Ottoman to keep the would-be historian happy. (Read about the sites of Plakias, Monastiraki, Eleutherna and Lappa).

Lappa (modern Argyroupolis) is another site well worth visiting for the ancient site itself (at the height of its powers during the Hellenistic period - late fourth century BC onwards) and the modern twin-layered village, with its cascading waterfalls and mills (Argyroupolis supplies the water for Rethymnon city), superb tavernas, and fabulous folklore museum, next to the Zographakis hotel, and curated by Mr. Zographakis himself, who holds the key.

Axos is another Minoan site, situated on the road between Anoghia and Bali, the latter of which acted as its port. Since one doesn’t need a passport to cross from one region (nomos) to another, note that Aghia Galini is far closer to the exceptional Minoan sites of Phaistos and Aghia Triadha than Herakleion, and Lake Kournas is appreciably closer to the city of Rethymnon than that of Chania, despite being geographically part of the province of the latter.

Rethymnon’s north and south coasts have fine beaches, and in between these lies Mount Ida. On its eastern flank at close to 1500 meters lies the Nida plateau, and just above this the cave of Ideon Andron (meaning 'eating place for men'), where Zeus was mythologically reared. Mountain villages such as Spili, with its beautiful Venetian fountain, spouting water from the heads of 19 lions is a fabulous place to escape the summer heat of the coastal plains.

Fourfouras on Mount Kedros’ western flank, has accommodation at the charmingly run ‘Windy Place’, and is a lovely village, as are those of the Amari valley, especially Amari itself - with its church of Aghia Anna containing frescoes dating back to the early 13th century, said to be the oldest on Crete (though the ones at Chromonastiri, may be even older) - and Thronos, which is a lovely village; both Amari and Thronos have accommodation. There are beautiful, traditional villages at Vizari, Lampiotes, and Monastaraki which as well as being the setting for the Minoan structure mentioned earlier also boasts a couple of very early churches: Archangeolos Michaelis and Aghios Georgios, complete with frescoed interiors. These villages are on the Pan-European footpath, known as the E4. While this should be one continuous walk from Kisammos in the north-west of the island to Zakros on the east coast (or vice versa), it does have a tendency to spider, and never more so than in the province of Rethymnon where at one point there are three different paths, running north, south and central.

East of Rethymnon, Zoniana has a wonderful museum showing the history of Crete. Famous wax models of Dominikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) and Eleftherios Venizelos (the greatest of all Greek statesmen) feature, amongst others. Anoghia is capable of accommodating the more adventurous traveller, and is known for its crafts, such as weaving, tapestry and lace work. It’s a very pretty village, despite suffering badly at the hands of the Nazis due to its part in the capture of General Kreipe, in 1944. If you visit the museum of Alkibiades Skoulas, look out for a painting depicting these atrocities. Two other places are inexorably linked with Crete’s past under harsh Ottoman rule: The Arkadi monastery and the Melidoni cave, which are both worth a visit (read more about them in the Landmarks section).

On a more refreshing note, Rethymnon’s north coast is ideal for those who like a good swim, with beaches in abundance. Most of these lie east of the city, though Petres is an exception. For more on the beaches click on the section titled Swimming, under Chania.

Rethymnon is a nomos for the cognoscenti. It is for those wishing to escape the pressures of everyday life and spend some time off the beaten track. If this is your kind of thing, then Rethymnon is for you.

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Idili

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The word ‘idyllic’ springs from the Greek word Idili, and it’s easy to see how the two are connected when you visit this gorgeous stone-built family guesthouse in all its Cretan glory.

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