A carefully restored village stone house on two floors, part of an original last century Cretan farming family home organized in 4 independent houses in a large, terraced garden, on the edge of Agios Ioannis village. The village has an amazing position overlooking the Libyan Sea, with a stream of spring water on one side and a protective crest on the other, layered on the Tripti Mountain at 600 mt above the sea level. The view is uncontaminated, an olive tree valley overlooking the sea, nothing in between. The altitude keeps it naturally cool and ventilated through the summer months. The village was almost abandoned in the 70’ and 80’ by the local farmers descending on the coast for the new greenhouses business and other opportunities. In the early 90’ a group of foreigner friends started to acquire few houses and to renovate them according to the local aesthetics and planting gardens to cover the ruins. A friend called another and several former owners descendant came back to keep on the reconstruction. To this day the village keeps intact the calm and silence and the contact with the outstanding mediterranean nature that is felt everywhere. Several areas of the village are still in ruin but restored and old are blending effortlessly without faking it. We own the houses, the Patio House and the Jasmine House as well our personally used ones, for 30 years now, and are every year we appreciate more and more the intrinsic quality of such a location. The House is livable all year around as the weather is mild even if it can snow at times, which is an unique experience of bright colors, between the white snow and the blue sky and sea and all the orange trees loaded. Off season much of the trekking and nature filled walks can be enjoyed always in the peaceful harmony that is the real treasure of this island and its hidden gems like this village.

I'm an italian fashion and home designer, with a passion for the mediterranean sea and lands. 30 years ago I discovered Crete and since then spent a great amount of my time fixing the houses, planting and discovering the magical world of the Cretan ecosystem. I will show you everything I discovered though all my wondering across the island. I rather explore natural and unspoiled places, original and preserved villages and small tavernas where the food has kept its flavors.

There is a very different atmosphere from the small island villages, very crowded in the summer and deserted in the winter. In Crete life is all year around at its own pace and it’s always a welcomed adventure. The village is quiet, away from traffic and has no cars allowed inside. Local activities revert around the only taverna with local farmers tending to their vineyards and olive trees or the villagers fixing, painting their homes or just enjoying a moment of rest. Many walks start from the village down the valley to the coast or up the mountain to the Tripti peak, to Monastiraki, or many other villages. The famous E4 trekking path is right behind the village. The organized or wild beaches are only 9 km away down and can be reached easily. Agios Ioannis is the perfect choice for a very natural and relaxing vacation matching lazy beach and blue water days to the wilderness and beauty of the Mediterranean mountain and rural environment with its amazingly beautiful aromatic vegetation. From the village all the southern east and west tip of the island can be reached for day trips. We’ll always give you a very updated list of what to see and where to go to make your trip the best. Many excellent restaurants and all kind of shops are down on the coast at 9 km or in Ierapetra at 15 km. There is no public transportation up to the village and a car is necessary to enjoy the many days trip for archeological, historical, trekking, adventure or culinary destinations. Each house has its own privacy, entrance and private parts. If you want to come in a group, ask the host. The village is very bucolic and peaceful; the coast has some hotel activity but very contained. The area is very laid back and we really enjoy that, we hope you will too. The house is right at the entrance of the village, a very easy access and easy to locate. You will park the car right in front of the house. Just few steps with your luggage to get to your door.