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A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!

Family-friendly villa with water park and rooftop terrace

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Historical monument in a traditional village of Gallos, close to Rethymno town and the beach
The whole outdoor area offers full privacy for our guests
The patio surrounded by high Turkish walls can be a hideaway for sunbathing
The garden area surrounded by trees , flowers & a variety of sitting areas
The villa has 1.5 m thick stone wall which keeps the cool temperature perfectly

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6140 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Breakfast available

Explore the area

View map
Rethymno, Crete
  • Place, University of Crete
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, Rethymnon Venetian Port
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Rethimno Kart
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Airport, Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis)
    ‪74 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!


Villa Svega is approved by Greek Tourism Organization and has a license number: 1041?91003033001 & managed by "etouri vacation rental management".
Nestled in the small hillside hamlet of Gallou, Villa Svega retains its Venetian charm and offers a harmonious blend of historical character and comfort. The villa is located on the outskirts, yet it is only a few minutes drive from the town of Rethymno, providing convenience.
The villa has been part of the owners family property for the past 100 years and is believed to date back to the latter half of the Venetian era. The estate covers 2,500 sq. m and includes a late 19th-century neoclassical house, two attached Venetian vaults, and a building that was formerly an oil mill, adjoining the western vault.
The property has been restored using traditional materials to preserve its historical character. The interiors are tastefully furnished with a combination of mellowed stone, solid wood fittings, beamed ceilings, and soft, natural colors, creating a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. The west vault and the old oil mill have been converted into a rustic two-story house of 140 sq. m., accommodating up to six guests in three bedrooms. Villa Svega is also suitable for winter stays, equipped with underfloor heating (available at an extra charge) and a large stone fireplace.
Eco-conscious features include solar panels that meet all of the villas energy needs and a rainwater harvesting system for garden irrigation.
Indoor Layout
-Spacious open-plan area in the Venetian vault: living room with large sofa, fireplace, and 32" satellite HDTV, dining area, and fully equipped kitchen.
-Old stone passageway leads to the two-story oil mill house.
Ground Floor:
-Master bedroom with a double bed and en-suite bathroom with a shower.
-Main bathroom with hydromassage bath and shower.
First Floor:
-Two bedrooms, each with two single beds.
-Access to a large tiled rooftop terrace with panoramic views of oak forest (east), sea (north), and village below--perfect for morning coffee or evening relaxation.
-Villa lacks air conditioning, but 1.5-meter-thick stone walls maintain a cool indoor temperature. Ceiling fans in both first-floor bedrooms.
Outdoor Area
-Landscaped grounds offering multiple spaces for relaxation and dining.
-South patio enclosed by high Turkish walls for privacy.
Key outdoor features:
-Private 42 sq. m swimming pool (0.65-1.60 m deep)
-Fully equipped barbecue area with charcoal grill
-Two outdoor dining tables under the patio overlooking pool and landscape
-Multiple furnished relaxation areas with sun beds, umbrellas, benches, and chairs
-Assigned outdoor parking space
-Fully fenced grounds ensuring complete privacy
Eco Awareness
The Mylonakis family, who have managed Villa Svega for 22 years, have implemented sustainable practices to minimize the villas environmental impact. These include reducing lawn areas, using gravel to limit water evaporation, planting additional trees, and incorporating Mediterranean plants that require minimal irrigation.
A 10 kW photovoltaic system provides the villa with 100% of its electricity, independent of external sources. The garden irrigation system is designed for maximum efficiency, with watering limited to 20 minutes per session.
Guests are kindly asked to rinse off before using the pool and to minimize the use of sunscreens or tanning oils, which can affect water quality and require additional chemical treatment.


** Accommodation cost excludes Climate Resilience Tax. The amount for the accommodation type is set at EUR15 per night from April to October and EUR4 per night from November to March, payable upon check-in.**Accommodation cost excludes Climate Resilience Tax. The amount for the accommodation type is set at EUR15 per night from April to October and EUR4 per night from November to March, payable upon check-in.

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Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Breakfast available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 1041Κ91003033001
Property # 6978483

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 500, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Rethymno

Located in Rethymno, this villa is in a rural area. Late Minoan Cemetery at Armenoi and Great Gate are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Paleontological Museum and Rethimno Kart. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and hiking/biking trails nearby.
Map
Rethymno, Crete

What's nearby

  • University of Crete - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Rethymnon Venetian Port - 8 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Fortezza Castle - 8 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Rimondi Fountain - 8 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Rethimno Kart - 12 min drive - 12.2 km

Getting around

  • Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Τα Σουβλάκια του Γαγάνη - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪το γλυκό μου - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Bankery - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Bikakis street food & café - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Cavo - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City! located?

This family-friendly Rethymno villa is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of University of Crete, Late Minoan Cemetery at Armenoi and Rethymnon Court House. Valide Sultana Mosque and Great Gate are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Garden Villa

Lovely historic structure matched with superb hospitality from Manolis!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl D., Halifax

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Brilliant property, brilliant hospitality.

A wonderful property and exceptional hospitality from Manolis and his wife. Very handy to town but a terrific country setting. Well equipped facilities. Highly recommended, we plan to come back again.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Leah S., Singapore

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely historic villa

Manolis was a fantastic host, who greeted us with homemade goodies. The villa was a great place to stay with extended family (including 2 kids under 10). The gardens were gorgeous and the house had all we needed It’s in a lovely village with amazing taverna and great little mini market and playground within minutes walk. With a hire car it was easy to explore the central part of Crete. Highly recommend
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clare R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic

The accommodation was lovely, it was very clean, tidy and welcoming. We could not fault it. The character of the property was fantastic and the outside space had lots of different seating areas.The host was always on hand if needed but not intrusive. The area was nice and quiet with a local restaurant and supermarket that where both very good. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steven C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An oasis of calm and tranquility

Really unique and beautiful property full of history and charm. We absolutely loved staying at Villa Svega. Manolis was always on hand if needed (but never intrusive) and was very helpful in providing restaurant, beach and sightseeing suggestions. The coffee and treats on arrival where a lovely touch as were the numerous cakes that appeared during our stay. Etouri representatives checked in with us via WhatsApp a couple of times to ensure all was ok. A really lovely and relaxing holiday.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Juliana B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Historical Monument

Overall we enjoyed our stay. We were late getting in the first night because the ferry was running behind. The directions put right at the house, it was dark so a little difficult finding the house. We were all tired. The host could not have been any nicer. He showed us around and gave us some history on the house. The beds were comfortable. The time we spent at the house we enjoyed sitting outside.. We would stay there again if ever in the area.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

James E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely property and convenient location

Delightful property with great character. Bedrooms are a good size and all have ceiling fans. The outdoor area is fantastic with plenty of seating, a pool and a beautiful garden. Location is perfect if you plan on hiring a car. We visited Rethymno, Chania and Heraklion; we even did a day trip to Elafonisi Beach. There is a taverna less than 5 mins walk away that serves food until midnight, a couple local grocery shops for your essentials, and a larger Lidl about 10 mins drive away. Manolis was an extremely helpful host and very accommodating with check-in when our flight was delayed. He also provided fascinating information on the history of the villa and gave us some recommendations on current exhibitions happening in Crete.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

David C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

Our stay at Villa Svega was absolutely wonderful! The gardens are beautiful and full of butterflies and birds which are delightful to watch- the roof terrace is great for bird watching! The variety of outside seating areas are perfect for all activities and times of day, always somewhere sunny and somewhere shady. Inside the villa is very well set-up and comfortable with a well equipped kitchen and spacious seating area. The decoration is rustic and characterful with beautiful original features throughout. Manolis is a wonderful host, extremely welcoming and helpful at every stage of the stay. Manolis also gave us fantastic recommendations for restaurants, all of which we enjoyed hugely! We loved our stay and would be thrilled to return to Villa Svega again in the future! Thank you Manolis!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carsten W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Environmentally friendly historic house

We enjoyed or stay at Villa Svega. Some delicious welcome treats and home baked goods were provided by the owners. This vacation rental was built around 1500, but solar hot water heating and photovoltaic solar panels have been added. We appreciated that the owner collected our fruit and vegetable waste for composting. There is no AC but there are fans. The garden and pool area is private and really beautiful, very clean. Wifi was good enough for us to stream movies. There's a nice roof terrace too. Shady outdoor seating for all times of the day. Nice neighborhood. One tavern just down the street and several good ones within a short drive. Bring mosquito repellant!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christa W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Eine tolle Unterkunft. Bilder entsprechen wirklich der Realität.Vermieter super freundlich
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Veit U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ein Juwel. A gemstone.

Für alle, die nicht nur in einem austauschbaren All-Inclusive Hotel am Pool liegen wollen. Ein echtes historisches Gebäude mit fantastischem Tonnengewölbe, geschmackvoller Einrichtung, gepflegtem Garten und Pool. Und das ganz für einen allein, geschützt hinter hohen Mauern. Geräumig, voll ausgestattet, man könnte hier auch Schlecht-Wettertage gut verbringen. Knapp 10min Fahrt bis zum Altstadtparkplatz an der Festung/Hafen. Sehr freundliche Gastgeber, wir wurden mit Kaffee, selbt gebackenen Kuchen und einem Raki begrüßt. Einziger Tipp: Vielleicht vor der Anreise zu Hause eine Umgebungskarte mit hohem Zoomfaktor ausdrucken. Die meisten Navigationsgeräte in den Mietwagen, kennen nur den Ortsteil, aber keine Genauigkeit auf Hausnummern. What a hide a way. This is for all who do not just want to lie at a pool in an exchangeable hotel. It is a real authentic historic building with great tunneled hallways to sit sheltered in the open. The garden is well designed and cared and ends with a nice pool. The estate is spacey, comfortable and fully eqipped, so one could also spend bad weather periods without regret. And this is just for your own, protected behind high natural stone walls. Very caring hosts with superb discrete service. We were welcomed with coffee, self-made pie and Raki. When we once sent a message that we were not able to get charcoal at a supermarket, a reasonable supply just appeared at the barbecue in the evening. The place is just about a 10 min drive to the big parking lot at the fort/harbour in the old town. Just one hint: print a map of the location with high zoom before arrival while still at home. Most navigation widgests in the rental cars do know the suburb, but not at street nor house number detail. One can still find it, but it might take some turns :-)
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kath D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect villa

Lovely villa with great pool and walled garden. All the facilities we needed. Friendly host who lives next door.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Adam H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful break

Lovely property, plenty of space. Great outdoor area and pool (pool is actually bigger than it looks on photos). Good location, no more than an hour's drive to most Crete landmarks and beaches. Friendly and welcoming host
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Keith J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family holiday

We stayed for one week in July / August 2022. The host was very welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. The rooms were all decent sizes and it was nice to stay in a historic building with easy access to beaches, historic sites, gorges and towns.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alistair D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic holiday

We’ve had a fantastic 10 days in Rethymno at Villa Svega. The house and gardens are beautiful and full of character and the pool is great. Great spot to explore the beaches on the South coast if Rethymno too. Thanks do much- planning our next visit!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A fantastic holiday

Just returned from a wonderful week in the beautiful Villa Svega. Couldn't have asked for more. Manolis and his wife were exceptional hosts, providing tasty home baked treats as well as helpful information about the area. The villa itself is a beautifully appointed, well-equipped, traditional house and the garden area is an absolute delight to relax in, with the archway providing a lovely cool area. The nearby taverna Christos was a great place to eat and the centre of Rethymno is just a 10-minute drive away. Etouri were very helpful. All in all, a fantastic holiday choice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

stuart h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

2 weeks at Villa Svega

As a family of 6 adults, we spent a wonderful 2 weeks at Villa Svega. The Villa is superb, the pool and gardens let you relax and play and the seating in the vaults gives you some shade from the fantastic Cretan sunshine. Manolis was an excellent host giving us tempting local treats to enjoy our time in Gallou. We would recommend Villa Svega to anyone.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

REBECCA M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

We had a lovely time at the villa. The location was good for us with two young kids with a playground nearby and a lovely garden and pool. The nearby taverna Christos and cafe were really useful. The owner was very kind and communicative with great recommendations such as Galera fish restaurant. Etouri was very responsive and helped a lot with queries. My only complaint would be that the dishwasher is very small.
Stayed 9 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tanja H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wunderschöner Familienurlaub im stilvollen Ambiente...

Wir haben eine tolle Woche in diesem Schatz ( verborgen hinter alten Mauern) verbracht. Diese liebevoll hergerichtete Villa bietet alle Möglichkeiten für eine erholsame Auszeit. Der großzügige Garten mit eigenem Pool rundet das ganze ab. Der herzliche Empfang und die Betreuung durch den Gastgeber war perfekt. Wir kommen gerne wieder und können es nur weiterempfehlen.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

John W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful old stone house in nice quiet village Lovely pool.

Nice and roomy with most modern comforts. Eating nearby at Christos was great. Day trip the Knossos arranged from Rethemeno well worth the effort. All arrangements for car hire and trips well organised via etouri.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Udo H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dream accommodation

We lived in a wonderful historical villa that was home to the Russian ambassador in Crete during the brief period of independence. Everything was exactly as presented in the pictures. Having a rented car made it easy to commute to Rethymno and other places of interest. Our host Manolis was helpful in every respect, and his wife spoiled us with her delicate Cretan specialties. This accommodation is highly recommended!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verena H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wunderschöne und gepflegte Oase

Gerne denken wir an die zwei Wochen in der Villa Svega zurück. Das Haus ist wunderschön und wir wurden sehr freundlich empfangen umd fühlten uns sehr willkommen. Wir wurden mit Kuchen und guten Tipps begleitet, kein Wunsch blieb offen. Das Haus, der Garten und auch das Schwimmbad sind außergewöhnlich gut gepflegt. Der Reinigungsservice ein grosser Luxus. Die Villa ist ein perfekter Ausgangspunkt für Ausflüge ans Meer, Schluchten, die Berge und auch die Südküste. Ein toller Urlaub! Vielen Dank!
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heather S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful villa - we will be back!

Our one-week stay in this villa was perfect. The garden is truly beautiful and the archway a magical place to have dinner in the evening - the pictures don't do it justice. Our host was extremely welcoming and gave us a lot of great recommendations for beaches and restaurants across the island. The local taverna (Christos) is also a must. You definitely need a car to stay here, though - the nicest beaches are a minimum 20-30 minute drive away, but totally worth it. We will be back :)
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Claudia M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wunderschönes Ferienhaus

Wir haben eine tolle Woche in diesem wunderschönen Haus verbracht. Die Vermieter waren unglaublich hilfsbereit und gastfreundlich. Man kann es nur empfehlen, auch die Lage eignet sich gut für Ausflüge und Wanderungen.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Roland D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ein Traum!

Es wurde von anderen Gästen schon soviel zutreffendes über diese wunderschöne Villa geschrieben, dass es schwer ist, dem noch etwas hinzuzufügen. Auch wenn man das Glück hat, schon viel auf der Welt und auch in Griechenland gesehen zu haben ist es ein absolutes Erlebnis hier zu wohnen! Das exzellente historische Haus, der phantastische Garten und der tolle Pool vermitteln eine einzigartige Atmosphäre. Die Gastgeberfamilie ist sehr herzlich und auch in der Zeit der Covid-19 Probleme bemüht, ein Höchstmaß an Gastfreundschaft zu zeigen. Wir kommen gerne wieder! Übrigens ist auch die Agentur die den ersten Kontakt herstellt im Vorfeld und während der Reise sehr aufmerksam und freundlich bemüht, Hilfestellung zu bieten, sofern dies gewünscht wird.
Stayed 11 nights in Sep 2020

About the host

Hosted by Kostas Vasilakis

Host profile image

Etouri Vacation Rental Management, founded in 2012 by Kostas Vasilakis, manages over 290 handpicked villas across Crete and is expanding into other iconic Greek destinations, including Athens. Our unwavering commitment to strict villa quality control and exceptional, personalized service has earned us awards for excellence in vacation rentals and concierge services in both 2024 and 2025.

Let us help you create lifelong memories in Greece!

What makes this property unique


The unique benefits of Villa Svega are:
- MANAGED BY ETOURI which means:
- We organised the villa down to every detail and check it annually.
- Quick booking process and support in every step of your holidays.
- A personal holiday advisor at your disposal for holiday organisation (free concierge service before and during stay).
- Assistance in booking services and excursions
- Pre arrival service with detailed information of the area of the villa.


FUTHERMORE,
What makes villa Svega so special:
?- This unique building, dating from the Venetian era, offers you an opportunity to stay in a house filled with history!?

- The location, as the villa is situated just 6 km away from the town of Rethymno and its long sandy beaches, lying in front of the town. In Rethymno, you can find everything you could possibly need and all of its main attractions (Fortress, Rimondi Fountain, old minarets, etc.). Moreover, it is an ideal base for making excursions as it is close to the national highway running through the centre of Crete.

?- Easy walking distance to the village centre of Gallou where you can find mini markets, a cafeteria and a traditional taverna.?

- Full privacy within the villas outdoor space. Our pool and garden area are located next to a small forest that is fenced off and is surrounded by trees and flowers, offering a quiet relaxing environment with various sitting areas.?

- There are four well-managed tennis courts at a distance of 1 kilometer.

?- The hospitable owner and his family will be on hand with helpful advice and information whenever it is needed. The owners have a wide knowledge of the island and will be only too willing to suggest places of interest and how to reach them. Both the owner and his wife speak fluent English.

Languages:

English, Greek

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