The House
The Old Kafenion was lovingly restored 15 years ago, from a 300 year old ruin of what used to be a coffee shop (Kafenion). The English couple who restored it incorporated many of the original features and added personal touches, such as the beautiful stained glass windows.
The house is in the small traditional Cretan village of Mourné, which is situated 500 metres up in the hills, a few kilometres from the pretty oasis town of Spili (with its famous fountains) and 26 km from the Venetian harbour town of Rethymno. The area attracts many walkers.
Spili has supermarkets, a bank, post office, health centre, chemist, bakery and many tourist shops, cafés and tavernas. It is also the departure point for safari tours and for those who wish to see the stunning mountainous landscape of the real Crete. The first village they pass through is Mourné. For lovers of gardens, spring is the best time to visit, as the flowers are particularly beautiful in this area. There are many varieties of wild flowers, including the interestingly named Two Naked Man Orchid (Orchis Italica), the Cretan Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum Samariense), one of Crete's most elusive and threatened plants, the Cretan Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia Cretica), Pyramidial Orchid (Anacamptis Pyramidalis), Cretan Arum, Cretan Bryony, Pink Hawksbeard, Cretan Sowbread, various varieties of Bellflower, Cretan Tulip and many others.
Our holiday accommodation is located in a separate "wing" of the house with its own entrance from the central terrace, accessed through the tree-filled garden.
We can accommodate up to seven people in three rooms, one of which doubles as a sitting room. There is a large bathroom.
All the beds are fitted with memory foam toppers and plenty of pillows and towels are provided as well as all the usual essentials, including a hairdryer.
The flat screen TVs both have built-in DVD players and there is a selection of DVDs for your entertainment. We will also be happy to wash clothes if required for visits of three days or more.
Although we do not provide a cooked breakfast, we do provide a wide selection of teas and coffees as well as breakfast cereals, yoghurt, honey and fruit. There is a fridge and a combination grill/microwave oven if you wish to cook your own food, although there are plenty of excellent cafés and tavernas in Spili. For those who do not have their own transport, (we have plenty of parking) we will be happy to run you down to Spili and back.
There is a large garden with four walnut and seven citrus trees, providing plenty of shade in the hot summer months. There are various seating areas scattered around also.
We welcome well behaved, cat-friendly dogs! We have four of our own, as well as cats. We also foster both dogs and cats for APAL
The house is in the small traditional Cretan village of Mourné, which is situated 500 metres up in the hills, a few kilometres from the pretty oasis town of Spili (with its famous fountains) and 26 km from the Venetian harbour town of Rethymno. The area attracts many walkers.
Spili has supermarkets, a bank, post office, health centre, chemist, bakery and many tourist shops, cafés and tavernas. It is also the departure point for safari tours and for those who wish to see the stunning mountainous landscape of the real Crete. The first village they pass through is Mourné. For lovers of gardens, spring is the best time to visit, as the flowers are particularly beautiful in this area. There are many varieties of wild flowers, including the interestingly named Two Naked Man Orchid (Orchis Italica), the Cretan Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum Samariense), one of Crete's most elusive and threatened plants, the Cretan Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia Cretica), Pyramidial Orchid (Anacamptis Pyramidalis), Cretan Arum, Cretan Bryony, Pink Hawksbeard, Cretan Sowbread, various varieties of Bellflower, Cretan Tulip and many others.
Our holiday accommodation is located in a separate "wing" of the house with its own entrance from the central terrace, accessed through the tree-filled garden.
We can accommodate up to seven people in three rooms, one of which doubles as a sitting room. There is a large bathroom.
All the beds are fitted with memory foam toppers and plenty of pillows and towels are provided as well as all the usual essentials, including a hairdryer.
The flat screen TVs both have built-in DVD players and there is a selection of DVDs for your entertainment. We will also be happy to wash clothes if required for visits of three days or more.
Although we do not provide a cooked breakfast, we do provide a wide selection of teas and coffees as well as breakfast cereals, yoghurt, honey and fruit. There is a fridge and a combination grill/microwave oven if you wish to cook your own food, although there are plenty of excellent cafés and tavernas in Spili. For those who do not have their own transport, (we have plenty of parking) we will be happy to run you down to Spili and back.
There is a large garden with four walnut and seven citrus trees, providing plenty of shade in the hot summer months. There are various seating areas scattered around also.
We welcome well behaved, cat-friendly dogs! We have four of our own, as well as cats. We also foster both dogs and cats for APAL
The Area
The nearest beach is twenty minutes away on the south coast and is a quiet and unspoilt beach with two tavernas. For those looking for a livelier beach area, with umbrellas/sun beds etc., Plakias, Damnoni and Souda beaches (also on the south coast) are all within half an hour.
Rethymno, Crete's third largest city, is only twenty-five minutes away offering restaurants, bars, shops of all kinds and museums galore.
In the Amari valley nearby is the beautiful Patsos gorge with its famous chapel in the rock of S. Antonios. At the top of the gorge is an authentic recreation of a traditional Cretan village with its friendly animals. There is also a fantastic taverna called "Drimos" which is very popular with locals and open all year round.
Closer to home are many beautiful walks in the hills, punctuated by small isolated chapels on hilltops.
More about Mourne Village
Rethymno, Crete's third largest city, is only twenty-five minutes away offering restaurants, bars, shops of all kinds and museums galore.
In the Amari valley nearby is the beautiful Patsos gorge with its famous chapel in the rock of S. Antonios. At the top of the gorge is an authentic recreation of a traditional Cretan village with its friendly animals. There is also a fantastic taverna called "Drimos" which is very popular with locals and open all year round.
Closer to home are many beautiful walks in the hills, punctuated by small isolated chapels on hilltops.
More about Mourne Village