Askyfou Historical Villa is an experience a bridge to the past and the now. An opportunity to enjoy nature, beauty, tradition, local cuisine and why not ponder upon the ever longing of humans for freedom, for safety, for being able to live and enjoy life with their loved ones. Villa Askyfou Ιs not only the history of my own family but of the history of Crete and freedom fighters that Crete gave birth to. Based on its history and antiquity, was renovated with natural materials of the area, such as stone and cypress wood. It was framed with 19th-century furniture from the rest of Crete and equally historic areas of the Peloponnese and Chios. Dominant, among the family heilrooms, is the gun of my Great Grandfather Captain Katsoulis, with which he fought in WW 2 and which is kept as an exhibit inside the house. My grandmother Aspasia's traditional loom from 1910, was converted into a king-size bed. In honour of all those women who like Penelope of the oldest European text waited for the return of her husband Ulysses who went off to war holding up the fort in his absence. Today one can still see the weaving that Grandma wove on her loom, symbolizing the Greek-American friendship that was established during her lifetime. So many immigrated as Greece was depleted and more than 10% of its population exterminated, some reached America. Old farm & ranching tools adorn the walls and revive the traditional way of life of my Ancestors and residents.

I am Ioannis 55 years old and I leave in Rethymno City. I was policeman & profesional foorball player for 25 years. I like to travel, live new experiences in all over the world, and share them with my guests. As a child a small boy, I listened with admiration to my Parents referring the life of my Ancestors. These Warriors of unparalleled Spirit, who fought in every battle for their Ideals, Independence and Freedom of their Homeland and especially of the region of Askyfou. Coming from such a bloodline is not only an honour but also comes with a great responsibility! When ever I returned to Askyfou years later, during the spring and Easter holidays, I was truly fascinated as the rugged imposing landscape, the tranquillity of the area, and the history of the house where these legends lived that inspired me to renovate it as a Tribute to my forefathers and heroes of Crete that roamed this landscape once. So my journey began to restore and unravel as much as I could concerning the life of the ones that fought for ultimately my own freedom and of my children. I was surprised to discover family heirlooms of sentimental and historical value whilst tackling what looked like a heap of stones forgotten. Villa Informtion: Pool is 2 meters deep. For indoor heating, electric portable heaters are provided free of charge. The central heating system (oil burner) wokrs only upon consultation with an extra charge.

Villa is located in the village of Goni on the Askyfou plateau, at an altitude of 730 metres. Its panoramic position offers excellent views of the Plateau, which is surrounded by the White Mountains. Askyfou in the past two centuries has been the site of incessant revolutions and battles between the local and foreign powers that wanted to conquer the island. In the area, there are scattered monuments commemorating these fierce battles. Here one experiences the tranquillity and peace harmoniously combined with the local Cretan development and tradition. Just a short walk from the villa unfolds images of another historical era. One will encounter stone-built castles & houses, chapels, the war museum, and images of local development with deep roots in the past and long branches in the future. At a distance of also 5 minutes in the taverns of the village of Ammoudari, one can taste genuine traditional local flavours, with raw materials of local production and enjoy the hospitality and the taste of the inhabitants. The market of the village, apart from local traditional products, offers products of all types, as well as the fuel that the visitor needs for his stay and excursions. Askifou, the nearby plateaus of Tavira and Nieto and the gorge of Imbros are ideal places for walks and hikes, offering images of wild and unspoilt beauty. Is the same distance from the most picturesque & cosmopolitan cities of Crete, Chania and Rethymno (42km) and the same distance between the North and South Coastline. To the southwest, there is Sfakia Chora (20km) with excellent beaches, gorges, the historic villages of Anopolis & Aradaina, and the most famous fishing village of Crete, Loutro. Southeast is the historic Frangokastello with a beautiful beach and several panoramic villages until you meet it. Finally Northwest of Villa, on longer excursions one can find some of the most exotic and unspoilt beaches on the island.