Why we like it:
Peaceful hillside rural location, attractive, fine building, real inn
atmosphere, "elegant smallness", dry & airy
OUR REVIEW When you drive up into the hills the views open up and the trees
and rocks become interesting. As all traces of the the city, then the
town and finally even the nearby village vanish, Villa Kerasia quietly
greets you with its
pleasing country house standing on the hillside. Even on the first
visit it feels like you are seeing a trusted old friend again.
Villa Kerasia offers a welcoming face that only a building of
this quality provides, in this ideal setting, with the beauty of the
hills rolling into the distance. Clinging to the hillsides are several
villages which you might visit. The countryside around beckons:
a lush green much of the year, arable
and tree-lined, rock outcrops, distant colourful boxes of beehives,
the vineyards beyond. This is a busy wine-making area and the vintages on
offer are growing in appeal and quality. Kerasia is here to tempt you,
a rather grand country house. A fine small inn.
The air is clear, morning mists miss you and dampen only those
in the valleys below - leaving you and the few lucky guests at Kerasia to
enjoy a drier more palatable climate, rarely too hot, always relaxing.
At Villa Kerasia, the lobby and dining area for guests has a discreet
and quiet small back room for quiet corner conversations (it includes
the old olive press mill stones).
Breakfast (included in the price) in the main hall is a delight and evening meals can be
enjoyed at Kerasia when previously requested the same morning. An
evening meal is 12 or 15 euros per person (vegetarian or with meat
dish) and includes drinks.
Drinks are available when you wish, there is a basic bar selection.
The entrance area leads, via its salvaged ancient iron railing, upstairs to the bedrooms.
Two rooms are entered from the outside terrace on the ground level
by the main entrance front door. And another is separate, sitting beside the pool facing the hills. The building has been completely re-established, constructed
out of old stones salvaged from the original house.
Bedrooms are a perfect blend of light stone and wood finishes - most
have wood-beamed ceilings. Doors and window frames are a near-white
bleached wood, adding to the light airy feel created by the modern
abutting the ancient stones of this country house.
All first floor rooms have views, most across the pool and terrace area, to
the rolling hills beyond.
Bedrooms have bathrooms with shower or bathtub, air conditioning, TV
with satellite channels, mini-fridge (to keep your own beverages or
snacks).
Most have light-wash colored wood beamed ceilings.
The L-shaped pool is large enough for morning laps and well sited for
floating and gazing across arable landscapes from its cooling waters,
which seem to continue into the infinity of the landscape beyond and
below.
The drive from Heraklion airport is surprisingly short for such a
welcome rural retreat, at about 35-50 minutes (depending on traffic).
At Villa Kerasia you are just walking distance from
the nearest village (a pretty walk by the way).
On any day you choose to explore, the archaeological site of Rizinia
affords spectacular views if you walk to it on the way up the
small road which passes Kerasia to Asites.
Drive down towards the main road, just 5 minutes away, at Venerato, and there are several places to eat. Then
drive on down south to Gortyna, Phaestos, Zaros or the south coast lapping
on the shore at Lentas or the cave-surrounded beach of Matala. The
scenic drive via time-worn villages, to Amari is also within reach.
THE ROOMS
6 rooms for two people and 2 rooms that take three people (these have a double bed
and a sofa-bed; one of the rooms has
a partly separate bedroom, but without closing door - the other is
single-space).
In all rooms:
Double beds, air conditioning*, chairs for relaxing or writing, writing
table, TV and satellite channels, mini-fridge.
Bathrooms have shower or bathtub.
*Except for the 2 ground floor rooms, which cannot have air
conditioning (they are, however, naturally cooler because of their
position).
DISTANCES
Heraklion centre - 22 km, Heraklion airport - 27 km, Venerato 2.5 km. We recommend that you rent a car, other means of transport are limited and/or infrequent (you cannot reach Villa Kerasia by public
transport).
Ground floor room
without air conditioning
(2 people)
April, May, September, October
82 euros
106 euros
75 euros
June, July, August
88 euros
114 euros
82 euros
Rates are per room, per night.
They include breakfast, air conditioning and all taxes.
Children (0-12 years) are free of charge (baby-cot provided for small
children).
MINIMUM STAY: 2-5 nights, depending on season.