Kefalas Nr Almyrida Detached Sea Cottage | Villa in Kefalas, Greece

The cottage, called 'Iremia' (meaning serenity in the local language) is a quiet hideaway just outside the traditional village of Kefalas surrounded by olive groves. Perched high above the sea, the house has a commanding panoramic uninterrupted view of the water reaching to the horizon and distant headland, with the old town of Rethymnon sparkling across the bay. The tops of the white mountains (snow capped in winter and early spring) can also be seen.
The space
The cottage is just two minutes walk from the edge of the village and an easy eight minute walk to the central square. There are 2 bedrooms, a large open plan kitchen and living room, a dining room, a shower room, various terraces and a parking area. It is of traditional build and fully modernised. There is a wood burning stove for colder evenings and two electric heaters. Also ceiling fans in every room and 2 extra stand alone fans.
We are lucky in Kefalas to have a cooling breeze blowing across the verandah in the summer. We find we don't need air conditioning as the breeze flows through the house keeping it cool on hot days. There are fans in the main rooms for the hottest days. Mosquito blinds are fitted on the windows and most doors.
All the rooms are filled with light. The large open plan living area includes a spacious kitchen area which has all the mod cons including dishwasher, oven, refrigerator, toaster, kettle, coffee machine and sandwich toaster. The living area has a comfy sofa and chairs. Double doors lead to a dining room with large windows overlooking the sea. There is a wood burning stove for colder evenings. Also ceiling fans in every room and 2 extra stand alone fans.
The 2 bedrooms have comfortable beds. One bedroom has a five foot double bed and built in wardrobes with french doors leading out the a verandah at the back. From here there are spectacular views of the coast. The twin room is the same size with two 3ft beds and also has built in wardrobes with a large window overlooking the front garden. The bathroom has a spacious shower cubicle and a washing machine.
Outside there are several sitting areas – a covered verandah overlooking the sea and two terraces one has table and chairs for al fresco dining and one has spectacular sea views.
There is a driveway to fit two cars.
Guest access
Guests have full private access to the property and fenced garden areas. There is a substantial piece of land at the back that belongs to the property but this is wild as yet and not recommended for use by guests especially children.
On a lower level at the side of the house is small private studio with two single beds which has separate access and small garden. The studio can occasionally be occupied. (Please enquire)
Where you will be
The lovely village of Kefalas is a thriving community with a taverna/restaurant, 2 mini markets and 3 kafenions. The taverna / restaurant 60 metres from the square is excellent, good value and great food.
Kefalas is a large village situated on a hill 280 metres above sea level – and as a result many of the houses have great and panoramic views. From our house you can look over Giorgioupolis Bay to Rethymnon and to the tops of mountains inland.
Many years ago, Kefalas used to be a rich and powerful village in the area. The village has about 300 permanent residents. It also has history – the first residents who gave the village its name were the Kephalades who were the leaders of the Byzantine settlers sent to Crete in 1182.
The main part of the village has interesting architecture (mainly Turkish) with some lovely old stone houses and pretty churches. The oldest is Timios Stavros from the 16th century. There are narrow winding streets and many of the houses are lined with flowering bushes.
The traditional, simple way of life is still the way for the vast majority of villagers. Agriculture used to play an even bigger part in everyday life as there is an old windmill on the outskirts of the village which can be seen from the house. In addition there are a number of ‘Aloni’ scattered around the village – these are stone circles where corn was threshed by donkeys.
The ‘Public School of Kefalas’ is a grand old building which has been renovated and now houses the’ Environmental Education Centre’ for the area. School children visit to learn about the environment and occasionally plays are performed.
Getting around
You can find Kefalas by either following signposts from Drapanos (via Paleloni) or from Vamos (via Xirosterni). It is about 4 km from each of these villages.
There are tavernas and shops in the nearby village which is in walking distance and a bus service to Chania. However, we advise a hire car or motorbike to take full advantage of the area.
The cottage is only 8-10 km away from key destinations and wonderful seaside villages with sandy beaches such as Kalyves, Almyrida and Georgioupolis. The beautiful small bay of Ombrogialos with turquoise waters and a small summer taverna is only a few kilometers below the house. There is a swimming platform for jumping into the warm sea. 30 km east is the beautiful Venetian city of Chania. On the way to Chania you can visit the ancient Roman amphitheatre of Aptera. Almost as close (and in the opposite direction) is the delightful old port of Rethymnon with its ancient fortress.
There are also many lovely traditional villages to visit in the vicinity. Nearby Almirida has boat trips, snorkeling, water sports, plenty of places to eat, beach bars, shops selling local produce and live bands
Other things to note
The guests are kindly asked to turn off the fans, electrical appliances and the lights each time they leave the house.