SMARAGDA ART COUNTRY HOUSE a lovers nest or family resort, spectacular sea views

This DESIGN HOUSE part of DOROVINIS COUNTRY HOUSES, has the personal air and character of a leisure home of the Cretan countryside, capturing panoramic views to the sea.
Artistically restored and furnished with stylish furniture, it combines the lost qualities of traditional home architecture with modern facilities and luxury.

The house is 60m2 with a 17m2 courtyard and a 45m2 top terrace, accommodating up to 4 persons.

It is laid out in one level, with its back facade (where the main entrance gate) towards the old market street and two other facades looking towards east and the sea. . An exterior stone stair leads to the top terrace with panoramic views to the sea.. In front of the house extends another village house in ruins (in a lower level), mixing up antiquity with today’ s life.

The house comprises two main rooms, separate kitchen and a bathroom (with shower). There is one double bedroom and one large, oblong sitting room with fireplace and an eating corner, furnished with a stylish couch that easily converts into a double bed. The kitchen is fully equipped with a four ring electric plate with an oven, a microwave oven, a refrigerator-freezer, dishwasher, coffee machine, toaster, electric kettle etc.

The village of ANATOLI holds its written history from Venetian times, although Byzantine chapels, in and around it, denote a much earlier origin. It has retained its medieval architectural character and its rich natural environment, while it is at close distance to some of the most beautiful, sandy, blue flag beaches of southeastern Crete. At 600m altitude it captures fantastic views to the sea while being surrounded by the olive groves, typical of the Cretan landscape, gigantic rock formations and natural spring waters. At 12 km the city of IERAPETRA offers all facilities and activities of a big city (shops, supermarkets, banks, doctors, water front esplanade with restaurants and cafes, archaeological Collection, organized beach etc),while the cosmopolitan city of AGIOS NICOLAOS (capital of the prefecture) is just at 20km
Daily cultural excursions to archaeological sites, Byzantine and Venetian monuments, churches and chapels and natural places of outstanding beauty can be combined with swimming to these beautiful beaches, all supported by picturesque taverns.
WHERE TO SWIM: Sandy beaches extend either to the northeast (the gulf of Mirabello), or to the southeast (Libyan Sea). At Kalo Chorio (ancient site “Istron”) are found two of the most famous beaches of Crete with azure waters, “Voulisma” and “Agios Panteleymon”, while east of Ierapetra extend kilometers of sandy beaches and small sea gulfs, among which the best are Agia Galini (next is Kakkos Bay Hotel, laid out in another beautiful gulf and open to the public), Agia Fotia, Ferma, Psaropoula, Koutsounari etc.
On the other side of Ierapetra the village of Myrtos offers also a beautiful, sandy beach. Beyond Myrtos extend very interesting places to visit and swim, up to Keratokampos, with beautiful, calm Cretan landscape and isolated beaches (no villages or towns around).
You should not miss a day trip to Chrissi Sand Island (the Golden Sand beach), the most renowned beach island (no building activities are allowed) in Crete. Natural environment of exceptional beauty, beach with sand and azure waters . Boat schedules from the port of Ierapetra.
SIGHTSEEING:This part of Crete has some of the most renowned monuments you should not miss on your first visit, together with others, representatives of the rich island’ s history..
Archaeological sites is ZAKROS (the fourth palatine site of Minoan Crete) set in beautiful landscape with the seashore picturesque village of Nea Zakros, for swimming and eating.
HELLENISTIC CITY OF LATO flourished during classical and Hellenistic periods, is located on the outskirts of Agios Nicolaos, where you can admire the model of planning of an archaic Greek city, also recognizable in Roman cities, and depicted, as prevailing idea in cities through ages (ex. Regency Street, London as an attractive city spine with monuments and economic activities).
On the way to Lato, stop at the Byzantine Church of PANAGIA KERA considered a unique monument of its kind in Crete, all frescoed from 13th to 14th century, depicting the techniques towards renaissance, before the style was transferred to the West with the fall of Constantinople.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF GOURNIA and MALLIA
MONI TOPLOU, frescoed medieval monastery dating from the 14th century, and important castle stronghold during Venetian times. From there you can swim in VAI BAY one of the most famous shores of Crete, with fine sand and Palm trees, and visit ITANOS, the last eastern city of Minoan times, with ideal port location for exchanges with Anatolia and Egypt.
The PSYCHRO or DIKTAION CAVE is an impressive cave and archaeological site, located at the Lassithi Plateau, near the village of Psychro. It contains a Minoan to Archaic period sanctuary of Zeus, who according to mythology was born there, before being taken to the Ideon Cave and nurtured by the goat Amaltheia. A 15 min stepped walkway or donkey ride will bring you to the entrance of the cave, while it is worth visiting some of the villages of the Plateau, like St. George, St. Constantine and also Psychro.
MILATOS CAVE- a modern history cave, now a place of memory, where 3000 locals took refuge during Turkish occupation, to be executed after its seize.
MATALA CAVES-very famous place, ideal for swimming
SPINALOGA CASTLE ISLAND from Venetian times, now an open air museum .
For nature lovers don't miss an excursion to the Gorges of SARAKINA (between the villages of Anatoli and Malles) and KRITSA, the forest of SELAKANO (west of Anatoli). In Anatoli 3 walking paths start from different points of the village-marked with signs and charts- leading to the fields of the locals, that used to cultivate till recently, and with miniature chapels for their protection and worship while working there. All walking paths pass through landscapes of natural beauty.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUMS-COLLECTIONS OF AGIOS NICOLAOS (important) and IERAPETRA (a collection of sarcophagus only but worth visiting).