May take pets - please enquire Suitable for children Smokers welcome Self-catering
Home description
This 3 bedroom, 2 shower villa is set in a peaceful valley surrounded by olive and fruit trees and has wonderful mountain or sea views from every window. Built and furnished to the highest standards the first floor in marble consists of a spacious open plan lounge / kitchen, a study / 3rd bedroom with an en-suite shower room. The second floor in oak has a spacious master double bedroom (with travel cot), a second double bedroom and a luxurious bath & jacuzzi shower room. Outside marble stairs lead to a large roof terrace which is not overlooked with breathtaking views of the surrounding Kouloukonas mountains and the Cretan Sea. The villa sleeps 6 adults comfortably but extra children's beds can be arranged on request.
Bali is midway between the airport at Heraklion (45 kms) and Rethymnon (32 kms) on the north coast of Crete. A popular resort in a 2 km long sheltered bay with 15 excellent tavernas, 12 bars and 2 night clubs to choose from. It attracts a good mix of visitors from all over Europe and is also popular with local Cretan and Greek holidaymakers. From the working fishing harbour coastal boat trips run daily to various locations including the town of Rethymnon. A boat trip to the island of Santorini can be arranged locally. A car (arranged on request) is not essential as a bus stop is only a 10 min walk away, but is recommended to take advantage of this central Crete location giving easy access to the nearby mountain villages and old towns such as Rethymnon.
Villa Arcadia
Part of lounge
Sea view from Villa Arcadia
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/22189
The Crete region
A beautiful island with 300 + sunny days per year, charming mountain villages a short drive from the villa and ancient sites to explore.
If you want to experience the culture and great shopping in the cities you should visit Rethymnon and Heraklion. The nearby (20 min drive from the villa) of Rethymnon is one of the best preserved old towns in Crete. The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, small Venetian harbor and narrow streets. The Venetian Loggia today houses the information office of the ministry of culture. The big municipal gardens are ideal for those in search of shade and tranquillity. Throughout the year various activities are organized which draw a large crowd. The Wine Festival is held there annually at the beginning of July. Another festival is held on 7-8th of November, in memory of the destruction of Arkadi Monastery. It has a Venetian castle called the Fortetza which is the one of the biggest and best standing castles in Crete. Other monuments include the Neratze mosque (St. Katherine's Catholic Church), the Great Gate (megali porta, Porta Guerra), the Piazza Rimondi (Rimmondi square), the Venetian Loggia etc.
Heraklion (40 min drive from the villa) is close to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, which in Minoan times was the biggest centre of population on Crete. So it is very likely that there was a port here as long ago as 2000 BC. There is however no archaeological evidence for such a port. The present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens (an Arabic Muslim people). They built a moat around the city for protection, and named the city Khandak, 'moat'. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates, much to the annoyance of the nearby Byzantine Empire. In 961 the Byzantines attacked and defeated the city, slaughtered the Saracens, looted the city, and burned it to the ground. They remained in control of the rebuilt Khandak for the next 243 years. In 1204, the city was bought by the Venetians as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade restoring the deposed Byzantine emperor Isaac II Angelus to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40m thick, with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. The name Khandak became Candia in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result. After the Venetians came the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. They besieged the city for 22 years in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in 1669. The city was spelled during the Turkish rule as Kania (again also applied to the whole island of Crete) but also known as Megalo Kastro 'Big Castle'. During their occupation, the harbour silted up, so they moved most of their business to Hania in the west of the island. The city became independent with the withdrawal of the Ottomans in 1898, then part of the 1908 Cretan state, and then it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Greece in 1913. Upon its independence it was renamed to 'Heraklion', meaning City of Heracles (Hercules), after the port of Heracleum which had existed somewhere in the locality in Roman times.
The biggest monument of the city is the Venetian medieval fortress Rocca al Mare (also known as Koules) located on the port.
Rethymno / Bali Resort area
Bali has 4 sandy beaches all well served by tavernas and watersports, set in a large north eastern facing bay the sea is calm and clear and great for swimming. The town has plenty of taveras and bars to choose from and enough nightlife without the hectic nightclubs associated with some of the noisier resorts on the island. "Bali" is actually a Turkish name and that the original name of the area is actually "Astili", which means "gift". The gift in question, was from the god Zeus, in thanks for the protection afforded Him during His childhood in the Dicti cave, Zeus gave to the people the giant Talos, to protect them from invaders, and in fact, the mountain that overlooks present day Bali, is Mount Talos (under which the villa is set).
Bali has recently improved and enlarged its four superb sandy beaches which are sheltered and safe for children, the first of which is only a 15 minute walk from the Villa Arcadia. Watersports available include paragliding, canoeing, jetskis, pedaloes and sail / motor boats There is also scuba diving with training to best appreciate the crystal clear sea. All the beaches are well served by excellent bars and tavernas.
How to get there
Fly to Heraklion (an easy drive / taxi / Bus along the North coast road 45 km) with:
We can assist you with flights and car hire
- British Airways scheduled from Gatwick
or
- flight only with: www.118travel.co.uk www.cheapflights.co.uk www.flymonarch.com www.firstchoice.co.uk
or any of the major holiday companies.
Reliable car rental from Kostas at www.orcatravel.gr
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Heraklion: 45 km
Ferry:
Heraklion , Rethymnon: 45 km
Activities near Rethymno
Sports: Watersports Waterpark Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Beach or lakeside relaxation Good nightlife Cycling holidays
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