Villa Diegos can be found nestled in the charming coastal village of Kolymbari, on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete, in the cerulean blue waters of the Aegean Sea. The villa has rooftop views of the sea and the town, betwixt and between the Cretan countryside. Villa Diegos is thirty-six kilometres from Chania International Airport, a scenic coastal drive to your holiday home. You will find minimarts, welcoming cafes and tavernas, banks and beaches, in the picturesque village of Kolymbari, with everything you need to cater for your holiday.
The nearest part pebble, part sandy, organised Kolymbari beach is just an 8 minute walk from the villa. The northwest coast is noted for some of the most stunning beaches with fabulous facilities, especially, the white sands of Falasarna, the fun and fashionable Pachia Ammos, the hues of blues Balos, and the pink sands of Elafonisi. The nearby tourist town of Lower Platanias has souvenir stores and supermarkets, banks, bars, and restaurants, and a beautiful sandy beach, as well as a lively nightlife. Upper Platanias is perched on a hill, with panoramic sea views, and historical sites, from the Minoan period until World War II. If you are feeling sporty, there’s horse riding, tennis, and mini golf nearby, whilst walks in nature can be found around the Botanical Gardens, Lake Agia, water springs, and the backdrop mountain range.
The medieval town of Chania is only a twenty-minute drive from the villa.
Stroll down to the old port and harbour, visit the Maritime and Archeological Museums, seek solace in the Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Nikolaos, bargain in the local market, and then dine off freshly caught seafood by the seashore. For those who love hiking, the famous fifteen-kilometre Samaria Gorge runs from Omalos to Agia Roumeli, with breathtaking landscapes, rare species of wild goats, rich flora and fauna, and an abandoned village. The ancient port of Heraklion is a two-hour drive away, take a tour around the Palace of Knossos, visit the Archaeological Museum, walk the Venetian walls, stroll through the old quarter, and shop for souvenirs.
Go further afield to Vai, Crete’s easternmost tip, where you will find lush forests and a unique date palm. Explore Psychro Cave, reputedly the birthplace of Zeus, and rock climb Mount Ida to find the Ideon Cave. Sitia Geopark is three hundred and fifty square kilometres of the island’s diverse ecosystem, where you can trek through gorges, bathe on beaches, walk the wetlands, and bird watching. Hike the Richtis Gorge, stroll through streams to reach the twenty-metre waterfall, and then cool off in the inviting pool.
All aboard a boat trip, where you can scuba dive or snorkel over underwater ruins. Take the ferry from the exclusive town of Elounda to the intriguing island of Spinalonga, once a former leper colony and home to a Venetian fortress, and now an open-air museum. Visit Agios Nikolaos, a harbour town that uniquely houses a lake in its centre, with an Archaeological Museum of Minoan treasures, some great shops, and local bars and restaurants, in which to sit and watch the local life go by. Wind down with a wine-tasting tour, and don’t forget to take a bottle or two home with you.
