3 Bed House for sale
Vafes, Chania, Crete, Greece
Full Description
A restored and renovated house that dates back to the Venetian Renaissance is not something you get to find every day on the real estate market.
Parts of this historic property date back 500 years to the Venetian era of Crete. Other parts of it are smart and aesthetically pleasing additions that came after its major reconstruction in 2017. Both fit together like a glove, fine-tuned in a masterful way that does not trade any of the authenticity elements in exchange for utility.
The total size of the house is approximately 180 sqm and it consists of a ground floor, a mezzanine and a top floor. The top floor (60 sqm) consists of two double bedrooms, both with ensuite bathroom. The master bedroom, quite large, bright and airy, features built-in wardrobes and has access to a lovely terrace facing the sea and a balcony facing the lush countryside. An interior arch connects the bedroom with the bathroom. The bathroom is quite large as well, with impressive rustic elements and a bathtub. The second bedroom is also ensuite with a jet shower, it features a kitchenette, built-in cupboards and has access to a spacious terrace with views that reach all the way to the city of Rethymno. Down the stone staircase to the Mezzanine floor (28 sqm) where a set of built-in wardrobes provide plenty of storage space and a cozy sofa makes the best of the space that seems ideal for an afternoon nap, especially if you take into consideration the fact that this is a room that remains pleasantly cool in the summer and fairly warm during the winter. The ground floor (91 sqm) divided by an arched entrance with a marvelous wooden ceiling into two separate spaces consists of an adorable kitchen and dining area on the right side and a studio with vaulted stone ceilings on the right. The latter is used as a living area and a working space with a wood burning stove that can work for both heat and cooking at the same time. The kitchen features custom-made wooden countertops and cupboards with a window at the back of the room letting in all needed natural light. It is fully equipped with integrated electrical appliances. This space also features a bathroom with a shower. Extending from the dining area on the rear wall there is a door leading to the garden and the external storage room (4sqm).
An external iron staircase leads up to the roof terrace, with breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and the sea on the horizon. The terrace is insulated and protected by the weather elements. Most importantly it is a space that adds value to the property and has great potential to become a stunning roof garden or even better a pool. At the front of the property, there is a shady, secluded, paved courtyard, with ample room for parking. Entry to the rear courtyard is through two ancient arches, with timbered ceiling. The rear courtyard is partly paved, providing an area for outside dining, with an ancient stone-built well, being its highlight feature. A number of fruit trees in the courtyard, lemon, orange, pomegranate, quince as well as a prolific vine, jasmine, rose and a variety of herbs, create an epicurean garden suited for Venetian nobility.
Vafes is located at an altitude of 210 metres at the foot of the White Mountains, southwest of Vrisses. The village is estimated to have been founded in the 8th century, when the neighboring village of Kourtsa was destroyed by the Arabs and many fled to this location. After the conquest of Crete by Nikiforos Fokas, the Skordilis family settled in Vafe and was acknowledged as a noble family during the Venetian rule (1211-1645).
Visitors to Vafes can admire the old fabrika, the church of Agii Asomati which dates back to the 15th century and the Boutakas bridge. Apokoronas is one of the greenest regions in Crete, one that still retains many of the elements that distinguish this island as a place of unique character and unspoiled nature.
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