Entire Residence with a Private Pool

In the beginning, there was Konstantis Georgilas.
A merchant born and raised in Therissos, with friends all over Crete, Greece, and Asia Minor, who decided to settle here, in Pyrgos Psilonerou, in 1835.
You see, back then, Crete wasn't part of Greece yet. Even Greece itself was an independent state for less than a decade. He bought a large piece of land from the local Ottoman lord and built his house in 1861.
To put things into perspective, that same year, Abraham Lincoln became president of the US.

Konstantis had four kids, two girls, and two boys -Stylianos and Kokkolis (Nikolis).
Both the girls got married and moved to their husbands’ homes. As for the boys, Stylianos and his family stayed at the main house, while a new one was built next to it for Kokkolis’ family -sometime before 1888.
During that time, a 19-year old aspiring barrister named Mohandas Gandhi traveled from Bombay to London to study law.

Kokkolis had six kids: Irene, Stella, Anna, Vasillis, Yannis, and Kostis.
Kostis moved to Athens to study Finance and then returned to Chania. He was a prominent figure of the local society, but he also felt deeply connected to his ancestors’ place. This is why he bought the entire house back in the early ’60s and renovated its western section to use it as a summer house.
As for the Summer of Love, that occurred later that same decade, during the summer of 1967.

More than half a century later, in 2013, Kostis’ son, Nikos, and his wife, Ritsa, decided to renovate the house. It was the year that Francis, the 266th Pope, was elected (we know, it’s not THAT long ago, but there are people out there who still think that the ‘90s were 20 years ago).

That, of course, is just the crash course of the family’s history (with some extra facts). For more details, you can ask Konstantinos -Nikos’ son, a fifth-generation Georgilas, and the estate’s current proprietor- during your stay. He will be more than glad to share all sorts of stories with you!

Back in the day, there was a well with excellent, high-quality water. In a way, this well was the godfather of Pyrgos Psilonerou (“Tower of High (Quality) Water” in Greek). Its nearby sand/pebbles beach doesn’t carry a mainstream, cosmopolitan vibe, as its deep, crystal waters attract mostly locals -however, you can find several canteens and laid-back tavernas. In the wider area, there’s also a breeding zone for the endangered Loggerhead sea turtle -whose nesting sites are enclosed and protected.
When it comes to lively beach bars and seafood restaurants, you can move towards Maleme (1.5km) or Platanias (4km), where you can also enjoy a series of sea activities -from boat trips and scuba diving to surfing. As your radius of exploration expands, the more this magnificent island can offer you: the multicultural mosaic of the town of Chania, the engaging outdoor activities at Agia Lake, the fascinating landscape of the famous Samaria Gorge, even the unparalleled tasty experience of visiting a local winery or dairy farm!

Hospitality. Serenity. Originality. What do all three have in common? They all are concepts that transcend time. They refuse to blend with the grains of sand in an hourglass. They resist the relentless movement of the clock’s arrows. They can be found everywhen, but not everywhere. The location needs to fit the profile of hosting such an exceptional exception. For example, this 160-year old estate in the western part of Crete. A vivid palimpsest of history, tradition, and aesthetics. One thing is for sure: Your watch will be a worthless compass here, as your senses will guide you towards an immersive experience.

More than a residence: a landmark
A century and a half ago, this was essentially a multi-purpose residence, able to meet the multifaceted needs of a family during that time: a living room, and a master kitchen (with oven and fireplace) on the ground floor, several bedrooms, a large "ondàs" (another word for “room” in both Greek and Turkish, and the prefix of the estate’s name) and a loom chamber upstairs, along with a plethora of ancillary areas: the "Magazés" (a storehouse for oil, wine, fruit, and vegetables), the "Fabrika" (the olive mill), the stable, the stone mills, the winepress.
Even though it has been meticulously restored, the estate’s architectural character remains intact. The exposed stone -which can be found in abundance in the surrounding area- is dominant, while the wood on the floor and ceiling and the ceramics have a secondary yet essential role. Its large spaces today, divided into four separate residences, dressed in white with light pastel shades, are full of decorative details and functional elements from both today and yesterday.
As for the courtyard, it’s an ode to minimalism; a private swimming pool, an adjacent sun terrace, an emblematic mulberry tree right by the main entrance, all surrounded by olive groves and orange orchards that expand past the estate’s limits. In total, a haven of untrammeled peace under the Cretan sun.