Aspros Potamos-Home Traditional apartments and studios near Makri Gialos, Eastern Crete

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Other apartments, villas and Studios to rent in Makrigialos: Aeolus Villas, Dimitra Villa, Ikaros Villas, Daidalos Maisonettes 

HISTORY OF THE COTTAGES AND AREA

At the top of the gorge which leads up from Aspros Potamos is the beautiful traditional village of Pefki, which historically dates back to Venetian times. The villagers cultivated wheat and barley which was used to make “dakos” (hard dried bread), kept sheep, goats and a few cows and had carob trees on which they fed the animals.At the time there were few olive trees, no tourism and the land on which they grew their crops was at a much lower level than where the village stood. During the late summer months they would come down the valley to harvest their crops, and during the winter months they would lead their livestock down to spend the colder months in the warmer climate at a lower altitude.The villagers build small, very basic cottages at the foot of the valley in order to spend the nights in relative comfort as they would often stay down for a week at a time. The cottages were built out of natural local stone and usually consisted of only two rooms – one for the family and one for the animals.

As life progressed and tourism arrived, albeit in a very small way, many of the Pefki villagers came to live at the coast and work in the tourist industry. The cottages were left for many years to the mercy of the weather and nature until, in 1985, Aleka came to visit some friends on holidays and was introduced to Aspros Potamos.
       The cottages, which were originally 20 dwellings without bathrooms or toilets, had already been partially renovated some 10 years previously by an Athenian architect who had passed away. However there was still a tremendous amount of work to do and no plans or drawings could be found so in effect Aleka had to start from scratch. Her vision was to renovate the dwellings to provide comfort but to retain as much of the traditional feel, both atmospherically and structurally, as possible.

Aleka continued her labour of love until the cottages were habitable, almost 4 years later.

Aleka's daughter, Mirto, who speaks Greek, English and German, now manages the cottages.

info@asprospotamos.com