The Historic Traveller Magazine no.1

STAGE 4
Crete
Head south now, to the largest Greek
island, Crete, with a 1,000km long coastline
harbouring coves and beaches galore.
Yes, there are sandy beaches but there’s so
much more to Crete, from bustling urban
restaurants to sleepy mountain villages,
ancient Minoan ruins to hiking routes worth a
few blisters. Its geographic position - between
Africa, Europe and Asia Minor - led to a long
and tumultuous history for the island, much
of which is still evident today.
Medieval towns such as Réthymno and
Haniá show the Venetian and Ottoman
influences on Crete’s history - and don’t miss
the Samarian Gorge. It’s busy - but worth the
walk; the vertiginous walls are an impressively
rugged reminder of the unstoppable forces of
nature.
WHERE TO STAY
Avli Lounge Apartments
Kalimera Archanes
Serenissima Boutique Hotel
Step into the cluster of beautifully renovated
Venetian dwellings in the Old Town of Rethymnon
that make up Avli Kriti, a Cretan haven that’s
been delighting guests for more than 30 years.
Its award-winning restaurant sits snugly within a
blossom-laden courtyard, serving refined Cretan
cuisine. Alongside the hotel’s 12 luxurious suites in
a historic manor house, Avli is at the very top of the
Cretan hospitality scene. But like Rethymno itself,
it’s the elusive ‘culture’ of Avli that sets it apart.
www.hhe.travel/avli-lounge
Further on the west you’ll find the city of Chania,
a treasured town marking the historic crossroads
between east and west. Proudly boasting this rich
heritage, Serenissima hotel has brought its 16thcentury
Venetian mansion exquisitely up to date.
Now a boutique suite hotel, this luxurious Chania
newcomer is an oasis of refinement and splendor.
www.hhe.travel/serenissima
Cretan treasures don’t stop there. Another
delightful place to stay is the Kalimera Archanes, a
cluster of three traditional houses dating back to
the early 19th century. If you want to experience
authentic Cretan hospitality with all the luxuries of
a modern hotel, this is the place to go.
www.hhe.travel/kalimera
HistoricHotelsofEurope.com | The Historic Traveller 11