About this property
With serene living and sleeping spaces, a truly magnificent location with breathtaking sea views and gorgeous outdoor space, Villa Agapios is a very good choice for families or groups of friends wanting to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing holiday in Crete. The villa is very cleverly built into the hillside in a wonderful elevated position within walking distance of the charming village of Rodia. It is just twenty minutes from Crete’s capital city Heraklion where you can party or shop until you drop. With six bedrooms, the villa sleeps up to eleven guests in luxurious comfort.
Rodia is utterly charming with a pretty church, a handful of traditional Cretan tavernas, a few shops and spectacular views over the Gulf of Heraklion. One of the village tavernas sits next door to the villa, perfect for some delicious traditional specialities washed down with some local wine. The village is surrounded by countryside with fantastic hiking trails winding through rugged woodland such as Canyon Spiliotissa. Heraklion is a modern city offering an excellent range of amenities and fabulous restaurants. Heraklion Airport is just twenty minutes from the villa so you will be relaxing in your gorgeous retreat soon after landing. The famous Palace of Knosses is just a few miles from the villa and the phenomenal Phaistos Palace is also nearby. Villa Agapios is just ten minute’s drive from the sublime Ammoudara Beach and fifteen from the beautiful resort of Agia Pelagia.
Villa Agapios has been lovingly finished with great attention to detail. Its dazzling white exterior is very smart, sitting within gorgeous gardens brimming with fruit trees and colourful, fragrant flowers. Its looks like a shiny jewel proudly looking over the sea! The villa offers two living spaces on different levels making it the perfect choice for families. If children are tired at the end of a busy day, they can chill and watch a movie in one room while the adults cook and plan the next day’s activities in another.
The ground floor of the villa is home to an open plan living space with a cool, elegant living area centred around the feature fireplace. It also features a fully-equipped kitchen and a dining area. Doors open from here to a delightful, mature garden and the villa’s beautifully appointed pool terrace. The ground floor is also home to the first of five beautifully appointed bedrooms. It is a charming double with guests having use of an excellent family bathroom with a walk-in shower.
Upstairs, you will discover the second living area with its larger kitchen, comfy corner sofa arrangement and doors that lead to a delightful balcony, the perfect spot for pre-dinner drinks while watching the sun go down. The kitchen enjoys all the appliances you could wish for and is very sociable so that the cooks can have company while they prepare a feast. Here, you will also find the master bedroom suite with its luxury linens, ensuite bathroom and balcony.
The second floor is home to another four bedrooms, three doubles and one set up as a single but with a bed that can be transformed into a double on request. There is another beautiful, fully tiled family bathroom with a bath and shower attachment to share. One bedroom enjoys an unusual shape and like all of the beds in the villa, its sumptuous kingsize bed is beautifully dressed with crisp cottons and a quality bedspread. Guests enjoy access to a furnished balcony, a lovely spot for a peaceful read of your holiday book. There are wraparound balconies to the first and second floors so most of the rooms enjoy access to a balcony or terrace. On top of the villa is a rooftop area, perfect for enjoying the impressive sea views and surrounding mountainous scenery.
The villa’s outside spaces are beautiful with splendid mature gardens offering a tranquil oasis far away from the crowds. The swimming pool is stunning with glass panels on the edge of the terrace so that your views are not interrupted. The pool and jacuzzi overlook the gorgeous blue sea below which forms a delightful blue collage against the sky. Surrounding the pool are quality loungers and lounge seating as well as two popular egg chairs. The built-in barbecue can be used for delicious alfresco feasts. You will not really want to leave this immaculate, exquisitely designed space though the delights of Crete will be waiting for you!
Villa Agapios enjoys a prestigious mountain spot within walking distance of the village of Rodia. It overlooks the sea with Crete’s mountains as a backdrop. With far-reaching vistas of Heraklion city and the Gulf of Heraklion, it is a heavenly spot where guests can enjoy total privacy. Rodia is very friendly with the locals making you feel very welcome. You can visit the beautiful, serene Savathania nunnery, another beautiful place with gorgeous views or take the scenic mountain road that leads to Agia Pelagia, a stunning beach at the bottom of the mountain. A longer drive takes you to the stunning coastal town of Agios Nicholas with its wonderful shops, restaurants and saltwater lake. The Milatos Cave in Sissi is worth a stop too.
Twenty minutes away, Heraklion boasts gorgeous beaches, lively hangouts, dusk-til-dawn clubbing, a fine dining scene and plenty of ancient buildings, there is something for everyone. Heraklion’s charm concentrates around the Old Town and its Venetian harbour. You can discover the impressive church of Agios Titos, the square originally built by the Byzantine emperor Nicephorus Phocas in 961 or the armoury and city hall. Another wonderful spot is the lively Morosini Square with its Lions’ Head fountain. At the entrance of the harbour, the Koules Fortress stands proud gazing out to sea. It took its final form between 1523 -1540 and served as a prison during Ottoman rule. Across from the harbour, the Venetian shipyards make for a romantic backdrop. Many visitors enjoy walking along the city’s Venetian walls, pausing in small shady parks and admiring the work of the famous Venetian architect, Michele Sanmicheli, who designed the walls and bastions more than 400 years ago. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is considered to be one of the most important museums in Europe. The pedestrianised Daedalus shopping street is full of designer stores, perfect for those with room in their suitcases!
The Palace of Knossos is only twenty minutes from the villa. According to legend, the foundations of the Bronze Age city were filled with an inescapable labyrinth that was guarded by a vicious minotaur. The master craftsman Daedalus built the labyrinth for the mythical King Minos. His son, Theseus, slew the minotaur and found his way out of the labyrinth with the help of Minos’ daughter, Ariadne, according to legend. The palace flourished during the Minoan period as the religious centre of Crete. Thanks to the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans’ excavation and careful restoration, the Palace of Knossos is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Greece. Surrounding Heraklion and the villa, hiking trails cross impressive gorges, picturesque villages, ancient sites and end in secluded coves. Gortyna or Gortys was an ancient city of Crete and was the capital during the Roman era. Nowadays, it is a beautiful archaeological site. According to the myth, Zeus took refuge there.
To the west of Villa Agapios is the charming, atmospheric town of Rethymno. Your drive will be rewarded by its history, its delicious local wine, its waterfront tavernas and its stunning beaches. In the old quarter, the buildings date back to the 16th century and its pretty, cobbled streets and stamp-sized piazzas are lined with restaurants and unique shops. The Venetian styled harbour is beautiful and is overlooked by the castle. The nearby beach resorts of Bali, Agia Galini, Plakias and Adelianos Kampos are gorgeous. The historical monasteries of Preveli and Arkadi are very popular visits.
Accommodation
The Villa
Villa Agapios is a 6-bedroom villa sleeping up to 11 guests, situated in Rogdia, just a short 10-minute drive to lovely Ammoudara Beach.
Ground Foor
- Open-plan living area with TV, DVD and access to terrace
- Dining room with dining facilities
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Bedroom with double bed
- Family bathroom with walk-in shower
First Floor
- Lounge area
- Cloakroom
- Bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom
Second Floor
- Bedroom with double bed
- Bedroom with double bed
- Bedroom with double bed
- Bedroom with single bed
- Family bathroom
Exterior Grounds
- Private swimming pool
- Jacuzzi
- Dining facilities
- Barbecue
- Sun beds
- Rooftop terrace with sitting area
Additional Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Air conditioning
- Washing machine
- Iron & board
- Hairdryers
- Travel cot & highchair available on request
- Parking for 3 cars