History
We believe every Old House comes with it its own history. The owners of the House have made a thorough study to produce a proper historical picture seeking information from the relatives of the original owners and of the neighbors who gladly provided the information contained therein.
The House was first built in 1840 by G. Mavrikakis whose family comprising of six children earned their living growing sheep, and cultivating the land producing carobs, almond and wheat. It was the time of Turkish Occupations and the ruler of the region had its headquarters in the main village of Elounda.
Around 1865, Mavrikakis's eldest son was discovered to have a love affair with one of the favorite Women of the Pasha, news which produced the menace of the ruler. In a subsequent clash Mavrikakis killed the Pasha and flagged away.
The result was that shortly afterwards the family was forced to move away to the East of Crete ( Sitia ) to escape Turkish revenge and the House was occupied by Turkish officials until the beginning of century when the exchange population between Turks living in Greece and Islands and Greeks living in Asia Minor took place.
Then the Property partly destroyed returned to the hands of Mavrikakis family until 1960.
The House was sold to the well known Greek film producer Koundouros, a lover of Tradition who rebuilt it adding the Sofa Area ( Upper Bedroom ) and the Terrace to fit the modern requirements. He added at the entrance of the House the Kitchen on the left and on the right the Bathroom. The Ground Floor with Sitting Area remained unchanged respecting all the basic features of the past and the Cretan Culture.
Fifteen years later in 1975 he sold the properly to the Greek International actor Focas, who used it as a summer residence for ten years. In 1985 he sold the House to Margarita Elliot, an American citizen, working at the American Embassy of Athens holding the title of the Consul, and later on after she resigned from her post she lived in it for long intervals, earning her living making independent economic studies for companies and writing essays.
She sold the House in 1994 to its present owners " The Traditional Homes of Crete " and the company is renting the House from now on, having made extensive preservation works at the Terrace, constructing Kitchen on it, wood and tone repairs all over the House having respected the Traditional style, and history of the property and region.
Elounda is perhaps one of the best cosmopolitan Villages in the world, situated to the east of Crete, 7 km from Agios Nikolaos and 70 km from Heraklion. At Mavrikiano, the beautiful Traditional Village that overlooks Elounda and its Bay, are built these Old Stone Traditional Houses. Their owners feel immense love and gratitude to their heritage, thus the need to revive and preserve the past, but at the same time modernizing them to fit the requirements of the present times. They believe that it is an expression of a most dear affection for the preservation of old times, a small token to those who kept our identity intact against the monstrosities of new buildings one nowadays sees everywhere constructed, with little taste or respect for the environment. Nowadays the thinking living creatures feel the urge to return to nature and to their roots and these Stone Houses are a part of the tribute to our Ancestors and their contribution to today's World. Explore in these pages the beauty and the sunny atmosphere of the area and if you like it, find out how you can come here for your vacation. The area attracts many visitors and a lot of VIPs choose to enjoy their vacations here.
Facilities :
- Air condition
- Sitting room
- Fireplace
- Dinning room
- Fully equipped kitchen
From here, the stone steps lead to the first floor master bedroom with twin beds, up another flight of steps to the third bedroom with twin beds and a door leading to the veranda/terrace with a summer kitchen and dining area. Spectacular views of Elounda and Elounda Bay from the terrace.
All the furniture is old and handcrafted.
