A large old 3 bedroom property with lots of original features for sale in a non-tourist authentic Crete village €169,000

The Location

This property is located in a thriving, authentic Cretan village of Kato Assites in the foothills of Mt. Psiloritis, with post office, pharmacy, bank, schools, butchers, shops, tavernas, cafes, bars, etc. It is in the centre of fantastic walking country among varied Mediterranean habitats. It is conveniently located for Heraklion town (25 km), the airport, and both coasts and is well served by an excellent bus service. Off the tourist track, it is home to local farmers surrounded by their olive groves and vineyards with shepherds tending their sheep on the higher ground.

The Property

This unique and beautiful traditional property belongs to long time residents and authors (Riding the Minotaur, Traditional Village Life in Crete). It is 207 m2 and comprises 3 buildings (total of 202 m2) surrounding a pretty, private courtyard 45 m2. The main stone house (120 m2) is almost 200 years old and has retained many of the original and antique features. A large open plan living room and kitchen, with attractive tiled floor, opens onto the courtyard. The kitchen contains all modern conveniences, including a fridge/freezer, microwave, gas stove/oven, composite sink with integrated draining board, and imported fitted cupboards. Exposed stonework around the windows and doors demonstrates the craftsmanship of the stonemason/builder of long ago. This house is cooled by thick stone walls and ceiling fans.

There is a large luxurious bathroom/utility room, with an imported bath and shower unit instead of tiles; no grout to clean, no mold between tiles and no leaks. A third double bedroom downstairs is currently used as a library and guest room.

Upstairs, there is a spacious, attractive master bedroom (40 m2) with broad, antique wooden floorboards and ceiling and original built-in cupboard as well as a fitted wardrobe. Off this bedroom is a large balcony (40 m2) over the entire kitchen/living room, with magnificent views over the village and nearby hillsides, covered in vineyards and olive groves. The balcony (2nd top picture) is shaded in summer by established, productive grape vines.

Across the courtyard is the original kitchen, now a pretty guest double bedroom (23 m2). It has retained many original, antique features, including a fireplace and built-in cupboard. This room is heated or cooled by an independent heating/air conditioning unit.

Next to the guest bedroom is a large workshop and store room (58.5 m2) accessed from the courtyard and the street. It has an original winepress and has been plumbed with a useful utility sink. This area could be easily converted into a self contained studio for rental income.

The marbled courtyard is a perfect sun-drenched outdoor room for summer. It contains various planters with flowers, honeysuckles, lemon tree, orange tree, loquat tree and 5 grape vines (three different grape varieties) growing up over the upper balcony. The courtyard is filled with the heady scent of orange blossom in spring and honeysuckle in summer. In addition, there is a large working outdoor wood oven and an original well, partly filled in.

Above the second bedroom and store room are extensive flat roofs (82 m2) with cold water tank and solar panels for hot water. This is a large, pleasant area with plants, perfect for basking on sunny summer days. The house is on mains electricity, water and drainage, and has a telephone line, broadband and satellite television reception already installed. In addition to the solar panels, the hot water tank has an immersion heater for cloudy days.

Included in the sale price are: all curtains, a large washing machine, fridge/freezer, gas stove/oven, composite sink with integrated draining board, and imported fitted kitchen cupboards. A small electric oven and a microwave, both handy for summer cooking, are also included. Other furniture and house contents are available by separate negotiation.