A VERY PRIVATE LARGE 3 BEDROOMED HOUSE IN THE HEART OF A TRADITIONAL CRETAN VILLAGE YET CLOSE TO THE COAST IN NE CRETE - €200,000 €160,000

The Location

This property in located in mountainous village of Mochos has its roots back in the second Byzantine period. The views from the road from Stalida to Mochos are magnificent with alternating sea and mountain views. The first sight of the village nestling in a hollow with the imposing mountains as a backdrop is breathtakingly beautiful. In the village of Mochos itself you can find houses and traditional alleys which date back to the 16th century. During the summer months of June, July and August (weather dependent) the village hosts traditional Cretan nights, every Wednesday, between 8.00 and 11 pm. Traditional food, wine, music and dancing are available at the local tavernas.
To the people of the village of Mochos, this is a very important house, it is the major residence of the village, and so the owners command a great respect for their efforts to restore it to its original glory. Mochos, now a charming sleepy village, was once one of the great capitols of Lassithi and its port, ten minutes down the mountain, is the tourist location of Stalis (Stalithes). Mochos clings tightly to its Cretan traditions with all the modern conveniences along side old men on donkeys and regular pony treks meandering through the flower framed village streets. Only 30 minutes from the airport, 15 minutes from the long sandy beach, there is only one word for this property and its location… perfect.

The Property

In all our years living in Crete since 1994 this is the most exceptional property we have ever seen. A museum of Cretan architecture, unique for a 200 year old stone building in that it is spacious and has high ceilings. This abode has all the features so often copied in an attempt to look ethnic: Cheese holes, cooking fireplace of inglenook proportions, mezzanine, original complete whole tree trunk beams. A hidey hole is now visible in the floor that was originally used to conceal precious icons, gold, family treasures and invaluable olive oil from the occupying forces that so plagued Crete in the past. This now has an integral low volt spotlight and glass Perspex cover to make a superb feature in the entrance room. Great stone arches, and new doors and windows copied exactly from the original to include massive locks and keys.

The house itself has 3 Bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and been restored to the very highest standard with a great deal of care. The walled courtyard entrance doors are solid wood two meters high with a heavy six inch key. The courtyard walls, partly restored in a place where a hand grenade thrown by the invading forces in 1944, make for complete privacy although the property is in the center of this charming village. Despite the original heavy granite slab courtyard an irrepressible fig tree has forced itself through to cast a dappled shade over massive olive pots of indefinable age. Because of its privacy and size, the courtyard would accommodate a plunge pool or Jacuzzi. A separate boiler room is located off of the courtyard.

The exiting large walled courtyard could be made into a garden and high gates which may be large enough to drive a car in. There is also a large flat roof space with French windows that could be made into a beautiful private roof garden. This large property of approximately 149.95m2 is on a plot of approximately 202.9 m2.

The owners reluctantly find themselves in a position where they have to sell. They are only asking their cost price of 200,000 euro, but even so they are open to reasonable offers and include some precious partly restored Cretan antique furniture and all the antique terracotta olive pots in the sale.