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A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!

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Photo gallery for A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!

Pool
Exterior
3 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel crib, internet
Outdoor dining
TV, fireplace, books, stereo

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6140 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pool
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Rethymno, Crete
  • University of Crete
    13 min walk
  • Rethymnon Court House
    6 min drive
  • Agios Frangiskos Church
    6 min drive
  • Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis)
    63 min drive

Room options

About the area

Rethymno

In Rethymno .Within 3 miles (5 km) of this Rethymno villa, you'll find University of Crete and Late Minoan Cemetery at Armenoi. Rethymnon Court House and Valide Sultana Mosque are also within 3 miles (5 km).

What's nearby

  • University of Crete - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Fortezza Castle - 6 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Rethymnon Town Hall - 7 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Rimondi Fountain - 7 min drive - 5.1 km
  • Rethymnon Venetian Port - 7 min drive - 5.6 km

Getting around

  • Ioannis Daskalogiannis Airport (CHQ) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Ζαμπια - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Γουρουνάκια - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Zampia Taverna - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Bikakis Bakery-Cafe-Street Food - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Πρίμα Πλώρα - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City!


Villa Svega is approved by Greek Tourism Organization and has a license number: 1041?91003033001 & managed by "etouri vacation rental management".
Nestled in the small hillside hamlet of Gallou and keeping its Venetian charm intact, Villa Svega is a romantic renovation that is a celebration of old and new. The location is a quiet area with full privacy but very close to everything with Rethymno town only minutes drive away.


The villa has been a part of the owner familys property for the past 100 years and it is believed to belong to the second half of the Venetian era. The estate occupies 2,500 sq. m and includes a neoclassical house built in late 19th century, attached to two Venetian vaults and a building which was formerly an oil-mill, adjoining the western vault.


The villa was refinished to its previous condition with using traditional materials to highlight the buildings historic charm. Tastefully decorated with a combination of mellowed stone, solid wood fitments, beamed ceilings, and soft natural colours the villa offers a unique atmosphere and the best comforts to our guests. Together with architectural knowledge, we have turned the west vault and the old oil-mill into a rustic, two-storey house of 140 sq. m., that can accommodate 6 guests in its 3 bedrooms. Villa Svega is also a wonderful retreat for a winter vacation as it is fully equipped for the mild winter of Crete with under floor heating (at an extra charge) and a huge stone fireplace.


Indoor layout
Entering the villa there is a spacious open plan area (Venetian vault) consisting of the living room with a large sofa, a fireplace and a 32" satellite HDTV, indoor dining area and the fully equipped kitchen. An old stone passageway takes you to the two story oil-mill house. A hallway leads to the ground floor master bedroom with a double bed and en-suite bathroom with shower. Additionally the main bathroom with bath and shower is also found on the same floor.


Reaching to the first floor through a wooden staircase there are 2 bedrooms both with two single beds. A further flight of stairs brings you to an enormous tiled rooftop terrace with magnificent view - an oak forest to the east, the sea view to the north and then the village lying all around the terrace. The terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee or a glass of wine at sunset.


The villa does not have air conditioning however it has 1.5 meters thick, stone walls which perfectly maintain a cool temperature during summer and this makes it possible to stay in the villa ecologically and healthy without air-conditioning, avoiding unhealthy use of it. Both bedrooms on the first floor are equipped with ceiling fans.


Outdoor area
The beautifully landscaped outdoor area of the villa offers a variety of facilities and spots for relaxation. The south patio, surrounded by its high Turkish walls can be your hideaway for sunbathing as well as the ideal spot for al-fresco dining. More specifically our outdoor facilities include:?- A private, 42 sq. m. swimming pool, 0,65-1,60 m. Deep
- Fully equipped barbecue area with charcoal grill
- Two outdoor dining tables under the patio with views to the pool and the surrounding landscape?- A variety of furnished spots (with sun beds, umbrellas, benches and chairs) for relaxing in the garden and pool area
- There is assigned outdoor parking space.
- The whole outdoor area is totally private and fenced, offering full privacy to our guests.


In recent years, the owners of Villa Svega have undertaken significant measures to reduce their environmental footprint, aligning the property with the demands of a more sustainable era. Noteworthy enhancements and alterations have been introduced, such as the substitution of traditional lawns with gravel to mitigate water evaporation and consumption, the integration of cutting-edge photovoltaic panels ensuring the villas complete energy independence, and the deliberate cultivation of additional trees and Mediterranean flora. Finally, we kindly ask our guests to minimize the use of sunscreen creams and tanning oils while enjoying our pool facilities and always shower first. This small gesture significantly contributes to maintaining the water quality, as these products contain detergents that necessitate additional chlorination for proper cleaning, both harming the environment.



INFORMATION ABOUT THE AREA

The Villa is located in Gallou village, on the outskirts of Rethymno town, in a totally private area and it is within walking distance to the village centre.

Please see below where the closest amenities can be found.

-Closest beach, Koumbes beach 3 km unorganised beach and Rethymno beach with various facilities is just 6 km away

-Mini market: 550 meters

-Super market: 3 km

-Bakery: 1,7 km

-Butcher: 2 km

-Fresh fish: 3 km

-Pharmacy: 2 km

-Tavern or restaurant: 300 meters (You have many more choices for restaurants and tavernas within a short distance away)

-Heraklion Airport: 88 km

-Chania Airport: 67 km

**Starting January 1, 2024, a new Greek tax was introduced which is called the "Climate Crisis Resilience Charge," requiring a fee of 1,50 euros per night from March to October and 0,50 euros per night from November to February. The amount needs to be paid in cash or by card upon your arrival at the villa


Property manager

Kostas Vasilakis

Languages

English, Greek

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool

Internet

  • Internet access

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car recommended

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Spices
  • Toaster
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Ice maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Dining

  • Breakfast available for a fee
  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • HDTV with cable/satellite service
  • Books
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Furnished patio
  • Rooftop terrace
  • Terrace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Concierge services
  • Limited housekeeping
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near the bay
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Marina nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Basketball nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horse riding nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 1507 sq ft (140 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

Property Registration Number 1041Κ91003033001

Property is also known as

105
Historical Monument set Traditional Village Beach City Villa
Historical Monument set Traditional Village Beach City Villa

A Historical Monument set in a Traditional Village Next to the Beach & the City! Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 33 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Juliana B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Historical Monument
Overall we enjoyed our stay. We were late getting in the first night because the ferry was running behind. The directions put right at the house, it was dark so a little difficult finding the house. We were all tired. The host could not have been any nicer. He showed us around and gave us some history on the house. The beds were comfortable. The time we spent at the house we enjoyed sitting outside.. We would stay there again if ever in the area.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

James E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely property and convenient location
Delightful property with great character. Bedrooms are a good size and all have ceiling fans. The outdoor area is fantastic with plenty of seating, a pool and a beautiful garden. Location is perfect if you plan on hiring a car. We visited Rethymno, Chania and Heraklion; we even did a day trip to Elafonisi Beach. There is a taverna less than 5 mins walk away that serves food until midnight, a couple local grocery shops for your essentials, and a larger Lidl about 10 mins drive away. Manolis was an extremely helpful host and very accommodating with check-in when our flight was delayed. He also provided fascinating information on the history of the villa and gave us some recommendations on current exhibitions happening in Crete.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joan W., Austin, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness
Garden Villa
Lovely historic structure matched with superb hospitality from Manolis!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven C.

Liked: Cleanliness
An oasis of calm and tranquility
Really unique and beautiful property full of history and charm. We absolutely loved staying at Villa Svega. Manolis was always on hand if needed (but never intrusive) and was very helpful in providing restaurant, beach and sightseeing suggestions. The coffee and treats on arrival where a lovely touch as were the numerous cakes that appeared during our stay. Etouri representatives checked in with us via WhatsApp a couple of times to ensure all was ok. A really lovely and relaxing holiday.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leah S., Singapore

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely historic villa
Manolis was a fantastic host, who greeted us with homemade goodies. The villa was a great place to stay with extended family (including 2 kids under 10). The gardens were gorgeous and the house had all we needed It’s in a lovely village with amazing taverna and great little mini market and playground within minutes walk. With a hire car it was easy to explore the central part of Crete. Highly recommend
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

David C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent
Our stay at Villa Svega was absolutely wonderful! The gardens are beautiful and full of butterflies and birds which are delightful to watch- the roof terrace is great for bird watching! The variety of outside seating areas are perfect for all activities and times of day, always somewhere sunny and somewhere shady. Inside the villa is very well set-up and comfortable with a well equipped kitchen and spacious seating area. The decoration is rustic and characterful with beautiful original features throughout. Manolis is a wonderful host, extremely welcoming and helpful at every stage of the stay. Manolis also gave us fantastic recommendations for restaurants, all of which we enjoyed hugely! We loved our stay and would be thrilled to return to Villa Svega again in the future! Thank you Manolis!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clare R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic
The accommodation was lovely, it was very clean, tidy and welcoming. We could not fault it. The character of the property was fantastic and the outside space had lots of different seating areas.The host was always on hand if needed but not intrusive. The area was nice and quiet with a local restaurant and supermarket that where both very good. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kath D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect villa
Lovely villa with great pool and walled garden. All the facilities we needed. Friendly host who lives next door.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Adam H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful break
Lovely property, plenty of space. Great outdoor area and pool (pool is actually bigger than it looks on photos). Good location, no more than an hour's drive to most Crete landmarks and beaches. Friendly and welcoming host
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Keith J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family holiday
We stayed for one week in July / August 2022. The host was very welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. The rooms were all decent sizes and it was nice to stay in a historic building with easy access to beaches, historic sites, gorges and towns.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alistair D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic holiday
We’ve had a fantastic 10 days in Rethymno at Villa Svega. The house and gardens are beautiful and full of character and the pool is great. Great spot to explore the beaches on the South coast if Rethymno too. Thanks do much- planning our next visit!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn W.

Liked: Cleanliness
A fantastic holiday
Just returned from a wonderful week in the beautiful Villa Svega. Couldn't have asked for more. Manolis and his wife were exceptional hosts, providing tasty home baked treats as well as helpful information about the area. The villa itself is a beautifully appointed, well-equipped, traditional house and the garden area is an absolute delight to relax in, with the archway providing a lovely cool area. The nearby taverna Christos was a great place to eat and the centre of Rethymno is just a 10-minute drive away. Etouri were very helpful. All in all, a fantastic holiday choice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

stuart h.

Liked: Cleanliness
2 weeks at Villa Svega
As a family of 6 adults, we spent a wonderful 2 weeks at Villa Svega. The Villa is superb, the pool and gardens let you relax and play and the seating in the vaults gives you some shade from the fantastic Cretan sunshine. Manolis was an excellent host giving us tempting local treats to enjoy our time in Gallou. We would recommend Villa Svega to anyone.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

REBECCA M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
We had a lovely time at the villa. The location was good for us with two young kids with a playground nearby and a lovely garden and pool. The nearby taverna Christos and cafe were really useful. The owner was very kind and communicative with great recommendations such as Galera fish restaurant. Etouri was very responsive and helped a lot with queries. My only complaint would be that the dishwasher is very small.
Stayed 9 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

John W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful old stone house in nice quiet village Lovely pool.
Nice and roomy with most modern comforts. Eating nearby at Christos was great. Day trip the Knossos arranged from Rethemeno well worth the effort. All arrangements for car hire and trips well organised via etouri.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl D., Halifax

Liked: Cleanliness
Brilliant property, brilliant hospitality.
A wonderful property and exceptional hospitality from Manolis and his wife. Very handy to town but a terrific country setting. Well equipped facilities. Highly recommended, we plan to come back again.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heather S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful villa - we will be back!
Our one-week stay in this villa was perfect. The garden is truly beautiful and the archway a magical place to have dinner in the evening - the pictures don't do it justice. Our host was extremely welcoming and gave us a lot of great recommendations for beaches and restaurants across the island. The local taverna (Christos) is also a must. You definitely need a car to stay here, though - the nicest beaches are a minimum 20-30 minute drive away, but totally worth it. We will be back :)
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful gardens and pool
The garden of the villa was wonderful. Even better than it appears in the photos. Pool is a perfect size and great for a cooling swim. The interior was very comfortable. My daughter loved the roof terrace and claimed it for herself. There are fans in the bedroom which helped as it was hot at night. The village has a mini supermarket which stocks all the basics. Most nights we ate out at Christo’s taverna which is a 2-3min walk from the villa. The food is great and not too expensive, around 45 euros for the 4 of us including drinks. The villa is a 10 min drive from Rheymno and the coast. So well situated for beaches sand eating out in the lovely old town restaurants. The owner is very nice and helpful - gifts of wine and fruit on arrival and a lovely breakfast pastry baked by his wife were appreciated. Definitely considering another visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Arlene C.

Authentic Villa in Crete
Our family loved living in this authentic villa and swimming in the good sized pool. The property is delightful and is only a short drive from Rethmyno where there are good restaurants set in old narrow streets. The family who own the villa are friendly and happy to help with anything. We had a great time!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Mathias R.

Excellent. The most amazing property and hosts.
Without a shadow of doubt... this is the most amazing villa in Crete. Beautifully appointed, extremely well maintained and cared for, clean and close to town and very, very hospitable and friendly owners. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Carsten W., Dortmund, Deutschland

Liked: Cleanliness
Environmentally friendly historic house
We enjoyed or stay at Villa Svega. Some delicious welcome treats and home baked goods were provided by the owners. This vacation rental was built around 1500, but solar hot water heating and photovoltaic solar panels have been added. We appreciated that the owner collected our fruit and vegetable waste for composting. There is no AC but there are fans. The garden and pool area is private and really beautiful, very clean. Wifi was good enough for us to stream movies. There's a nice roof terrace too. Shady outdoor seating for all times of the day. Nice neighborhood. One tavern just down the street and several good ones within a short drive. Bring mosquito repellant!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Veit U.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ein Juwel. A gemstone.
Für alle, die nicht nur in einem austauschbaren All-Inclusive Hotel am Pool liegen wollen. Ein echtes historisches Gebäude mit fantastischem Tonnengewölbe, geschmackvoller Einrichtung, gepflegtem Garten und Pool. Und das ganz für einen allein, geschützt hinter hohen Mauern. Geräumig, voll ausgestattet, man könnte hier auch Schlecht-Wettertage gut verbringen. Knapp 10min Fahrt bis zum Altstadtparkplatz an der Festung/Hafen. Sehr freundliche Gastgeber, wir wurden mit Kaffee, selbt gebackenen Kuchen und einem Raki begrüßt. Einziger Tipp: Vielleicht vor der Anreise zu Hause eine Umgebungskarte mit hohem Zoomfaktor ausdrucken. Die meisten Navigationsgeräte in den Mietwagen, kennen nur den Ortsteil, aber keine Genauigkeit auf Hausnummern. What a hide a way. This is for all who do not just want to lie at a pool in an exchangeable hotel. It is a real authentic historic building with great tunneled hallways to sit sheltered in the open. The garden is well designed and cared and ends with a nice pool. The estate is spacey, comfortable and fully eqipped, so one could also spend bad weather periods without regret. And this is just for your own, protected behind high natural stone walls. Very caring hosts with superb discrete service. We were welcomed with coffee, self-made pie and Raki. When we once sent a message that we were not able to get charcoal at a supermarket, a reasonable supply just appeared at the barbecue in the evening. The place is just about a 10 min drive to the big parking lot at the fort/harbour in the old town. Just one hint: print a map of the location with high zoom before arrival while still at home. Most navigation widgests in the rental cars do know the suburb, but not at street nor house number detail. One can still find it, but it might take some turns :-)
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tanja H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wunderschöner Familienurlaub im stilvollen Ambiente...
Wir haben eine tolle Woche in diesem Schatz ( verborgen hinter alten Mauern) verbracht. Diese liebevoll hergerichtete Villa bietet alle Möglichkeiten für eine erholsame Auszeit. Der großzügige Garten mit eigenem Pool rundet das ganze ab. Der herzliche Empfang und die Betreuung durch den Gastgeber war perfekt. Wir kommen gerne wieder und können es nur weiterempfehlen.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Udo H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Dream accommodation
We lived in a wonderful historical villa that was home to the Russian ambassador in Crete during the brief period of independence. Everything was exactly as presented in the pictures. Having a rented car made it easy to commute to Rethymno and other places of interest. Our host Manolis was helpful in every respect, and his wife spoiled us with her delicate Cretan specialties. This accommodation is highly recommended!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verena H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wunderschöne und gepflegte Oase
Gerne denken wir an die zwei Wochen in der Villa Svega zurück. Das Haus ist wunderschön und wir wurden sehr freundlich empfangen umd fühlten uns sehr willkommen. Wir wurden mit Kuchen und guten Tipps begleitet, kein Wunsch blieb offen. Das Haus, der Garten und auch das Schwimmbad sind außergewöhnlich gut gepflegt. Der Reinigungsservice ein grosser Luxus. Die Villa ist ein perfekter Ausgangspunkt für Ausflüge ans Meer, Schluchten, die Berge und auch die Südküste. Ein toller Urlaub! Vielen Dank!
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2022