Do not miss Archanes, a village that won an award for its beautiful restoration
The lovely village of Archanes,14 km from the capital Heraklion and only 7 km from the Palace of Knossos in central northern Crete, sits on rolling hills surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. The village is also very famous for its typical Cretan architecture. Most of the houses have been restored recently and Archanes has won a second award as “the best restored village in Europe”.The local agricultural co-operative is one of the oldest in Greece, and to this day produces some acclaimed Cretan wines.
Stay in Archanes village, a place with characteristic architecture
There are four important archeological sites, one in the village (a fenced excavation), at Anemospilia and Fourni (at the edge of the village – a Minoan graveyard). Vathipetro on the way to Houdetsi, is worthwhile not only for the local archeological finds, but also for some of the most magnificent views of Crete from the site. Archanes is serviced by a variety of taverns, cafes and good accommodation choices, among which stand out rent-a-villa offers in the wider area.
