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Welcome to Crete’s most Authentic Village!
Experience the Cretan hospitality and create unforgettable memories!
The “soul” of the hotel is local. It was born, grown and lives here, in Sfakia. Typical Cretan lifestyle with heavy heritage, all time classic tradition, customs is our lifestyle and we treat everyone the way that we want to be treated ourselves.
Our philosophy relies on guest’s comfort and satisfaction. Cretan culture, heritage and architecture are obvious in every angle in “The Authentic” Village offering our guests a holistic view of the Cretan lifestyle. Here you can relax your heart and soul, and get away from everyday hectic rhythms.
The calming design and the natural landscape can contribute significantly to that, while the constructive materials like the local grey stone and the wood, increasing the feeling of warmth, tranquility, and romance.
The whole building is totally in harmony with the physical environment avoiding disrupting the dazzling landscape and damaging the local background. Here, you can live like a local taking advantage of modern-styled amenities.
We are deeply pleased that many talented local people, like craftspeople, designers and architecture, work on that demanding project. “The Authentic” Village is absolutely inspired by Cretan tradition offering memorable and unique personalized experiences!
“A village inside a village” was the idea of the construction, according to the InDetail Architecture who completed the project.
The stone-clad building has been inspired by local traditional architecture highlighting the rustic details from old houses in the region rendered it a revival aesthetics masterpiece. Their faces are based on historical impressions of Chora Sfakion before the alteration of its style in the later years; with the intention to revive images of the settlement from the past.
Externally, it is used the white color which dominated traditionally in Sfakia and Loutro, while it can be observed also the gray local stone to a small extent. Internally, the rooms adopt a simplistic style with discreet use of traditional details; built furniture, basketwork and carved details combined with the most modern lines of the interior whilst the light-colored surfaces give a minimalistic tone.
The extraordinary elegant “The Authentic” Village fits surprisingly well with the surroundings creating a peaceful holiday space. Made with stone and wood “The Authentic” Village is all about tasteful achievement and a close connection with nature. Our outstanding rooms are influenced from traditional village houses with a consistent beige-toned color palette. Without a doubt, the stone-washed building brings perfectly the essence of coolness we are looking for in the summer months, especially in Crete. Cobbled streets in different ground levels that follow the terrain relief, accompany perfectly the idea of an old village while the modern details in collaboration with the advanced technological amenities give a sense of older and truer Greece in every moment of your stay.
A central square yard with a fountain is formed around a tree, which will offer its shade for moments of relaxation.
For further information about InDetail Architecture: https://www.instagram.com/indetail_architecture/
As envisioned by the architect, the project’s location at the heart of the village was instrumental in the formation of its main concept. Embracing its name, the design draws profoundly from local tradition. The plot's unique zig-zag contours, varied terrain heights, and its position-an enclave among neighboring properties with limited access to a public pathway-amplified the concept of an intimate "village-within-the-village", situating buildings along the boundaries. The synthesis develops around a central courtyard/square with a wide-foliage tree and a fountain -typical of Greek villages- from which a network of narrow paths stems to lead guests from and to the entrance and their accommodation.
The goal of this project is to offer guests an experience of the settlement’s original vibe and image before the recent years’ alienation, along with all modern amenities. Both traditional and contemporary techniques and materials were used in the construction of the hotel.
The main structures boast load-bearing masonry of local stone. Notably, the Sfakian facades feature a textured treatment of EITCS's white roughcast, offering respite from Cretan heat. Wood adorns exteriors-doors, windows, balconies-while polished concrete connects levels in a sculptural manner, complemented by steel accents.
Interiors were designed keeping some distance from tradition. The concept was the spaces to be minimal, yet comfortable for guests. Walls, built furniture, and ceilings in off-white tones serve as backdrops, highlighting select stonemasonry portions. Custom oak furniture with clean lines, discreet traditional elements, and lighting fixtures in black and brass textures grace the interiors. Finally, large seamless cement tiles underfoot complete the ensemble.
"The Authentic Village” is situated in the heart of Chora Sfakion, in the southwest side of Crete
The location of “The Authentic Village” is ideal, hidden from noises, among local houses and just a few steps far from the most bustling street. There you can find some shops, restaurants with traditional food, gas station, a pharmacy, a post office, and two ATMs. Here, you can also find two ports that connect Chora Sfakion with many other places, where the accessibility by other means is not available, like Loutro, Sweet Water beach or even Gavdos island. In the village of Chora Sfakion, there are two beaches, Vrissi and the Ombros Gialos. In both of them, you can rent a sunbed and enjoy your bath.
Not to mention, the presence of scuba diving centre at the port giving the opportunity to discover what is hidden in the caves and the bottom of the sea.
Living in the district of Sfakia, numerous places can be visited on foot, by car, by bus or even by taxi boat; choose your means of transport and explore the region without restrictions. Without doubt, small traditional villages with lovely domestic people are the best part of your vacation!
“I knew that no matter what door you knock on in a Cretan village, it will be opened for you. A meal will be served in your honor, and you will sleep between the best sheets in the house. In Crete, the stranger is still the unknown god. Before him, all doors and all hearts are opened”.
- Nikos Kazantzakis -
