Isidoros in the field
The story begins 10 years ago, when Isidoros met Manolis for the first time
Isidoros was living in Athens at the time and working in a hospital, but he wanted to live a different sort of life, deep in the countryside of Crete.
Manolis was an experienced and versatile builder who’d focused (and still does) on cultivating traditional varieties of fruit and vegetables with no chemical additives, in his home village on the upland plain of Messara.
Manolis in action
By now the two of us have become good friends and we are within a whisker of transforming a neglected field into a place where you can relax, with all the plentiful hospitality that a Cretan family knows so well how to provide.
Assisted by a few good mates, we’ve given the interior safe, easy walkways, while going ahead with planting trees and cultivating vegetables and herbs. We’ve created five Buckmaster Fuller style geodesic domes, made of natural materials (stone, wood, cloth) to offer the experience of living with a body-and-soul detox, if that’s what appeals to you.
The district is rich in landscape and things to do, from nature in the raw along the ‘Saint’s Ravine’, Agiofarago, to the celebrated caves at Matala, (Minoan towns of Festos and Gortina are pretty close) taking in a range of sites well worth seeing for their archaeology, plant and animal life, history, folklore, and local traditions.
Agiofarago
Odigitria Monastery
Listaros
Matala
On a plot of 1.3 hectares next to the charming small village of Listaros, at the foot of the Asterousia mountains (peaking at 1231 meters), and a short way from the coast of the Libyan Sea, you’ll be able to please all your senses – the sounds, colors and scents of nature, the flavors of our cooking, and therapeutic massage, all these to deep-cleanse body and soul.
We believe that food quality is one of the basic factors determining health and quality of life. That’s why we are cultivating only traditional varieties on the principles of agro-ecology We’ll be preparing and serving traditional dishes made from these outstanding products, to fire up the feelings and memories of all those people that used to cook their everyday meal with fresh ingredients and with love, as far back as the Minoan Age.
We’ll also offer an informative garden tour where you can fill a basket with a host of different green vegetables and aromatic herbs. These will go to the kitchen for making salads and for use in old local recipes, giving the food the most delicious taste. The happy, friendly ambience will give all of us a unique experience of life by the hills of Asterousia – like a wonderful meeting with close friends.
Our philosophy is that unselfish, simple, honest relationships are of great importance if we are to make every day of our life more beautiful. So don’t be surprised if some mates of ours turn up at our place with their (unamplified!) musical instruments to add to the companionship.
It’ll make us particularly happy if you can help us put the finishing touches to our work, so that we can open this summer of 2019 and have the pleasure of sharing with other people what we created based on love and honesty.
We would like to inform you that we just finish the 5 geodetic domes, and that for this year (2019) it will be no electricity connection. So there is no possibility to use sockets, plug electrical utensils, plus no free wifi. Minimum lights are provided, and you can enjoy the full of stars night sky.
Instead, interesting walks in and out of the property are offered, including cold or hot drinks from Cretan herbs growing in the land, while the vegetable organic garden and other products of Melitakes or selected producers make it possible to have a delicious breakfast or lunch in spot with panoramic views.
In general, the site serves as a special campsite (glamping) for a small number of people with a lot of fun and good moods. This is supported by our philosophy and the common areas of the dining room and the wc.
The view is indeed one of the highlights that is difficult to capture in photos or videos, as well as the special atmosphere that pleasantly surprises as it changes during the day and night. The whole of Psiloritis, the mountains of Southern Rethymnon, but also the southern White Mountains (with a clean atmosphere) as well as a small part of the sea in the bay of Messara, in the corner of Sunset make up a special setting.
There are many, interesting and varied options in the area that cover almost every taste and we are happy to reveal them to you.
Visiting and Supporting our fields
Apart from visiting our fields while on Crete, you can always express your support by making a small donation using the button below!
If you intend to come to Crete on holiday and would like to stay in our fields or just visit us, please contact us as soon as you can so that we can see to your stay.
Initially,you may like to show interest by sending us a text message, with the title CRETE, to: isidoros.kampolis@yahoo.gr or you can call us on our mobile: (0030) 6977857556. We can always send you the full information.
Until then be well and stay smiling!
Thank you
Isidoros, Manolis
