After spending happy childhood summers on Crete, Athens-born architect Marina Birdimiri returned in 2009, inspired to recreate two villas that would not only offer guests a remarkable experience and location, but also pay homage to the culture and craftsmanship of the region. 

This property is available for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, reunions, family holidays, yoga retreats and corporate events.

Sitting on a Cretan hillside, these luxury villas are a labor of love from Birdimiri, with each detail painstakingly considered to enhance the pleasure for all who enter. With panoramic views of the Mediterranean encircling the property, Birdimiri was sure to provide ample areas for lounging in the Grecian sun. 

The villas are perched on a hillside immersed within over two acres of private gardens overlooking the picturesque coastline creating an incomparable setting for your event. Modeled on original Cretan homes, the design draws inspiration from traditional island architecture mixed with modern sophistication. 

Tastefully decorated with a chic mix of minimalism and traditional island style, the villas are ideal for those who want an authentic experience without sacrificing luxurious amenities.

The indoor-outdoor layout unites her architecture with its natural surroundings, blurring the lines between the manmade and mother nature. There are rest areas along the paths strung with hammocks under the shade of the olive trees and a hidden private playground by the bridge. The large pool, set in a beautiful, terraced garden, is angled towards the views with pathways leading through the olive trees and wild untouched areas between the two villas. 

Rent these properties for overnight stays here.

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EVENTS

Whether you dream of an intimate outdoor wedding ceremony by the pool with amazing sea views as a backdrop, one amongst the paths and olive trees, or a glamorous, al fresco wedding reception by the villa, Elounda Villas is here to offer the perfect setting. As for other celebrations, activities like a BBQ, a Cretan homemade dinner or a Mediterranean evening at the villa, live music and much more can be planned. 

Multiple event sizes can be arranged. Inside, sit up 20 guests for an intimate dining experience. For an al fresco experience with sweeping views, 80 guests can find seating outside and 150 for a reception.  Guests can seek assistance with catering, live music or DJ, dancers, flower decorations and more. Boat trips, horseback riding tours, sightseeing, wine tasting, cooking classes and beyond can be explored during your stay or included pre- or post-event. 

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Optional private chef available. Wifi throughout, satellite cable TV with DVD player, iPod docking audio system and CD player, climate control, laundry facilities, kitchen and bath amenities, safe. Both villas have a portable JBL wireless Bluetooth speaker that guests can use at the pool, at the barbecue or in the house. They also have gym equipment. A private playground as well as 1.37 hectares of land filled with olive trees and local vegetation.

AROUND

From the Venetian harbor town of Rethymno, to the historic old port town of Chania on the northern coast, with its seaside palaces and busy resorts, Crete is a land of contrasts. Well known for its antiquities, including the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which was recently renovated and is a real ‘must see’, there are also numerous centuries-old Orthodox monasteries, still home to monks and nuns, including St Minas in nearby Heraklion about an hour north.

The tiny, picturesque fishing village of Elounda sits along Mirabello Bay on the northeastern coast of the island forming a beautiful natural lagoon bordered by rugged peninsulas, and the island of Spinalonga offshore. A charming and rather sleepy town, it nevertheless is home to two of the most important archaeological sites of Crete's history, the ancient sunken city of Olous and the Venetian fortress on the island of Spinalonga.

The region boasts beautiful beaches, many of which are within easy reach of the property. Worth the two-hour drive is the protected inland Rouvas Forest with its rare species of animals and plants, the sacred mountain of Giouchtas in the Archanes region, the mountain of Strouboulas, and the region of Zaros with its famous lake. 

You are also within about a two-hour drive to the medieval archaeological heritage village of Maroulas.

Surrounded in hills, plains and gorges of outstanding natural beauty, the area is known for its livestock farming and is dotted with small stone structures called ‘mitata’.    

LOCATION 

Crete, Greece. Nearest Airport: Heraklion Airport (70km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May through October