About this property
Step back in time to the Venetian splendour of 15th century Crete, in this grand, 540 square metre stone mansion, first constructed in 1429, and now renovated to the highest level including a heated pool.
Accommodating up to 11 guests, Villa Barozzi offers something to please all ages and different holiday makers, from relaxing in the Jacuzzi and chilling in front of the home cinema, to heading for some of Crete’s finest beaches just 3km away and meandering round the historic hillside town of Maroulas and Rethymo. There are also plenty of toys and games for the youngsters, and baby care equipment on hand for the littlest ones.
The staff provide an environment of absolute relaxation, allowing you to ease into the authentic Cretan way of life as they take care of housekeeping and laundry, and can serve local dishes at your request. They are also on hand to advise the best local archaeological sites, exclusive boat trips, and any other excursions you might fancy!
Staying in a village that is listed an official heritage site, with blissful sea views and enjoying the chilled island way of life, Villa Barozzi is an unforgettable holiday destination where there is something for everyone.
Good news! This property is available as a Vill’otel
Yey! Wait… what is that?
It’s the perfect combo of the privacy of your own personal villa, with all the luxury and convenience of a hotel.
What’s included?
Breakfast, cleaning, welcome drinks and hamper, plus more! Check the Extras tab for all the details.
Situated on the north coast of Crete and 8 km away from Rethymno, the 3rd largest town of the island, the historic village of Maroulas is located at equal distance of the international airports of Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER).
The lively small town of Platanias and its long (17 km) sandy beach is only 3 km away from your holiday home in Crete. The Venetian village of Maroulas has a few taverns and cafenions, and, 1 km away, you will find a large grocery store open 24 hours a day.
Slightly off of the center of the village, your holiday villa, combining charm and tranquility, is the ideal starting point to discover the island. Your host will be pleased to advise you exclusive routes and original outings. A public bus service insures the link with Rethymno but a rental car is anyway strongly advised.
Maroulas is a quiet village situated on the heights above Rethymno, facing the sea at an altitude of 150 metres and surrounded by greenery, a spring and several valleys.
In 1980, Maroulas was listed for its historical monuments but also for some of its houses including Villa Barozzi.
Amongst its rich historical heritage, visitors can discover important remains of ancient tombstones dating back to antiquity, two wonderful Venetian towers one of which is 44 metres high, a Byzantine church dedicated to the Ascension, a more recent church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and lastly a small chapel with iconostasis which adorns the small village square.
During the first Venetian invasions, the middle class houses of Maroulas were used as second homes or agricultural warehouses by the nobility of Rethymno.
Its high position facing the sea and its narrow lanes without any main square make Maroulas a typical example of the kind of fortifications built at that time.
Inspired by the works of Venetian engineer Fr. Barozzi dating from 1577, the Venetian constructions were aesthetically considered as state of the art.
Later, the Turks would add architectural elements from Anatolia like chimneys, wells, hammams or fountains.
Nowadays, Maroulas reveals itself through a maze of alleys where visitors can stroll, meet with the locals and enjoy its tavernas and cafes.
Accommodation
A conservatory style entrance leads you into the main living area. The design is open-plan: You will find a huge lounge with a stunning white marble floor, a kitchen and dining area, a vaulted television room, and hi-tech office space. The kitchen is fully equipped - dishwasher, microwave, oven etc.
Techno facilities here include: PC, wifi, giant screen (3.5m x 3.5m), overhead projector managed by computer, a telephone, fax, television, video tape recorder, hi-fi, CD-DVD….
The dining area is spacious and there is also a children’s play space. The living area leads out to a small inner courtyard which houses a Jacuzzi which is big enough for at least seven people.
Your additional fifth bedroom is also located in this part of the building. Sleeping Area The villa has five bedrooms, all with air conditioning for the summer - and central heating for the winter. We provide you with all bed linen and hand towels, and we also provide a daily (aside from Sundays) fully comprehensive domestic cleaning service.
The Bedrooms:
Bedroom 1: (on the ground floor) Has an independent entrance. The room has a double king size bed and an en-suite bathroom with bath, toilet and hair dryer (possibility to add 1 baby cot)
Bedroom 2: (on the first floor) Has a great sea view, a double queen size bed and en-suite bathroom with bath, toilet and hair dryer (possibility to add 2 baby cots)
Bedroom 3: (on the first floor) This room has a small double bed and shares a bathroom (just in front) with Bedroom 4.
Bedroom 4: (on the first floor) Has 2 single beds and a double bed separated by a fix wardrobe (quadruple). This bedroom shares a bathroom with bedroom 3. The bathroom has bath, toilet and hair dryer (possibility to add max 1 baby cot )
Bedroom 5: (on the ground floor) Has a double king size bed. Shower and toilet are along the corridor (possibility to add 1 baby cot or a small extra bed for children until 12 year old)
Outside Area There is plenty of outdoor space within the grounds of the villa.You have the large courtyard with the swimming pool and the smaller ‘Jacuzzi’ courtyard. But you also have a massive roof terrace (120m2) on the first floor of the building, which has loungers, chairs, tables, in fact all the garden furniture one could possibly want. From here you have a superb view of the village, the sea and the surrounding countryside.
Reviews (6)
-
Dea
This is an excellent house and the owner is incredibly accommodating.
-
Jon S
The first thing you notice when entering the villa courtyard is the pool surrounded by lovely Venetian walls, this is a fantastic area of tranquillity and becomes the centre stage of your stay. You then move into the outside kitchen area before moving into the villa itself, this outside area next to the pool always ended up being the meeting, eating, late night drinking entertainment area. Maroulas is a lovely and quiet village with three places to eat/drink plus only 10 minutes by car from the busy nearby town and beach. If you want somewhere with character and quality it's to be recommended. Also the daily cleaning service and attention of the owner make it really easy to stay in. The positives are the character, having plenty of space, the distances between rooms (we had three couples who all effectively had their own areas to be in), the courtyard with and outside kitchen and the roof terrace. If I could have made better I would have added a view from the pool (roof terrace good view but not a great place to be all day if very hot) and some of the fixtures getting a little tired but this is a small point. Highly recommend the owners chef who came in and made a superb meal for us - make sure you starve yourself the day you do this! Overall a great place and if you like something different rather than a standard white block villa next door to a load of other similar places then this could be the place for you. -
-
Drake B
"Do not rent this place if you're an exhausted corporate drone with no romantic imagination or interest in Cretan history, seeking a generic faux "luxury" seaside experience with fellow dullards in Greece. If, however, you'd enjoy waking up as a character in a surreal romantic novel, in an actual 15th century Venetian castle, in a town inflected by millennia of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Venetian influences, I expect you will find no better place in Crete. Unlike most restored castles, which are dark and boring inside, this one is well-designed, imaginative and full of light, which, as you might imagine, is incredible on Crete. Much of the surrounding structure was left original, and, as you can see here, is as dramatic as the villa itself. Your first day he draws you a map for an itinerary of the most interesting towns, vistas and relatively unknown beaches accessible in day trips from the villa, which is to say, everywhere on the island. You tell him what drew you to Crete, and he unobtrusively guides you to the best experience of whatever that is -- even when that includes the best restaurants and music venues off the beaten path. This is a typical day out with Yourghy (who gets extra points for using a Belgian mid-life crisis to move to Crete and restore a castle): He guides you through winding Maroulas walkways that look private to protect from Turks and tourists the town's ancient church, which is built into a cave. He unlocks it, shows you inside and then points out the 12th century BC burial chamber recently discovered on site, explaining that archaeologists now think a settlement here may date back 9,000 years. On another evening, he takes you down into Rethymno to the club and music venue just opened by a leading local underworld figure, to whom he introduces you, because Yourghy knows just about everyone who matters in Rhythmno prefecture. Between the spread he prepares for you upon arrival and your emotional farewell over too much Raki lay weeks of pleasure, inspiration and serotonin-rebalancing Cretan light in an astonishing environment. You should stay here"