Filias – Unique stone-built residences set in an olive groveHeraklion, Crete

This family house is unique, overlooking as it does The Palace of Knossos in Class A protected zone - meaning no one else can build on this land. It is one of the very few houses present in this area and can consequentially be classed as a unique property. The two buildings sit on a 14,000 sqm. olive grove with mature and productive trees managed locally. At the southern border is an open quartz mine which was used in Minoan times to provide quartz to decorate the palace. It is rumored that a Sanctuary of Demeter is present on the land. Visitors remark on the general good feeling present and the near constant breeze provides a refreshing atmosphere in summer.

There are two buildings - the old stone house dating back to 1920’s and a two-storey annex behind it built in the '60's. The stone house has massive walls and the stones show signs of originating from the Minoan period. This unique property has been it the same family ownership throughout – Emmanuel Akoumianakis first built the lower stone house while he was right-hand man to Sir Arthur Evans, the archaeologist responsible for most of the excavation and reconstruction of the palace.

The building has history: it was used as a rendez-vous for resistance fighters during the occupation. The Akoumianakis family were heavily involved in the kidnap of the General Commanding the German garrison and the present owner’s father was a British S.O.E. operative who hid in the property many times and where he met his future wife, Filia Akoumianakis, after whom the property is named. The interior of the stone building is not complete - we believe the kind of buyer who is interested in the property will want it for it's special position and provenance and apply their own design style.

On a plot of some 14,000 sq.m. there are landscaped gardens, with irises, pomegranates, some old vines and 100+ olive trees. Finally, throughout the house there are terraces from where you can take in the uninterrupted beautiful views in every direction of the surrounding mountains and valleys; it is easy for you to enjoy the tranquility offered by the area.