Guardians of a place that has existed long before us, we were inspired by nature’s beauty and the wisdom of times gone by, to create a one off holiday resort that redefines luxury and the concept of the good life.
Propelled by love and awe for this magical place set amidst Crete’s largest olive grove, we embarked on an exciting- albeit sometimes daunting- journey; which was to last for almost four decades.
Even though we didn’t realise it from the beginning, our aim had always been to breathe new life into Kapsaliana in Rethymnon, Crete-the once thriving, autonomous community built around an old olive mill.
Still a work in progress, Kapsaliana Village, a historical hotel in Rethymno, Crete which has been characterized by Presidential Decree as of “High Cultural Value”, nowadays constitutes a novel travel proposal: One that seamlessly blends intelligent luxury with authentic, bespoke experiences; one where discovery is a way of life; and the quest for equilibrium the ultimate objective.
Kapsaliana Village hotel pays homage to the past; celebrates the present; and paves the way to a more a balanced, sustainable future. With our hosts as your personal guide, we invite you to explore and revel in the possibility of each moment.
For here, time melts away as you lose yourself in experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. Welcome to a world of serenity and wonder. Welcome to Kapsaliana Village hotel!
HISTORY
When Heraklion, Crete born, Athens and Paris educated, architect Myron Toupoyannis, first set eyes on Kapsaliana in Rethymno, Crete in the ‘70’s, he had no idea that a couple of decades later, this desolate, almost forgotten village would become a pioneering, world class resort; advocating an environmentally sound, albeit luxurious and exciting lifestyle.
Equal to none, nowadays Kapsaliana, Village hotel stands out on a multiplicity of levels: A breathtaking natural location steeped in history and tradition; a paradigmatic work of architectural restoration; effortlessly chic accommodation; incredible food; unforgettable experiences; an inspiring ethos of sustainability and service that is uncannily intuitive and wholeheartedly hospitable.
The unique contemporary narrative of Kapsaliana suites in Crete, is intertwined with its equally special legacy and past. Let us not forget after all, that it has been a vital source of life for more than 200 years.
The story begins at the time of the Venetian Occupation. Kapsaliana in Rethymno, Crete was then part of the Arkadi Monastery estate, the island’s most emblematic cenobium; which would subsequently play a pivotal- heroic and dramatic- role during the War of Independence.
Around 1600, a little chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael is constructed and a hamlet thus begins to develop. More than an eon later, in 1763, Filaretos, the Abbot of Arkadi Monastery decides to build an olive oil mill in the area: it’s soil and morphology make it ideal for this undertaking.
The olive seed is at the time key to the daily life: it is a staple of nutricion, it is used in religious ceremonies and it functions as a source of light and heat.
More and more people come to work at the mill and built their houses around it. The settlement flourishes. At its peak Kapsaliana in Rethymno, Crete boasts 13 families and 50 inhabitants with the monk-steward of the Arkadi monastery in charge.
The settlement however gradually wanes after WW2, as the mill-a source of life for more than 200 years- closes down in 1955. When architect Myron Toupoyannis discovers this place in the 1970’s, only seven residents remain.
He falls in love with the place; after all his professional interests lie with the restoration of similar traditional settlements; in fact his dissertation in the National Metsovian Technical University of Athens is a study about the development prospects of Kritsa, a humble, mountainous village in Crete.
Toupoyannis after visiting many artfully restored villages in Italy and France, decides to buy a couple of crumbling residences in Rethymno Kapsaliana. His purpose is yet unclear; and it is merely pure and undiluted instinct that drives his decisions.
After vanquishing many obstacles-as well as significant time and money constraints-Toupoyannis’ vision eventually acquires a more specific shape and form. Works of restoration at Kapsaliana in Rethymno, Crete are painstaking and lengthy.
Above all the architect’s first and foremost concern is to do justice to the land’s legacy and spirit; and to the wisdom of the local, vernacular architecture. In 2008 Kapsaliana Village hotel opens its gates and greets its first visitors.
Reviews are unanimously dithyrambic, but the creator of Kapsaliana Village hotel, does no rest in his laurels. In fact, Kapsaliana Village hotel is a never-ending work in progress: A dynamic community that never stops evolving; and which strives to offer its guests unparalleled experiences that capture the essence of now.
SUSTAINABILITY
Member of the Historic Hotels of Europe, Kapsaliana Village near Rethymno, Crete is like no other. Declared with presidential decree as of High Cultural Vale, Kapsaliana pioneers the modern-day imperative for back-to-nature/ back-to-basics luxury holidays.
Less is more in our case; as the need for striping off contemporary excess and replacing it with balance and equilibrium, becomes nowadays more imperative than ever. In fact it is the actual story of the place that has inspired and shaped its current day manifestation.
Once a thriving, sustainable community of 50 inhabitants centered around a prolific olive mill, Kapsaliana in Rethymnon, Crete eventually atrophies; until architect Myron Toupoyannis discovers it, falls in love and decides to give it the kiss of life.
Drawing inspiration from the very principles that guided existence at Kapsaliana since time immemorial-respect of nature and fellow human beings, autonomy, sustainability and collaboration-Kapsaliana, was transformed into a unique complex of suites in Crete, blending balance with indulgence.
RESTORATION
The reinvention, restoration and restructuring of Kapsaliana Village historical hotel in Rethymnon was a lengthy process which took the better part of four decades.
Not a small feat, nor an easy task, it involved diligent planning, painstaking work, loads of love, abundant patience, persistence and creative thinking and perhaps a dose of ingenious cunning.
The 21st century version of Rethymnon Kapsaliana, though serving a different function, has preserved the settlement’s initial architecture and spatial planning.
The olive oil mill, church, utility rooms and former residences have been gradually transformed into an opulent -yet not ostentatious- complex of rooms and suites, a restaurant, a swimming pool and lounge area; with due respect to the vernacular building methods and techniques and the use of natural, time honoured, materials, such as wood, stone and terracotta.
Characterized by Presidential Decree as of “High Cultural Value”, Kapsaliana Village hotel is an iconic example of traditional Cretan architecture featuring clear geometric volumes, one or two-storey structures interconnected with courtyards, stone stairs and carved arches.
Though archetypal of the past, Kapsaliana Village hotel is in effect timeless: An ageless community in which time stands still; and which has the power to charm visitors from all over the planet.
ROOMS & SUITES
The clear Cretan sky, pure air and limpid light were the source of our inspiration for giving to the rooms and suites of the Kapsaliana Village Hotel names of stars and constellations.
Enjoy your stay in the renovated, authentic village houses and live an unforgettable experience on the island of Crete. Welcome at Kapsaliana Village Hotel!
BOREALIS SUITE
At Kapsaliana Village Hotel, Borealis is a unique, stone house suite with private swimmin pool and panoramic sea views from every corner. At the private entrance of Borealis there is an ancient stone oven that can still be used.
This luxurious suite is part of the latest restoration of the at Kapsaliana Village Hotel. The building dates more that 150 years old and can be booked together with Luna and Aquila hosting up to 9 people.
OLIVE MILL SUITE
Our Olive Oil Mill Suite was originally an 18th century private olive mill. The open plan suite is located side by side as a continuation of our historic olive oil museum.
Part of the room’s ancient decoration are a historic millstone and an underground oil stone protected by glass floors. Within 80square meters the spacious suite features a double bedroom that is separated from its two seating areas with a large stone arch.
The first seating area can accommodate an extra person while the second one is where the historically preserved items are placed. Olive Mill Suite also encompasses a modern waterfall bathroom.
PLEIADES FAMILY SUITE
The “Pleiades” suite at Kapsaliana Village Hotel is a spacious, 2-room suite with a sitting area, fireplace and a separate bedroom. Both the living room and the bedroom have access to the terrace with a pergola and the garden.
The suite also has a living room with a sofa bed that can turn into 2 single beds suitable for 1 or 2 children. The suite overlooks the lush hillside and is ideal for families looking for a unique suite to stay in Crete. Ideal for families with children because of the outdoor protected space.
AQUARIUS SUITE
This exclusive Suite is located in the centre of the Kapsaliana Village Hotel, overlooking the restaurant terrace and pergola. The «Aquarius» suite has a beautiful arch in the middle of the room connecting the sleeping area with the sitting corner, the fireplace and the northern terrace.
Walk up the stone stairs to sit in the large terrace with the wonderful view over the olive groves and the sea. The large terrace on the north side has its own entrance and direct access to the outdoor parking space.
The terrace has also been recently renovated including a ‘mini pool spa’ and pergola. It is an ideal choice for both winter and summer holidays and great for couples looking for a peaceful and quiet stay.
HYADES ROOM
The “Hyades” have given their name to a comfortable double room in the main building complex of the old village.
The room has a double bed or twin beds and fireplace with original wooden beams. The room is centrally located in front of the spacious paved square, which is a continuation of the courtyard of the old olive mill.
GASTRONOMIC IDENTITY
A wholesome yet delectable Mediterranean cuisine, blending a deep appreciation and extensive knowledge of Cretan cooking with an eye to the future.
In fact, as our Cretan ancestors, we are passionate about great food and sharing it with friends; so under the inspirational command of our culinary team, vegetables from our garden and locally sourced materials from select, small producers are transformed into enticing gastronomic bombs, that tantalize even the world’s most discerning palates.
You are cordially invited to join us on a most memorable culinary journey lasting from morning until late at night. Our Chef Nikos Thomas has recreated the restaurant dishes, completely renewing the hotel cuisine, from breakfast and snacks to lunch and dinner.
The award-winning chef was thrilled with the local ingredients, the freshness from the trees, vineyards, indigenous and ancient grains, old and modern varieties of vegetables of our orchard and finally came up with a gourmet concept of the traditional Cretan cuisine.
Breakfast
“Eat breakfast like an Emperor”. True to the old adage, at Kapsaliana Village hotel each day starts with a sumptuous buffet on the outdoor area of the restaurant with traditional & local delicacies.
Featuring an array of seasonal fruits and freshly squeezed juices; authentic Cretan honey; homemade granola and nut pots, preserves and jams; freshly baked bread; an assortment of the trademark local cheeses-like Cretan ricotta and gruyere; eggs and cold cuts including apaki and syglino.
The breakfast menu is enriched with à la carte recipes of free-range eggs in variation.
Lunch
Discover unique flavours and tastes offering casual comfort in the form of organic, wholesome food. Savoury or sweet dishes and delicious snacks, prepared with abundant love and the freshest local ingredients-from small regional farms or our very own vegetable and botanical garden– will give you ample sustenance throughout the day.
More traditional options include stamnagathi (the “king” of Cretan greens), askolimpri (golden thistle), fennel, verbena and sautéed salads (tsigarista) that come straight from the roots of the authentic gastronomy of Rethymno and become impressive dishes.
Dinner
Dinner is an inimitable, fine dining, all senses experience that suits with the high expectations of your holidays. The a la carte menu features delicious Cretan recipes with a contemporary, fine twist.
Those aficionados with fine dining who have tasted our Chef’s cuisine say that the tomato with urchin and chickpeas with marrow and crayfish will make history.
POOL & SNACK BAR
The pool bar at Kapsaliana Village hotel serves light contemporary dishes, including seasonal snacks and organically grown salads, colourful cocktails, fresh juices, real coffee and other delightful concoctions, for a bit of sustenance prior, after or in between laps at the pool.
LEMONIES – Cocktail Bar
Named after the blooming lemon trees surrounding this cosy spot. Our ‘Lemonies Cocktail Bar’ creates a romantic yet relaxed ambiance where you may enjoy a refreshing sunset drink. Pick your favourite spirits together with a light savory snack before dinner.
Aperitivo Corners
Picture a luscious orchard and nothing but the Cretan sea and olive trees stretching infinitely before you. Now imagine yourself basking in the panoramic vistas while having an aperitif before dinner or a night cup soon after.
At Kapsaliana Village hotel we have carved some intimate, candlelit corners along the communal terraces, for the incurably romantic.
PERIVOLI – A Farm to Table Experience
Our team at Kapsaliana Village Hotel invites our guests to our organic garden and open-air kitchen for a two-hour lesson, followed of course by a delicious feast with smells of firewood and Cretan cuisine.
Let’s start with a tour at the orchard, filled with fresh vegetables, leafy greens, edible colourful flowers, Mediterranean fruits, Cretan olives, as well as aromatic culinary herbs and spices.
After you immerse yourself in the instructions and learn Cretan techniques, such as how to make real dough, you are ready for various cooking methods: how to prepare appetizers and cook with rosemary, sage, oregano, Greek savouries and condiments.
A hands-on experience during which you may prepare a gastronomic Cretan menu varying according to the season. Enjoy authentic recipes cherished by Cretan households and passed on from generation to generation.
At the end of each lesson, you will have cooked tasteful dishes with impressive presentation! Now it’s time to sit back and savour your meal with some of the best Cretan wines.
Traditional Bread Making
A deeply embedded tradition as no Greek meal is ever complete without some freshly baked ‘psomi’ (i.e. bread). At the open-air kitchen of ‘Perivoli’, our Baker Chef holds hands-on seminars around the old stone wood oven.
Whether it’s a traditional bread recipe, sweet cake and/or savory ‘kritsinia’ bites, all delicious secrets are ready to unveil. Flour, salt, water and yeast are not the only ingredients – add local flavors, herbs and spices and give an even more appetizing twist.
Prepare the dough, sift the flour, knead and then it’s time to bake! At the end of the session, take the time to taste your freshly homemade bread accompanied with Cretan bites.
Private Dinner
When the summer sun comes along there’s nothing quite like holding a private dinner on the terrace of your room, a courtyard, a veranda of our hotel, inside the olive oil mill museum or a spot under the lemon trees.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion with your better half or you just wish to spoil yourselves and your loved ones, our acclaimed Chef is happy to serve you a fabulous candlelit dinner at your private suite.
How cozy and intimate to enjoy a tailor made al fresco dining experience? Just savor the moment and let our discreet service take care of everything else.
Picnic
Would you like to go on an excursion on the Cretan mountains or spend an entire day at the beach? Our team will prepare you a delicious picnic basket full of snacks and refreshing drinks. Our “Menu” combines simplicity with unique and distinctive tastes.
Meetings & EVENTS
The incomparable beauty of the landscape, the unique aura of the village and wider area, along with the excellent facilities of Kapsaliana Village Hotel, are the ideal place to organize a corporate event or a small conference.
The hotel can accommodate up to 40 people, while the former production area of the monastic olive mill can be transformed into a comfortable hall where 25- 30 people can attend a meeting.
This impressive venue, fully equipped for screenings, along with the two adjacent rooms, the storehouse for earthen jars and the living room (old, private mill), create a special atmosphere of high aesthetics for any professional event.
As for the gastronomic experience of your event participants, they will be fully delighted with the freshness and creativity of the chef’s menus inspired from the Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine. For more information, contact the people of Kapsaliana Village Hotel to discuss all the details of your event.
Yoga
Sunrise or sunset open-air yoga? Whether you would like to wind down and stretch or take a more dynamic flow, make sure you book a session with our specialize yoga instructor in advance.
Massage
Spoil yourself while you let your spirit relax and indulge in the power of human touch. Choose the style that suits you among relaxing, therapeutic, deep tissue or sports massages. All treatments focus on the importance of soothing all five senses in absorbing the stress and held by our qualified therapists.
Hike & Run
Refresh your body and mind with a quick run or long walk through our private routes and orchards. Fill your body with energy and confidence while taking a long tour in nature. Then… recover, rest and nourish yourself.
DESTINATIONS
Less than 30 km from bustling, vibrant Rethymno, set amidst western Crete’s luscious olive groves, Kapsaliana Village hotel is a four season, five senses destination.
At this remarkably serene, little slice of heaven on earth, time slows down to allow you to remember what really matters: How to enjoy the simple things in life; bask in everyday’s little pleasures; reconnect with yourself and your loved ones; rediscover with nature; find peace and inner balance.
Tour of the village estate
A tour in every hidden corner of Kapsaliana Village Hotel estate that allows our guests gather and explore historical evidence of the 1600’s remainants. Stroll around the little paths, gardens, reconstructed homes while finish up the tour in our museum.
See first-hand the differences of past and present while appreciate how the desolate, almost forgotten village is yet to become a resort; advocating an environmentally sound, albeit luxurious and exciting lifestyle.
Explore the Olive Mill’s history
Inside the old olive mill is where the actual story in documentaries is revealed. The olive mill itself, interviews of Arkadi Monastery Abot, of the last village residents and of course of the architect of the entire village, Myron Toupoyannis are kept in videos.
HIKING
An unforgettable hiking experience, recommended during spring, through the flowery nature of Amari, a real eco-touristic paradise in the heart of Crete!
A rare opportunity to explore dramatic landscapes, pretty villages perched in the mountains, high snowcapped peaks until late spring, wild and deep gorges, lush green valleys, old stone bridges, typical water mills, beautiful Byzantine chapels
MOUNTAIN TREK
Discover Cretan mountains by trekking along the steep sides of the stunning Platania gorge, on the western slopes of Mount Psiloritis.
Overlooking the entire valley of Amari the path winds along high breathtaking cliffs. With hundreds of meters of deep wooded areas, the gorge of Platania constitutes an impressive geological phenomenon as one of the most interesting, but least frequented, gorges of Crete.
Among the highlights of the hike: a large colony of Griffon Vultures, nested on the perpendicular walls of the gorge and the discovery of the cavernous church of St. Anthony
CANYON HIKE
Experience the true adventure of crossing the magnificent gorge of Patsos: a gigantic eroded crack through lime-stone, which claims the title of one of the most attractive gorges of Crete. It is a challenging walk open to everyone, through a maze of large boulders and narrow walls, rocks and trees.
The walk combines hiking on marked trails, walking through water, and lightly climbing (easy and enjoyable) up steeper passages using fixed ropes and wooden ladders.
Towering, lush, wet, and wild, the Patsos gorge fascinates hikers with its narrow, rocky and steep relief. Because of the abundant water flowing through the gorge in springtime, a good part of the hike involves walking through water
SEA KAYAKING
Experience Crete’s coastal beauty while paddling in sea kayaks along some of the most beautiful coves and beaches of the south coast of Rethymnon.
An amazing adventure for kayak lovers – and beginners! Enjoy the action and fun, a chance to swim and relax, and end with an excellent lunch by the sea. The trip takes place along the less-known coastal region between Pyrgos, Agia Fotini, Lyngres and Triopetra.
THE SURROUNDINGS
Kapsaliana Village hotel is located in the prefecture of Rethymno, Crete 18km from the main town, 4 km from the historical Arkadi Monastery, 75 km from the International Airport of Heraklion and 85 km from the International Airport of Chania. Access is easy and fast, whichever point you are coming from.
Kapsaliana hotel is built at an altitude of 260m over the sea and lies at the heart of one of the island’s biggest olive groves. Here time stands still as the splendor of Cretan nature is combined by an authentic experience of living in a quaint, meticulously restored traditional village.
Arkadi Monastery
The historic Arkadi Monastery is located 4km from Kapsaliana Village hotel. It is the second most visited place in Crete after the archaeological site of Knossos.
A pivotal stronghold of the Cretans during their struggle for independence, Arkadi Monastery played an instrumental role in abolishing the Ottoman Occupation. Nowadays Arkadi Monastery is recognised by UNESCO as a world monument of freedom.
Today’s visitors will see history coming alive as they wander around the church at the centre of the monastery, the museum and the surrounding areas.
Eleftherna Archaelogical Site & Museum
At a distance of 9km away from Kapsaliana, nestled in the slope of Mount Ida, the ancient city of Eleftherna, birthplace of poet Linos, philosopher Diogenes, and sculptor Timochares, has existed-and flourished- for a very long time: Built in the 9th century B.C. while it prospered until 796 A. C.
Most traces of the ancient city-state had been erased until the Ministry of Culture granted the University of Crete permission to excavate the site in 1985.
Nowadays Eleftherna is the most important archaeological site of Western Crete, while its recently launched archeological museum is considered tantamount to those of Olympia, Delphi, and Vergina.
Margarites village
Margarites village boasts a long tradition in ceramic art; in fact pottery has been the main occupation of its inhabitants until recently. Make sure you visit the ceramic workshops and shops that keep this legacy alive.
The route from Kapsaliana to Arkadi, Eleftherna, Margarites and back, is particularly scenic, combining a striking landscape with amazing vistas-make sure you include it to your itinerary.
Also south of Kapsaliana Village hotel, Amari is one of the most beautiful-and untouched- corners of Cretan mainland; dotted with quaint, little villages, in which you may get a taste of the real Cretan life.
Rethymnon
One of the most picturesque cities of Crete, Rethymnon is the administrative and commercial center of the homonymous prefecture.
Merely 30 minutes from Kapsaliana Village hotel, you’ll find yourselves in this beautiful, vibrant town where you may enjoy strolling along the Venetian port, the old city and the market; while basking in its cosmopolitan, lively atmosphere.
Palace of Knossos
The Minoan Civilization (2.500 B.C.- 1.100B.C.) is the first important civilization ever developed in Europe. Today, the palace of Knossos marks the strongest piece of evidence for the admirable achievements of the Minoans on the island.
The Palace is connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth, the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Ikaros.
Archaeological Museum of Heraklion
As one of Europe’s leading museums, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is where the unique art of the Minoan Age, the frescoes, the jewellery and many other objects are exhibited. The museum brings together finds from all over Crete, covering over 5500 years of the island”s history.
