Villa Phyllia, a property with history

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January 2025

Photo gallery for Villa Phyllia, a property with history

Exterior
Exterior
Property grounds
Private kitchen
Terrace/patio

Popular amenities

  • Pool
    Pool
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Knossos, Heraklion
  • Knossos Archaeological Site
    8 min walk
  • Palace of Knossos
    9 min walk
  • Venetian Walls
    7 min drive
  • Heraklion (HER-Nikos Kazantzakis)
    23 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Heraklion

At this farm stay you'll be within just a 10-minute stroll of Palace of Knossos and Knossos Archaeological Site. Highlights at this farm house include a kitchen, a private pool and a patio. .This pet-friendly farm house offers a garden and barbecues. .With a stay at this Heraklion farm house, you'll be 6.4 km (4 mi) from Heraklion Port.

What's nearby

  • Knossos Archaeological Site - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Palace of Knossos - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Heraklion Port - 7 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Koules Fortress - 7 min drive - 6.8 km
  • Heraklion Archaeological Museum - 7 min drive - 6.5 km

Getting around

  • Heraklion (HER-Nikos Kazantzakis) - 23 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Κρητικός Φούρνος - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Jasmine - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Coffee Berry - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Cupa Coffee House - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Minotavros - ‬8 min walk

About this property

Villa Phyllia, a property with history

Rental basis: Entire house or apartment
Number of bedrooms: 2; Number of other rooms with beds: 1
Number of bathrooms: 1
The property and buildings that make up the creative centre known now as Villa Phyllia has a history that spans modern times back to the late nineteenth century. Then a teenager , Emmanuel Akoumianakis, arrived barefoot at Knossos and presented himself for employment. Emmanuel had walked from his home villa of Gerakari to escape a vendetta that his family were facing.
Self-survival took him to Knossos where the news was that the excavations conducted there required fit workers for the grueling work of revealing the palace of King Minos – the heart of the Minoan civilisation. Emmanuel did very well and was rapidly promoted by Arthur Evans who appreciated the young man’s ability and enthusiasm. It was not long before ‘Manolis’ became Evans’ foreman and right-hand man responsible for managing the large workforce that had grown as the archaeological site became known internationally.
As a consequence of his success, Akoumianakis could afford to buy land in the area – vineyards, olive groves and a barn for sheep on the hillside overlooking the palace -the site that has now become ΦΙΛΙΑΣ (Villa Phyllia), as it passed down the generations of the Akoumianakis family to his daughter Phyllia, her son Peter and to his children, Oliver and Eva.
Phyllia's date of birth was always a mystery to the family. She was in fact born in 1921 not 1925 as shown in her passport. She was slightly older than her husband John. So uncle Micky Akoumianakis arranged a minor modification of her birth certificate to make her five years younger! If only it was so simple today.
All we have is a small blurred photograph of Phyllia dancing arm in arm with two girls. It reminds me of a fresco or an ancient vase . A smiling happy young woman. She is wearing boots – according to my family the first girl in Knossos who did so.
And the first girl to ride a bicycle. Her early life in Knossos Crete was bliss. She spoke about the gardens of the villa Ariadne next to her home – where the British archeologists lived. A paradise as she called it. Flowers, fountains, friendly faces. She was happy and life was good. But dark clouds were approaching.
We picture the cloudless sky above here in Knossos filled with German parachutes. The air beating with the sound of Junkers 52's. The smell of Cordite. The rattle of MG42s.
Phyllia's father, Manoli, instinctively took an old musket and climbed the hills
above his village to repel the invaders He was killed there and fell just close Agia Paraskevi, the Byzantine church he himself excavated after it was revealed to him in a dream.

Oliver's grandfather John was an S.O.E. agent sent to Crete during the Occupation to foster unity between the resistance factions: EAM and EOK. Phyllia and her brother Micky were embedded with the S.O.E. who pulled off an extraordinary stunt in the abduction of the general commanding the German garrison - for this story, see Ill Met by Moonlight. During these extraordinary times, John and Phyllia found time for romantic assignations at the barn - and later wed.

Villa Phyllia is available for guests who will appreciate the history and special atmosphere of this place and offering walking trips, wine and raki-making, all accessible by foot. Up to eight guests can be accommodated in a simple but comfortable style.

Oliver

Car/Motorbike recommended if not walking.

Property manager

Your.Rentals

Languages

English

Property amenities

Parking and transport

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Private pool

Food and drink

  • Kitchen
  • Separate dining area

More

  • Heating
  • Living room

Policies

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. Parties and events are allowed on site. 

Property Registration Number 17063640643

We should mention

  • On-site cash transactions can't exceed EUR 500, due to national regulations. For more details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

108098

Frequently asked questions

Are there any beaches close to Villa Phyllia, a property with history?

The closest beach to Villa Phyllia, a property with history is Ammoudara Beach (8.6 km).

Does Villa Phyllia, a property with history have a pool?

No, this farm stay doesn't have a pool.

Is there a private hot tub at Villa Phyllia, a property with history?

No, but there is a private pool.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Villa Phyllia, a property with history?

No, Villa Phyllia, a property with history does not offer an airport shuttle service.

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