Visiting Ano Archanes in Crete (Part 1)

Ano Archanes: This means the upper side of the village named Archanes.

I found myself there yesterday, paying a visit after many many, oh too many years.

I saw a different place than I remembered! Let us take a tour around the area that I visited during the short time I spent there.

I was very impressed with this door and this artwork.
Not sure if I can photograph peoples doors, but this was too impressive not to be shot together.

And this is a close-up of this lovely street art - created by Efrosyni Oustamanolaki

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Let me tell you about Archanes:

It is a (not so) small village nestled on the slopes of Mount Juktas, approximately 16 kilometers south of Heraklion city.
The name "Archanes" probably dates back to the ancient Minoan civilization, where this place is referred to as "Arhania,. The word means a sacred place.

The village is very close to the renowned palace of Knossos and remains a very traditional village with beautiful neoclassical buildings, some of them fully restored.

It also has a lovely place where you will find taverns & cafeterias.
Unfortunately these weeks, construction works take place so it is very difficult to take photos in that neighborhood.

A few steps below, a beautiful door - and a house that is given out to rent. If I was not living near the ocean, I would definitely consider this.

Today, Archanes is home to approximately 3,500 residents and over the years, the village has transformed from a agricultural community into a lively and vibrant town that attracts people from all over the world. The locals have preserved the traditional architecture, and many buildings have been beautifully restored. The village has maintained its essence, with stone houses, winding streets, and beautiful squares that invite people to experience the relaxed pace of Cretan village life. .

One of the most notable changes in recent years has been the explosion of street art throughout the village.

Local and visiting artists have used the village’s walls as their canvas. These murals often depict scenes from Cretan history, daily life, and abstract designs that bring a modern twist to this historical village.

The architecture is very impressive and the majority of the houses I walked next to, are beautifully preserved houses.

Even the abandoned houses retain a kind of beauty as they blend with natures elements.

This house drew my attention.

And most specifically the windows! Would you dare make your windows stand out so much;

This is the name of the village - appearing in a lovely graffitti
#ARCHANES - this is located next to to the bus station and to their cultural centre (beautiful building next door)

A few more details and a lovely shot that I can watch again and again
Just look at these eyes!

I hope you enjoyed our little tour!
Stay tuned for part 2!

For this post, I will also use the new feature in peakd.com where we can put a map to our posts!

(tutorial will follow)

https://www.allincrete.com/archanes-village-heraklion/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archanes