Kerasia Village ~ Κεράσια
Kerasia is a small proud Cretan village in Iraklion prefecture, surrounded by other villages Venerato, Avgeniki, Dafnes, & Siva.
After living here, we firmly believe it comes from the second meaning, as the hospitality in the village is incredible. People are always offering. Giving, sharing. The generosity of Kerasiani is beautiful and touching and absolutely natural. Anyway, our papou, who comes from Kerasia village, says the second meaning is the real meaning. There are quite a few villages in Greece called Kerasia, and there is a very popular beach village in Corfu called Kerassia, so don't confuse them. Kerasia in Crete sits at the foothills of Mt Psiloritis, in a gently sloping valley. It is a small agricultural village busy producing sultanas, grapes and olive oil. The olive groves and vineyards are interspersed with each family's perivoli orchard or garden, with mandarinia, lemonia, walnuts karidia, lots of other fruit and vegetables. Yards with pigs and goats are dotted about. With about 40 families, some of Kerasia's houses are closed up, their owners in Iraklion or further such as Germany, USA or Australia. This creates odd pauses in the village as you walk through the narrow streets, strange crumbled buildings and forgotten, trashy corners. This is slowly changing as people return from the diaspora. The village sits just up from the national road and with close access to both Iraklio and the thriving cornucopia of Messara, it has been on the trade routes of the island for many years. The first notation of the village dates back to 1583.
Kerasia village has two churches, Agios Giorgos in the lower village near the kafenion, and Agios Sillas Άγιος Σύλλας higher on the hill. These are both well loved churches, worth a visit and are fully-functioning alive churches.
The small country roads around Kerasia will lead you to another church, in a glorious, inspiring setting, I Panayia i Faneromeni, H Παναγία η Φανερωμένη, meaning roughly The Apparition of the Virgin. This is a tranquil and relaxing setting, with many large trees and picnic tables to enjoy the view of the little gorge with cypress pines. There are some very old gnarled olive trees on the way to this shrine, making it worth the short 10 minute walk from Kerasia village. It is lovely to sit looking over the valley with the rocky hill behind. Goats roam up there. Sometimes the only sound will be acorns falling on the roof of the church. Other times you will hear the loud interruption of a motorbike, as the lad from the village comes to look after the shrine and light the candles.
This gorge is part of the European walking trail E4.
The hub of village life is the kafenion. The kafenion in Kerasia village is a very simple affair. Life flows slowly and quietly by, however if you sit awhile and allow yourself to slow down, you will find the parade of life passes by the doors of the kafenion. Our deputy mayor, a resident of Kerásia, put it this way "the kafenion is the university of life". Discussions start slowly, at times you can walk in and believe no one is talking to each other. Sometimes the room is full of smoke and shouting. Sometimes there are card games; sometimes the TV is turned up very loud. Each village kafenion will be different. We encourage you to seek out your village kafenion and sit awhile. Get to know the way of things and always, always respect the old people in your village. They will teach you more than you will know. When you enter a home or kafenion in the village, you will be offered a coffee kafe or a raki, in Cretan known as
tsikoudia.
Life is sweet in Kerasia village.
Villa Kerasia is a delightful bed and breakfast in a restored traditional farmhouse dating from 1883. Its looks over the valley of the four villages in a peaceful rural setting just 15 kms from Heraklion town. Earino is located close by in Kato Asites village. This small hotel has a lovely outdoor setting for taverna and cafe, and is atmospheric of the local traditional style in stone and wood. Three self-contained studios are offered, each with its own fireplace.
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