Sometimes they allow us to peek inside, often strictly shielding what is private or secret. They speak of the status of the residents, their ups and downs. Some demand that we stop respectfully and use a knocker or bell, while others allow us to glance inside through a crack worn by time. Sometimes, half-open, they invite guests in. They show time, its passage, history, civilisational changes, and bear traces of wars, shootings and protests.
Crete is full of wonderful stories, many of which can be admired or deciphered in its ancient portals, medieval monastery gates, ornate Venetian doors with arched lintels, or distinctive red details from the Ottoman era.
If you are a vegetarian (or not!), you must go there. A wide selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes that will satisfy all palates. Non-alcoholic beers and wines, natural wines – you are sure to find something to accompany your meal. On top of that the intergenerational family that runs the restaurant are the lovliest people in town!
It is a place of reference in Chania when it comes to fresh fish and seafood. The restaurant is located very near Splantzia square, offers outside and inside tables spread on two floors. It is always bustling with the sounds of conversation, laughter, the clatter of cutlery and plates, and waiters rushing about.
Our apartment, which is spacious and airy (ca.100 m2) can accommodate up to 6 guests. It has one private bedroom that sleeps two, a living room that sleeps two more and a mezzanine just above the living room for two more guests.
The private bedroom (after you enter and to the right) comes with a double bed (153 x 200 cm), a wardrobe, two bedside tables, and a chest of drawers. The window overlooks the front porch and the garden. There is an air conditioner and a ceiling fan, if you get hot in the summer, and a heater +air conditioner if you get cold.
The living room area features a cosy sofa bed (90 x 200 cm) with a pullout bed (87 x 190 cm) tucked away underneath, a couch, armchairs, an old chest, an antique revolving bookcase, and a TV. The living room windows overlook a series of backyards with lush greenery, beyond which you can see the sea. The living room is equipped with two air conditioners that also function as heaters, plus a ceiling fan.
The kitchen is in the same space. It features a dining table with chairs that you can also use as a workspace, a glass cabinet with everything you may need (plates, cups etc), a big fridge, coffee maker, kettle, two hotplates, and a microwave.
The bathroom, right next to the kitchen, features a toilet, a sink and a shower with a glass ceiling, which allows the bathroom to be lit naturally during the day by a skylight on the roof. We hope that you will enjoy natural cosmetics of ABEA – the oldest olive oil company established in Chania. There is also a washing machine, which you are welcome to use. A clothes hanger rests next to the washing machine. Iron board and electric iron are also available.
On the mezzanine, accessible via a staircase, there are two more single beds with bedside tables, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, an extra table with a chair that you can use as a workspace, a chest, and an antique folding screen, which hides the bathroom’s glass ceiling.
The apartments also have a charming balcony with a table and two chairs. From this balcony, you can admire a bitter orange tree and the stylish, flower-filled inner courtyard.In the courtyard, near the entrance gate, there is a table with chairs for four people. Above it, a magnificent araucaria tree spreads its crown.
The apartment is self-catering. Towels, sheets, pillows, blankets, and duvets will be at your disposal and if you are staying for more than five days you will be provided with an extra pair of towels and sheets. The water heater is solar-powered, but if you run out of hot water you can always power the heater electrically.
Thimari Gardens is more than yet another Airbnb place. A century old house was built on ruins of Dominican Convent dated back to 1320 A.D. 100 sqm house with a mezzanine, gives a lot of space, while green spaces we have on both sides keep temperatures moderate. What is really unusual for old towns, it remains calm, without street noises.
You will find the apartment in the historic Turkish quarter of Splantzia, next to the Dominican temple of St. Nicholas and Splantzia Square (aka ‘Plateia 1821’).
Our apartment once constituted part of the closter built during Venetian rule and assumed its present form, more or less, during the 1930s. In 2007 it went through a major renovation and it was made sure that as many aspects as possible of the 1930s structure were preserved. The mosaic floors were kept where possible and all the kitchen floor tiles that remained intact got used as decoration on the bathroom and kitchen walls. In the living room, you can see some of the stones the walls are made of and ‘Stucco Veneziano’ throughout the house, giving it the texture you see on many buildings of the Old Town.
Special attention and respect were paid to details and the rustic character resembling that of the old town. Lovers of antiques and all things vintage will appreciate its character and will find it welcoming and easy to inhabit, especially after a busy day out in town.
It takes a lifetime for someone to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her – Henry Miller.
About
My name is Marta, a Pole with Greece in heart. I am also a living proof that longlife dreams can come true. I always dreamt of having my place in beloved Greece and now here it is! And not just anywhere, but in the most wonderful city, steeped in the culture of ancient Greece, the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire, my dream city of Chania, Crete.
This blog aims at promoting Crete, Chania but also our home there- Thimari Gardens - which is seasonally rented out. More information about the apartment is available when you press the tab above named Thimari Gardens.
If you wish to ask about our rental offer, send an email at thimarigardens@gmail.com
