The creator of this space, Giorgos Havaledakis, had only graduated from the second grade of elementary school, like most of the workers at that time.
The first room on this estate was built in 1990 for the purpose of storing his tools and resulted in this serene space.
The first addition to the yard was a stone table, a gift from a good friend, that foreshadowed the things that were about to unfold.
The most beautiful little celebrations were set up on this table. A small celebration for the new stone that Giorgos brought from the mountains and found its place in Koumos.
A small celebration for the mosaic on the balcony that was finished after many hours of meticulous work, as well as for the staircase that he covered with small stones one by one.
Many friends and relatives who believed in this idea from the very beginning, contributed to it in any way they could and several of the exhibits are donations from them.
But the main pillar for the fulfillment of this idea was the creator’s wife, Mrs. Vaggelió. With love for her partner, she stood like an angel in every difficulty that arose and always gave her husband the courage he needed not to give up on their dream.
She always made sure that there was a table set with lots of delicious food not only for the hard-working workers, but also for the people passing by.
Nowadays, the stone village is open to visitors and the outdoor space has been designed based on Cretan’s old practices.
On the premises you will see a wood oven, a manganese pit, a stone mill, an olive press and a wooden loom. Many places are decorated with mosaics and rough stones that hide a form of some animal.
Among the gardens is the folklore museum, an exhibition from the personal collection of George Havaledakis, containing traditional Cretan gowns, findings from the second world war and much more.
Through this rare collection we travel to an earlier era. The museum’s interior is designed to resemble a traditional Cretan house and displays numerous textiles, kitchen utensils and tools from the past.
You will as well see findings from the war period that have remained untouched over time and remind us how much this island has suffered from conquerors but also shows us Cretans’ high desire and vigor who fought for their independence.
You will leave this place full of images that will take you back in time and you will certainly gain new knowledge about the way of life in the old days and the history of the island.
Operating hours:
1st of May until 1st of November
everyday from 09:00 till 18:00
Entrance fee:
Ages over 13 years old: 5 euro
Kids 5-12 years old: 2.5 euro
Kids up to 4 years old: free