The last couple of weeks have been very far from vacations, quite the contrary. I had a lot and hard work to do but I am in Crete which is always nice to be and I am lucky enough to work either to wonderful landscapes or amazing villages! On top of that, I have the luxury to take the time, once in a while, to forget the work and actually enjoy them!
This time my line of work led me to Archanes, one the most beautiful villages of Greece. And if you don't take my word for it, maybe you trust more the list with the Most beautiful Greek villages by CNN :)
Located around 16 kilometers south of Heraklion, Archanes is considered one of the best restored villages in Greece.
The pale gray-green of its surrounding olive groves contrast wonderfully with the flamboyancy of its low-rise houses, creating a vibrant scene.
White Aegean chic doesn’t suit the Archanians, if the salmon pink, terracotta red and yolk yellow walls, brown wooden doors and blue or green window shutters embroidered by dashes of purple bougainvillea are anything to go by.
It’s no coincidence that in such an artsy environment, you’ll find sculpture workshops and two folkloric museums.
source
And if this village has an international recognition of its beauty, since 2020 it has become even more beautiful thanks to the local art festival and the drawings that bedeck many walls of its streets! Quite different than the graffiti I am used to see in the cities, a style of street art kind of naif, maybe even childish but definitely pleasing to the eye and charmingly decorative!
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Crete and Greece in general, has many beautiful villages but only a few have been developed in harmony with their original character. In most of the cases development means destruction of everything old and replacement with graceless new constructions.
Or they are left unspoiled, only thanks to negligence and they decay in abandonment and oblivion. Archanes is a great example of a thriving, expanding village that has preserved its character and integrated the future in alignment with the past!
Even when I walked away from the main road with the most impressive houses, I still found it extremely charming and memorable. As I was concluded my stroll, I was thinking what an excellent idea was to spare some time and get to know a little better this fantabulous place!
Every Wednesday 
Happy walks, to all of you :)
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