Hi! We’re Nancy Reid and Bob McDowell, your hosts at Villa Calista!

We hope you enjoy your stay at our home in Aspro, Crete and come to love the island as much as we do.

We live on the east coast of Canada, but spend most of the winter in our beloved Crete. We are both avid history buffs (Nancy is a former archaeologist), travellers, and animal lovers.

We are having the time of our lives exploring all Crete has to offer and we know you will too.

In the spirit of Greek philoxenia, we welcome you to our home!

We chose this property for our retirement home, as it has everything we were looking for - quiet privacy, comfort, and close to the amenities in the towns and villages. We love the peaceful setting of the sleepy old village of Aspro, but we also love the lively villages and towns of Almyrida and Kalyves close by. When we need a taste of nightlife or shopping, the city of Chania is less than a half hour away.

Our villa is perfect for those seeking a private home to stay while exploring the wonders of Crete. It's a great base for gentle hiking, cycling and exploring. Enjoy our views of the Cretan Sea or the mountains from the gardens and balcony. Wander through our orchard garden, snooze in the hammock among the wildflowers, or plan your excursions from the comfort of our outdoor terrace. A Blue Flag beach is only 2 minutes away, with many others within a short drive. Shops, cafes, dining, bank ATMs, nightlife are all to be had close by. From the villa, you can visit fascinating archaeological ruins, enjoy your pick of great tavernas and cafes, explore charming historic villages, or access some of the most famous beaches in Europe. Winery tours, cooking classes, sailing, biking, hiking, caving - are all options to consider when staying here. Then again, it's hard to resist lounging by our private pool!

When our guests enter Villa Calista, they are immediately drawn to the "avli" or covered terrace just off the kitchen, with its views of the private pool, our gardens below, and the magnificent mountains in the distance. The avli is sheltered from the strong Cretan sun and is always kept cool by mountain breezes. It features large lounging areas along with a dining set for meals al fresco. The avli leads to our private pool and terrace with comfortable chairs, sunbeds, and umbrellas. Imagine yourself relaxing here with a cool drink after a full day of sight seeing! At night, lighting and candles make this a romantic, atmospheric retreat.

Follow the stone path down to the lower gardens and olive orchard, where you'll find stunning sea and mountain views - our apricot, orange, mandarin and other trees, along with fragrant lavender, roses, jasmine, and rosemary bushes. Depending on the season, there is an ever-changing assortment of colourful flowers. We've tucked the hammock down among the shady olive trees - a perfect place to steal a nap or read a book on a lazy afternoon! A table and chairs are in the shady orchard as well - great for a cool picnic on site, or for an afternoon of chess on our garden-sized board!

Hikers and cyclists will love the many lanes and pathways in the area and our little village of Aspro itself is worth exploring for its fascinating remnants of Turkish architecture. Check out our many local guide books for suggested routes and excursions.

We love the location of the Villa Calista as it is perfect for making day-trips to the many wonderful historic villages and towns in the region - just 25 minutes from Chania; 45 minutes from Rethymnon; and about an hour and a half to the larger city of Heraklion and the amazing archaeological site of Knossos just beyond.

We're happy to help you plan your excursions and offer more information and lots more photos on our website. www.villacalista.com where you can also contact us directly.