Pefki, Crete
Pefki ( pines in Greek) is a charming Cretan village in south-east Crete. At an altitude of 420m, it offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the sea.
Its environment makes it a unique village. Below, it’s magnificent gorges, part of the E4 hiking trail; above, two caves that can be visited (provided you're well-shod and equipped with a headlamp). It is also overlooked by the Stavromenos Chapel (the crucified) 620m, from which you have a breathtaking view of the whole region. A stroll beneath the village reveals several thousand-year-old olive trees, which are listed, and the beautiful beaches of the Lybian Sea are just 7 km away. Pefki also has a warm, typically Cretan atmosphere. With its famous tavern "The Piperia" and its kafeneon, there's plenty to eat or just enjoy a refreshment after a great hike or a day at the beach.
The Piperia takes its name from the tree that stands in the middle of its terrace, a majestic pepper tree (piperi in Greek), brought from Egypt by the tavern's first owner, once a kafeneon, some 150 years ago. In its branches, year after year, it welcomes a pair of little owls, which are hard to distinguish, their fur resembling the bark of the pepper tree.
Each season offers a different landscape, with hills parched by the summer months covered in a green mantle in late autumn, and fruits with unique flavors that smell of sunshine.
The lemoni house