Rafaella Villa

More on Prina, Crete

To find this tiny hilltop village, head inland from the Istron coast and wind your way up the small mountain road through Kalo Chorio. After passing beautiful pine forests and olive groves, you’ll pull up in oh so pretty Prina. A cutesy rural hamlet, it captures traditional Greece to a T. In fact, it could have quite easily graced a thousand postcards. We’re talking narrow lanes laced with dinky whitewashed houses. Tiny sugar cube churches with terracotta-tiled roofs. And so much scenery you’re in danger of overdosing on it. As it’s the kind of place coach parties still haven’t found, you really can escape the modern world here - spending your days blending in with the locals. If you really want to kick back and do very little, start your day with a stroll through the tiny streets and pick up some freshly baked pastries for breakfast. After a leisurely start to the day, work up an appetite by exploring the countryside that seems to stretch forever in every direction. Make your way up to the famous viewpoint from where you can see the island’s northern and southern shores. Or have a jaunt around town, popping your head in and out of the quaint shops. Of course, if you fancy hopping in the car and seeing some of Crete, there’s plenty of places to head. In ten minutes you can be stretching out on Istron’s crumbly gold dust sands. And on the way back, why not stop off at Kalo Chorio and have a wander around the market? Or indulge in a bit of sightseeing and make your way over to the other side of the valley and take a peek at Agios Timios Stavros church. After dark, the pace in Prina cranks down even more. Evenings revolve around good food and good wine at the handful of friendly tavernas here, perhaps followed by a romantic walk home guided by the light of the moon. If doing very little is your holiday mantra, come and join the getaway-from-it-all crowds in this genuine Cretan gem.