Antama Living: Lux Stone House with Pool & BBQ

Entire cottage in Melidoni, Greece

  1. 6 guests
  2. 3 bedrooms
  3. 3 beds
  4. 2 baths
Hosted by Konstantinos
  1. Superhost
  2. 3 years hosting

Listing highlights

Top 10% of homes

This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.

Dive right in

This is one of the few places in the area with a pool.

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the lockbox.
Some info has been automatically translated.
Welcome to Antama! Our newly restored 19th century stone house has been refurbished with lots of care and attention to detail, in order for our guests to get an authentic taste of Cretan country life in an off-the-beaten-path destination. Our property is located in Melidoni, a village of great historical significance to locals, 30 kilometres away from Rethymno (one of Crete’s four main cities), which preserves its traditional atmosphere and character to this day.

The space
If you want to experience a unique vacation in a traditional village of Crete while enjoying the comforts and beauty of a stone house, choose villa Antama.

Our house is the oldest in the area (or second oldest!). All the restoration work that has been done was carefully designed to provide guests with all the necessary modern-day comforts, but at the same time preserve the house’s original aesthetic and feel. Stone and ochre-painted walls, wooden ceilings and curious items dating from times past – all aim to recreate the house’s warm and hospitable atmosphere that attracted all those people back in the day.

The house is divided into two independent living spaces, offering flexibility and privacy for families or groups. The two levels are connected by an exterior staircase.

Ground Floor:
• Two double bedrooms, one of which was once a wine cellar.
• A private bathroom with a shower.
• A cozy living room with a traditional fireplace.
• A fully equipped kitchen with modern appliances to prepare your favorite meals (or enjoy home-cooked takeaways from Katerina's restaurant just a few steps away from the house!).

Upstairs Loft:
• A spacious, open-plan layout with plenty of natural light.
• A double bed on an elevated platform.
• A living area perfect for remote working or studying.
• A second small kitchen for preparing light meals or coffee.
• A private bathroom with a shower.

Outdoor Courtyard:
Step into the heart of the home—a traditional courtyard adorned with large terracotta pots (once used for storing olive oil, grains, and traditional “raki”), and a millstone that used to grind olives and produce oil. You’ll also find a wood-fired oven, perfect for a fun cooking experience with family or friends. (Don’t know how to use it? We’d say it’s the perfect opportunity to learn!)

Swimming Pool:
Cool off in the sparkling pool on hot summer days or relax on the sunbeds, soaking in the tranquil sounds and scents of the village.

Guest access
Guests have access to the entire property and the courtyard.

Other things to note
After lots of consideration and brain-storming, we decided to call our house “Antama”, meaning “together”, in honour of all those people that, throughout Antama’s long history, have sat around the table in the courtyard to eat and drink, distilled raki inside the “fabrika” (the adjacent building, once a workspace and mill), or shared the water from the blessedly full well.

Since 01/01/2025 all guests that stay at short-term rentals must pay tax for climate change. In this property, the tax is 4€ / day for November to March and 15€ / day for April to October. This amount must be paid separately and is not included in the cost of stay.

Registration Details
00003437910

Where you’ll sleep

1 of 2 pages

What this place offers

Courtyard view
Garden view
Shared beach access
Kitchen
Wifi
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm

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Rated 4.97 out of 5 from 34 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is in the top 10% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
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Where you’ll be

Melidoni, Crete, Greece
Exact location will be provided after booking.

Neighborhood highlights

In the hilly outskirts of Rethymno, well protected from the hustle and bustle of the city and surrounded by olive groves is the traditional village of Melidoni, a place of great significance to locals, not only because of the various personalities that were born and bred here (most notably the Revolution hero Antonis Melidonis), but also for its proximity to both the sea and the country.

Without a doubt, Melidoni’s biggest attraction is the cave of Gerontospilios, located no more than 2 kilometres away. Archaeological findings (exhibited in the museum of Rethymno) indicate that the cave was used as a place of worship of Talos, the legendary bronze giant made by Hephastus and gifted to Cretans by Zeus, in order to protect the island from invaders. In more recent history, in 1824, it was where many people found refuge during the Revolution, only to be burned alive by the Ottomans after a long siege.

You’re never too far away from the seaside if you’re staying in Melidoni; beautiful beaches are easily accessible both along the northern and the southern coast (with plenty of little tavernas around for lunch):
10 klm - Panormo Beach
15 klm - Livadi Beach
16 klm - Karavostasi Beach
16 klm - Varkotopos Beach
19 klm - Glaros Beach
73 klm - Ligres Beach
76 klm - Triopetra Beach
83 klm - Agios Pavlos Beach

For a day out exploring and enjoying nature, do not miss Kourtaliotiko Gorge (52 klm).

For those interested in history and antiquities, the archeological park and on-site museum of Eleftherna is only a short drive away (17 klm).

Other activities in Melidoni or the immediate vicinity include:
Reptisland: a theme park with live reptiles, amphibians and arachnids (not for the faint hearted!).

Paraschakis Olive Oil Factory: a family-owned establishment, where they offer tours to those interested in the production of olive oil.

Apithano Honey Museum & Tasting Tours: offers exactly what the title suggests!

Klados Winery: aged and with a fine aroma, the White Diva, the most remarkable white of this Cretan vineyard is here, and you can taste it along with other native Rethymnian wines.

Wooden Sculptures Museum: a permanent collection of local artist Yiorgos Koutantos.

Anogia: probably Crete’s most famous village, where the much-loved Greece-wide local singer, Nikos Xilouris, was born and raised. If you visit, do try ‘antikristo’ (finger-licking good lamb).

Arkadi Monastery: Crete’s most important monastery. Marvel at the church's beautiful facade and enjoy the peaceful scenery, so loaded with history.

Food-wise you will be spoiled by the choice of restaurants around: Carob and Olive (authentic Cretan cuisine) is a stone’s throw from the house, and plenty of other tavernas are only a short drive away.

Meet your host

Superhost
34 reviews
4.97 out of 5 average rating
3 years of hosting
Speaks German, Greek, and English
I'm an easy-going, calm, and social person who values kindness & authenticity. I love trying new things and am always up for an adventure, whether it's exploring new places or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen. Overall, I'm excited to connect with others and share in new experiences together.

Konstantinos is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Co-hosts

  • Lena Flouri
  • Maria

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 4:00 PM
Checkout before 11:00 AM
6 guests maximum
Safety & property
No carbon monoxide alarm
Exterior security cameras on property
Pool/hot tub without a gate or lock