Dafnes ~ Δαφνές lies 18 km south of Heraklion, accessible via the national road and centrally positioned in the Heraklion region. This proud Cretan village is surrounded by Veneráto, Avgenikí, Kerásia, and Síva, all under the local governance of Palianí (Παλιανή), named after the historic nunnery on Venerato’s outskirts.
Set along a ridgeline overlooking the foothills of Mt. Psiloritis, Dafnes thrives as an agricultural hub, producing sultanas, grapes, wine, spirits, vegetables, and olive oil. The village’s name, derived from “daphni” (laurel), refers to a laurel tree once growing near the local chapel.
The family estate winery showcases generations of Cretan winemaking tradition. Surrounded by vineyards that benefit from the region’s ideal climate, the winery produces wines that capture the essence of the local terroir. Using carefully selected grapes and a blend of traditional and modern techniques, the estate creates well-loved varietals and unique blends, honoring its heritage while crafting wines that celebrate the richness of Cretan soil.
The family estate in Dafnes offers an exquisite setting for events that demand sophistication and charm. Surrounded by picturesque landscapes, the estate provides a refined backdrop for weddings, private gatherings, and corporate functions. With a seamless blend of elegance and authenticity, the family estate elevates any occasion, ensuring an unforgettable experience steeped in the rich heritage of Cretan living.
Great offer from the well-known Kokotos family of hoteliers.
Who in their ancestral residence, in Dafnes, Heraklion, completed and inaugurated the folklore museum of their father Spyros and mother Eliana, which is housed in the old stable and the doctor’s office of their great-grandfather, inside the Varouha Estate.
It’s really a very beautiful place with nostalgic rooms with exotic figures, floral and geometric patterns permeates the interwar period in an all-modern capsule. Acroprora, paintings, buckles, Chanio knives, monumental architecture – findings with patanias, kilims, bagalias, chramias, pantes, bourgias, bourgialias and canapelikia unfold the wealth of the loom and weave the wonderful “Collection of Spiros and Eliana Kokotos” as it is characteristically mentioned.
