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.
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TENNIS
PICKLEBALL
PADDLE TENNIS
SIX SENSES SPA
RESORT GYM
BASKETBALL COURT
WATERSLIDES
VALENCIA SOCCER SCHOOL CAMP
KID'S ARK
WATERSPORTS CENTER
PONTOON BOAT DOCK
SHOPPING CENTER
PRIVATE YACHT
9 HOLE PAR 3 GOLF COURSE
HELIPAD - TOURS TO SANTORINI
WATER SPORT CENTER
PONTOON BOAT DOSCK
ART GALLERY
SHOPS
SHOP
GYM
CALYPSO RESTAURANT
SUMOSAN CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE RESTAURANT
WINE CELLAR
BEACH LOUNGE
ELIES GREEK RESTAURANT
KIRKI BAR
NAFSIKA RESTAURANT
IL BORRO TUSCAN BISTRO
BEACH LOUNGE
YACHT CLUB
WINE CELLAR
OLD MILL RESTAURANT
KARAVIA BAR
DECK RESTAURANT
INDOOR POOL
LAGOON BEACH
RESORT BEACH
RESORT POOL
KIDS POOL
WATERSLIDES
SPA INDOOR & OUTDOOR POOL
DIAMOND RESIDENCES PRIVATE BEACH
ELOUNDA MARE PRIVATE BEACH
HOTEL POOL
ZEN BEACH
HOME THEATRE
PROPHET ELIAS CHAPEL
AEGEAN CONFERENCE CENTER
LATO MEETING SPACE
SANTA MARINA CHAPEL
