Kerasia village

Kerasia is a small village on the hills southwest of Heraklion.

Its name comes from the verb kerno — to treat your guest.

As my mother's village, I spent summers as a child. The olive groves, the vineyards, the dirt paths, the smell of the land in the morning — these are not things I discovered. They are things I grew up with.

The village overlooks the plain, the Lasithi Mountains, and the ancient Paliani Monastery. On the hill above, the chapel of Agios Panteleimonas marks the skyline.

No tourist attractions. No crowds.

At the edge of the village, the chapel of Panagia Faneromeni sits at the head of the Kerassano gorge. Easy to miss. Worth finding.

The area around Kerasia is known for its olive and vineyards. Within a few minutes, you find yourself among family and estate wineries — some of the finest in Crete.