Eleftherna of the Homer times

This schedule combines an exclusive private guide in the ancient city of Eleftherna and an acquaintance with the contemporary economy in the Greek rural society, the cheesemaker, the diner owner, the ceramist, and the farmer. Besides, we will learn how to cook delicious dishes of the Greek cuisine.

The day begins with our visiting the dairy* run by Kalligiannis family near Skouloufia village. We continue to Eleftherna where we’ll enjoy freshly made lemonade whilst watching Theonimfi preparing “gemista” (stuffed vegetables), “dakos” (the Greek version of bruschetta with fresh tomato) and “tsatziki” (yoghurt, olive oil, cucumber, vinegar and garlic). As long as the food is baked in the oven, we’ll attend a private guided tour in Orthi Petra, Eleftherna’s necropolis in the years of Homer. The lecturer is a member of the excavation team on the very site, the assistant of Nicolaos Stambolidis, a revered figure in the world of Archaeology, Professor in the University of Crete. Once back to the tavern we will indulge in the food prepared earlier.

In the afternoon, on arriving in Margarites village, the ceramist George Dalamvelas will discuss the use of clay in Crete, from antiquity to present, and demonstrate the ceramist’s craftsmanship. Our last stop will be outside Melidoni village, at the oil press owned by the Paraschakis family, where we will see old and new oil presses, learn about the making of olive oil, and taste olive oil with freshly baked bread.

*The dairy farm is not operational from July to November.

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