Village walk
The nicest thing you can do in Ano Asites is to walk the narrow winding streets of the old village. The local cultural association there has gone to great efforts to use traditional lime paint, and pigments to brightly colour many of the old stone houses. Time has stood still here and every corner makes you want to take a photo or sit down and paint a picture. When the flowers are out the village fills with the smell of jasmine and such.
There is a traditional kafeneon on the main road into the village. This caters for the older generation and sells simple coffee, raki and small mezes. At the moment there is talk of an alternative kafeneon opening. A nice thing to do is pack a picnic and have your own lunch under the trees on the main square. Or buy some snacks at the mini market on the square.
There is a traditional kafeneon on the main road into the village. This caters for the older generation and sells simple coffee, raki and small mezes. At the moment there is talk of an alternative kafeneon opening. A nice thing to do is pack a picnic and have your own lunch under the trees on the main square. Or buy some snacks at the mini market on the square.
Murals/ Art Projects
In 2019 a street art project started in the village in order to help revitalise it. Artists from around the world come to stay in a new artists residency set up by Australian visual artist Mathew Halpin. The coronavirus slowed the project down a little but in 2022 we hope to see more artists come to add their creations to the village and surrounding area.
anoasitesartistsresidency.weebly.com/
anoasitesartistsresidency.weebly.com/
Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum of Ano Asites operates since 1995 in a traditional building of 1880. It represents a traditional Cretan house, where the ground floor houses the warehouse and the kitchen, and the floor houses the bedroom and the living room. In the warehouse there are old tools like the wooden plow, a bell atomizer, etc., while in the kitchen there area relevant exhibits.
In the living room the visitor can see typewriters, a polygraph etc. Finally, the bedroom there is the bed, the baby's crib with the christening clothes and the loom.
The exhibits were donated by locals.
In the living room the visitor can see typewriters, a polygraph etc. Finally, the bedroom there is the bed, the baby's crib with the christening clothes and the loom.
The exhibits were donated by locals.
Bell making workshop
The bell making factory of Minas Milliarakis.
Melodies of sheep and goats flocks clinking "sheep bells"; the most representative of pastoral landscapes.
The sounds of sheep-bells allow herders to know weather an animal is grazing, drinking water, weather it is at risk to get away from something or weather it has been panicked. Being well- versed in the
behavior of their flock, it's easy for herders to interpret and every bell-sound, just like experienced musicians can read an easy orchestral score blindfolded. Sheep-bells help herders locate animals that have lost their bearings while they also help animals inside a flock identify one and other. is not mere coincidence that the biggest sheep-bell is worn by the leader of the flock, so that the leader can be traced easily and guide the flock by the characteristic sound of its clinking bell.
Come and see bell making in practice. Some bells are also small and make a nice souvenir from your visit.
The workshop is located at the bottom of the traditional part of the village, next to the creek.