Arolithos Cretan Traditional Village - Heraklion Crete

WORKSHOPS - SHOPS

In Arolithos, there are various popular art workshops, such as ceramics, weaving. Those sections are open for the hotel guests, for tourist groups visiting the village, as well as for individual travelers looking for an oasis of calm.

At the woven textile exhibition, which is the biggest shop of the village, visitors may see Cretan looms, traditional woven textiles, embroideries, and knits used by homemakers to decorate their house. Cretan textiles are famous all over the world. Genuine threads, yarns and true colors lend textiles beauty and authenticity. Cretan symbols and pictures of the Cretans’ daily life are depicted on them.

The traditional blacksmith’s is one of the most interesting workshops in Arolithos.

In the ceramics workshop, our guests have the opportunity to watch the production of earthenware on the lathe. The artisan’s skill lends clay its different forms: vases, platters, glasses, cups and many more everyday utensils coming in a wonderful array of colors.

In Arolithos, there is a traditional wood oven, where kneaded bread is baked and subsequently consumed in the tavern. The oven operates on wood that burns inside it until it turns into charcoal. After reaching the appropriate temperature, it is cleaned with the use of panistra, specific oven brushes so that bread can be placed in it.

The painting and handcrafted gifts workshop is a necessary stop during ones’ visit in Arolithos. Still life paintings, landscapes and portraits as well as hagiography works count among the exhibits of the workshop. Small items and gifts decorate the shop and are available for customers of refined taste.

The grocer’s called “To Diktamo” [“the Dittany”] sells wine, ouzo, raki, Cretan buns and rusk rolls, vanilla dessert, stewed fruits in syrup, as well as herbs of Crete.