Agia Paraskevi village is something quite exceptional. It is nestled against a hill and overlooks the coastline and the beautiful sandy beaches between Agios Pavlos and Plakias. This is truly for those folks who want to get away to a quiet village, all on its own surrounded by beautiful countryside. The turn off is on the main road which links Rethymnon to Agia Galini in the south. At Kissou Kambos there is a junction which is sign posted for Kerames.
One sets off along this road and the road winds over a mountain and suddenly has the most breathtaking of panoramic views to enjoy. One skirts around the edge of Kerames and on to Agia Paraskevi. After this the road to Agia Paraskevi is clearly sign posted and the further one goes the more relaxed one becomes as the traffic thins to almost none. This is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy Crete.
This village is exceptional in that it is not a new tourist development, it is an old village that was completely neglected and uninhabited for many years except for 2 nuns and was then resuscitated back to life by the next generation of the original village families. The ruined houses have been restored or rebuilt in the traditional style and all newly built houses must comply with the regulations and be built out of stone, and finished with wood and roofed with terra cotta roof tiles.
As the bougainvilleas, trees and shrubs grow, the old and the new all blend together to form a charming village with its own unique personal character. Being some distance from any form of mass tourism it allows one to appreciate the slow pace of the farming community, the magnificent sunsets and the absolutely breathtaking night sky. The beaches in the area are quiet even during the high summer season. There is a taverna within the village and there are several excellent small tavernas on the nearby beaches which operate during the summer months. T
he beaches are all sandy beaches with crystal clear water. Agia Paraskevi is 1 hours drive from Rethymnon city and 5kms from Kerames a popular town with some amenities. The most popular beach locally is Ligres beach is known for its pristine sand, gentle shore line and clear water, but you may often have the beach all to yourself.
There are two summer tavernas on the beach and it is only a short drive away from the Agia Paraskevi. There is a real sense of community between the inhabitants, maybe being so isolated, makes for good company with ones neighbours.
