The Name of the Village
There are two possible explanations about the name of the village. According to the first, a French lieutenant of Napoleon deserted on the way of the troops to Egypt and found shelter in the village. The village was, therefore, named after him, as the Greek word for French is Gallos.

According to the second explanation, the local people built a church dedicated to Virgin Mary (Panagia). The locals used milk (gala) to make the mud that was used to build the church. The church was named "Panagia i Gallou". The ruins of an old church can be seen at the village on the top of the hill, where a new church dedicated to Virgin Mary now stands.

The Village Through History
Due to its position, the village was important through all the different historical periods of the island. The importance of the area is obvious from the Byzantine era as the visitor can see the rebuilt ruins of a Byzantine Monastery of Saint Paul & Peter.

It seems that Venetians (1220 - 1670) also realized its importance and moved to the village where they built a large estate. After the Venetians, the Turks also settled in the village and made their own alterations on the Venetian buildings. Villa Svega is part of this Venetian Estate.

The name of the village can be found in a Venetian document as Gallou.

The Name of the Villa
The name of the area where the villa is located is Svega, possibly because of the well which is in the south patio of the Villa. Svega is the metal barrel that is used to take water out of the well. This well was out of the Venetian estate and the vaults were used as an inn. So the area was most probably known for the well.

Ownership of the Estate
The Villa Svega has been the owner's family property for the past 100 years. Although we do not know when it was built, it is believed that it belongs to the second half of the Venetian era. The estate occupies 2500m² and includes a two floor neoclassical house of 170 m², built in 1920 attached to two Venetian vaults and a building of an old oil mill attached to the western vault. In the estate you can find the old cellar and the wine press.

The old venetian vaults have been preserved and life has been given to a building that is important as far as history and architecture are concerned.

The Concept of the Renovations & Characteristics of the Villa
The place has been transformed with respect for the architecture and using the knowledge of technicians and traditional materials. The west vault and the oil mill have been turned into a luxury two floor house of 140m².

The combination of stone and wood creates a warm and friendly atmosphere. The Villa was furnished so as to preserve the style of the building, without lacking in comfort. In an attempt to avoid using modern materials, the Villa has facilities such as under floor heating system and traditional stone fireplace.

The sitting room, dining and kitchen are in the main hall (Venetian vault), while an old stone passageway takes you to the two floor oil mill house. A twin bedded bedroom and a bathroom are on the ground floor, while the first floor has two bedrooms which can accommodate the guests.

The main couple bedroom as well as the other two have been furnished with respect to tradition using smooth earth colours. The bathroom is also furnished and the tiles used have been carefully selected according to the concept of the restoration. A traditional wooden staircase takes you to the second floor, where there are two fully furnished bedrooms and the main terrace of 120m².

The view from the terrace is excellent: an oak forest to the east, sea view to the North and village view around the terrace. The terrace can be the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee during the sun rise or your evening meal watching the sun going down.

A South patio surrounded by high Turkish made walls can be your hideaway for sunbathing as well as for lunch, supper, dinner or even a BBQ.

Villa Svega is also a wonderful resort for winter vacation as it is fully equipped for the mild winter of Crete. The east vault is availabe as an open air as well as a sheltered space.

The Local Environment
The Villa is located on the main square of the village. The village has two small super markets, a traditional coffee shop (kafenion), a children's playground. The bus stop is only 30 meters from the Villa.

Walks Around the Villa
Small walks around the Villa can offer the visitor a nice sight-seeing experience and are a perfect occasion for some exercise.

• A nice 20 minute walk will take you to the Byzantine Monastery of Saint Paul & Peter and the nearby gorge, with small muddy roads to walk on.
• The church of the Virgin Mary is only within 5 minutes walking distance from the Villa.
• If you want to take a longer walk, then try the nearby village of Atsimopoulo (half an hour) through the small gorge.