Wednesday, 3 August 2016

Fodele - Birthplace of an artist

The little Cretan village of Fodele is tucked away in the hills and valleys near to Heraklion. It was the birthplace  of Domenikos Theotokopoulous - better known to us as El Greco"

El Greco - 1541 – 7 April 1614



When we visited we found that there was a week of celebrations for El Greco taking place



There is a lovely little river running through the village and a wood build children's pay area over a wooden bridge



Amazing to think that this Plane tree, thought to be about 1000 years old, would have already been an old tree of about 500 when El Greco was a boy!



The main street is simply a strip of tourist shops and tavernas


But the old village is a maze of tiny houses and lanes

Tiny little doorways - 

Arched windows


Cool corners

And suddenly amongst the old -the modern!




Many of the shops sell locally made embroidery and macrame


ladies of the village making articles for the shops


The 14c church of the Panagia - built on an even earlier 7c basilica


El Greco is believed to have been born and lived next to this church - from which the family got it's name (more of this in tomorrow's blog)


We stopped at a little cafe for breakfast called "Domenico"


The river quietly drifts by


the water so clear you can see the stones on the river bed



A resident



I tried the home made Orange cake with a Greek coffee


The oranges for the cake came from the owner's orange groves with caramelized oranges on top


Fred tried the small English breakfast and we shared some yogurt and honey whilst enjoying the shade.

You may like to know:

Service: Pleasant and friendly.

Type of food: Typical tourist offerings - with home made cake.

Prices, Very reasonable - not hiked up for tourist trade

"Star ratings"- on the "Guzunder" scale 7. 
- Clean, doors have locks, toilet seats present, paper and paper towels available. 

No complementary extras offered 

Would we return? Yes, certainly, a very pleasant place to stop.


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