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What is Cretan Spiti

Folk tradition of Crete constitutes an inexhaustible contemporary cultural entity with customs, materials, spiritual features and ancient habits that have formed the core of the modern Cretan life over the years. Despite the fact that the large urban centres of Crete inevitably lead the pace of a modern, technocratic and cosmopolitan way of life, they still preserve those elements which constitute the cultural physiognomy of Cretan folk traditions.

In fact, the majority of the inhabitants of Crete, particularly those who live in villages of the inland, uphold these customs and traditions. One of these Villages, located close to the heart of Crete near Rethymno, is “Vatos” and it is relatively easy to say that life in this village, stills upholds the standards of the traditional Cretan way of life. Here is also where we find our “Cretan Spiti”, which retains its authentic connotation and in its own way, (starting 2016) bears the flag on the on-going “battle” for the preservation of Cretan tradition.

The “Cretan Spiti” is an old traditional house in the heart of Vatos Village, which was loved and maintained by its original owners for many years. The Spiti (which means house) was well known in the vast area and it led an authentic, yet quiet life. However, the ongoing struggle in Crete to preserve heritage and to adapt it to contemporary life preventing it from fading and becoming extinct, urged the owners, to hand over its torch to the management of the ever-growing “Greek Spiti”, in order to utilize everything that the house stood for and to use it to teach visitors from all over the world what Cretan life is really about. Therefore, since 2016, life in Vatos Village changed and the “Cretan Spiti”, following a necessary renovation and through its tours and activities, opened its door and heart to “outsiders”, welcoming them into its premises and inviting them to become part of one big family, the authentic and traditional “Cretan Spiti”.