“Hospitality consists of a little warmth, a little food and a lot of peace and quiet.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Pitsidia
A village between the sea, warmth and serenity
Pitsidia is located in the sunny south of Crete, nestled in the wide Messara plain and just a few minutes from the sea. With around 700 inhabitants, it is one of the oldest villages in the region and has retained its original character to this day. You will look in vain for mass tourism here. Instead, small taverns, family-run accommodation, cafés and a village life that is naturally grouped around the central square and narrow streets characterize the area.
Pitsidia is a place that measures time differently. In the morning it smells of fresh white bread and strong Greek coffee, at lunchtime everything is quiet and in the evening the tavernas are filled with conversation, music and the quiet clinking of glasses. Hospitality is a tradition here – visitors are not only welcomed, but quickly become part of village life.
The heart of Pitsidia beats in and around the village square. People meet here for coffee, but especially in the evenings in the taverns. Small stores, bakeries, butchers and mini-markets supply the village with everything you need – and often also with what you weren’t looking for but would like to take with you.
Only two kilometers separate Pitsidia from the beach – close enough for spontaneous swimming trips, far enough to preserve the tranquillity of the village.
The nearest beach is Komos Beach, a wide, almost five-kilometer-long sandy beach with clear water and plenty of space to take a deep breath. Between tamarisk trees, sea and sky, an expanse is created that has become rare. You won’t find a more beautiful sunset than on this beach.
Not far away is Matala, famous for its caves in the sandstone cliffs and its turbulent history. Once a meeting place for the hippie movement, the town still combines nature, culture and Mediterranean lightness today.
If you want to explore even further, you can discover more beaches along the south coast: unspoilt bays, long stretches of sand or hidden stretches of coastline that are often only accessible on foot – places that show Crete to be pristine and quiet.
Taverns, markets and openness
In the wider area, weekly markets, for example in Moires and Tympaki, tell of the agricultural wealth of the Messara plain. Fresh vegetables, olive oil, cheese, honey, wine and raki usually come directly from the region – products that are not just food, but part of the Cretan way of life. There is also plenty of affordable clothing and accessories.
Many aspects of Crete can be discovered from Pitsidia; ancient sites such as Phaistos or Agia Triada, gorges, monasteries or tranquil mountain landscapes are in the immediate vicinity. At the same time, the village itself remains a place to return to: quiet, friendly and undisguised.
Pitsidia is not a place you can quickly tick off. It is a village that you experience – and never forget.