In the mid 70’s. 7-year old Valia makes her first coffee for a customer, under the direction of her grandmother Filio “Vasilanaina”, while stepping on a stool to reach her.
At the beginning of 2017, we find Valia again, together with her husband George, in the same cafe, in the village square.
A cafe, found in the same location for over a century. Four generations have maintained the cafe. Four different life stories.
Their inheritance, the cafe.
But let’s take things from the beginning. At the beginning of the 20th century, Valia’s great-grandfather, Vasilis Apostolakis starts the operation of the cafe and maintains it until 1925.
In early 1950 we find the cafe operating once again under the name, “The Center”, now owned by Vasili’s son, Constantine “Vasilanos” with his wife Filio. Yes, “Filio”, the female figure who dominated the cafe for over half of a century.
Difficult years arrive. The village “drives” its children to Athens for a better chance at life.
There, in Athens 1964, Mary, the eldest daughter of Vasilanos and Filio marries Kostis Parasiri (son of Constanti and Vasiliki Parasiri). The couple prefers life in the village and returns in 1966.
Kostis, who is hardworking, honorable, and creative, is given the old cafe as a dowry and builds it in the same location, in the form that exists today. The activities of tireless Kostis are many: cafe owner, shepherd, cheesemaker (many still remember the taste of his cheese).
His assistants throughout the years: his worthy wife Maria, his children, and even his in-laws, through their deep elder years.
But the most valuable assistant in the cafe is sociable and cheerful grandma Filio.
Students of the local elementary school in the 60’s, will never forget their longing to pass by the cafe after school so that “Filio” would treat them “cold” water from the only existing fridge in the village at that time.
Kostis and Maria leave the cafe dowry to their daughter Valia, who lives with her husband George in Athens.
Between 1999 and early 2016 the cafe is initially taken over by Valia’s brother and his family.
And history repeats itself. George and Valia’s love for cooking, for good food, for company, for communication, for nature, for the village, motivates them to make the decision to change their lives.
Thus, they leave Athens, start a new life in Crete; besides, Valia had spent all of her childhood in the cafe and has prominent memories and experiences.
Cafe “Filio” is ‘born’ in the beautiful square and historic village of Ancient Eleftherna.
They characterized us as “a stunning Cafe“, they wrote for us honorary and flattering words in newspapers as well as criticism.
At this point we would like to mention that the creators and designers of our space are the
ΑΙΕΝ 1:1 ARCHITECT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION AREA
Konstantinos D. Plaghettis and Fotini B. Daliani)
We thank them very much for making our dream come true.
The village is located on a hill planted with trees, at an altitude of 420 metres from the sea. Its original name is “Prines”, obviously from the enormous native oaks that dominate the area and create an idyllic picture.
The ancient city of Eleftherna was located in the broader area of the village, one of the most important ancient cities of Crete, a city with traces of habitation aged since 3000 B.C. to the 14th century A.D.
Its name is derived from Elefthira, one of the Curetes, who banged drums so as to mask the sound of crying Jupiter and thus save him from being eaten by Saturn.
In 1985 the school of Archaeology & Art History of the University of Crete, decides to investigate and bring to the light the ancient city known through literary sources, and so begin the systematic excavations which continue to this day.
31 years have passed since the beginning of the excavations and in June 2016, the Archaeological Museum of Eleftherna opens its doors. The museum is an utter gem, not only for Rethymnon, but for the entire island of Crete.
