At the end of the 19th century, Crete was still under Ottoman occupation. Mustafa Chatzi-hasanoglou (1827-1915) was the region’s governor at that time. His residence and administrative center in Agios Ioannis was a building with all the facilities for him and his garrison: stables for horses, a well with drinking water, a wood-fired oven, storage rooms for oil, wine, and food, to a hammam. The house then passed to his sister Nassibe, whose name the estate carries today.
1630
Although it was built in 1730, the structure of the main building remains intact almost 300 years later – a fact that justifies its designation as a cultural heritage monument by the Ministry of Culture in 1990. Stone dominates as a construction material, but the entire structure is spacious and feels “light,” thanks to the impressive arches, high ceilings, light colors, and plenty of natural light. The space where the animals were once kept has now been transformed into a comfortable lobby for welcoming or relaxing visitors at any time of the day. The patio that mediates up to the main house is that “breath” between the imposing volumes while offering an ideal setting with the cloudless Cretan sky as a ceiling.
Afterward comes the entrance to the main house: the spacious living room, the fireplace – or better said, the fireplace room with its unique layout, the kitchen. Around them, two more outdoor spaces, one next to the kitchen and the other -with the small 28 m² swimming pool- at the back. Inside and out, the visitor enjoys the most modern but discreetly placed amenities and facilities.
