Arolithos is the only tourist enterprise in the form of a traditional Cretan village. It is located just 11 km outside Heraklion, on the old Heraklion-Rethymnon highway. Built on a hillside, in the wild Cretan landscape, it is a gem on the map of Cretan nature, reminding the older locals of their former way of life and showing the simplicity and beauty of the past to the younger generation.
As visitors to Arolithos walk through the narrow streets, they have the opportunity to observe how authentic traditional loomtextiles and hand-made embroidery are made. The traditional blacksmith's is one of the most interesting workshops. The old blacksmith shows visitors how molten iron is made into a hoe, a fire-poker, a horseshoe, a spade or any other tool used to work the soil. In the textile showroom, the village's largest store, visitors can observe Cretan looms, traditional textiles, embroidery and knitwear used by Cretan housewives to decorate their homes. There are also ceramics, silverware, carved furniture and antiques. The two traditional houses arranged to
represent homes in I 8th century Crete are a unique opportunity for visitors.
The simple yet comfortable way of life is presented and proved by the objects used by previous generations.
There are pottery and religious art workshops too, where the artisans produce objects for sale.
After your tour of the picturesque streets of Arolithos, you can rest in the traditional cafe or the cafeteria with a panoramic view towards Heraklion, and enjoy a Greek coffee and aromatic Cretan raki. The village church is located in Arolithos' large square. Weddings and baptisms are held here, and the feast that follows such events takes place in the restaurant right next to the church.
Famous Cretan nights take place in this restaurant, with the music and dance group presenting dances and songs from Crete and every part of Greece, for about two and a half hours.
During the summer, the village square is also available for every kind of event in a beautiful natural environment (capacity c. 1,200 persons).
The enterprise's desire and purpose is to give visitors a unique experience in Arolithos, and keep the roots, culture and tradition of the area alive.
The most recent addition to this effort in Arolithos is the Agricultural history and folk art museum.
The Museum is a particularly interesting folk art collection, with a variety of important exhibits relating to Cretan culture. The museum is open all year round. Arolithos, in the Cretan dialect, means a cavity in a rock that collects rain water. For the village, this name is symbolic, as it collects all of Crete's tradition and beauty.