Stay in Lagolio — a peaceful mountain village perched on the gentle southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis, just 6 kilometers from the Libyan Sea. With only a handful of houses and around 120 residents, Lagolio offers a rare kind of quiet — the kind you can hear in the wind through olive trees and the soft bells of goats in the hills.

Despite its small size, Lagolio has a long history. The village is home to two churches dedicated to its patron saint, Saint Michalis, who is celebrated each year on November 8th. The older church, dating back to 1899, still stands at the edge of the village — a quiet, sacred place among olive groves. The village’s old school is currently being restored and will soon open as a local museum.

There are no shops in Lagolio, but you’ll find one cozy, family-run taverna serving authentic Cretan food — often prepared with ingredients grown just a few meters away. What Lagolio lacks in busyness, it more than makes up for in authenticity, hospitality, and views.

Thanks to its central location, Lagolio is an ideal base for exploring the rich cultural and natural landscape of southern Crete — from the archaeological sites of Phaistos, Gortys, and Agia Triada, to the beaches of Kokkinos Pirgos, Kalamaki, and Matala. A rental car is essential, but every drive begins and ends with stillness.