During my two months spent here on the island of Crete, I have greatly enjoyed agritourism which is all about bringing the visitor close to nature and to discovering the local way of life, traditions and gastronomy. In this post I would like to share with you one of my visits to the Margarites village which is located in the West of Rethymno in the foothills of Mt. Psiloritis. Margarites is one of Crete’s four main pottery centers, here the tradition of pottery making goes back many generations. In total there are 23 potters in the village.
Traditional Cretan Pottery Making in Margarites
I was very fortunate to visit a traditional Cretan pottery, one of the finest in Margarites Village, called KERAMION which is operated by George Dalamvelas and his family. George showed me the techniques of how the pottery is produced and all its stages of making from gathering the clay (which is done during the winter months) to the pottery firing process.
George uses traditional techniques which go back to Neolithic period to create ceramics which are very useful in our modern lives.
In the evening I had the unique experience of a guided tour to collect chicken eggs and milk the goats.
This trip was organized by George’s brother Pandelis who will be appointed President of Margarites and 9 other villages as of this coming September. To end this exciting day we had a home cooked meal at Pandelis house, where I must note that Irini, his wife is an exquisite cook and makes the most delicious goat milk cheese from their little farm. Anything that she cooks is yummy!
If you ever find yourselves in Crete, do make sure to check out this village in Rethymnon and also visit their small monastery which is located on a hill overlooking the village. Here you will discover a serene garden in full blossom, banana trees and peacocks, definitely a site you must not miss.
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