Houdetsi. Not your usual destination on Crete, and by no means a village recommended by travel guides. But things may change due to a young international music festival, which grows in popularity with every edition.
Celebrating its 5th annual edition, the Houdetsi Festival brings together artists and performers from all over the world, live, in front of the public, for a 4 day celebration of cultural diversity. This is also a celebration of tradition, reviving the medieval and folk music that shaped generations, influencing the styles of today.
There will be no less than five scenes set up in Houdetsi this year, each ready to accommodate distinguished traditional musicians and soloists performing Arabic, Bulgarian, Persian, Indian and Swedish folk music, among many others. And, of course the sound of the Cretan lyra will resonate with mystic mystery every evening.
The festival attracts hundreds of people, both locals and tourists. More than music, the festival showcases handcrafts, local products, musical instruments, photography and pottery exhibitions, and it offers activities for children, too. The Houdetsi Festival begins Thursday, August 7 and runs until Sunday, August 10, 2014. The official video below gives you a preview of the village, and a taste of good things to come.
This festival is highly recommended by our friends at Lato Boutique Hotel in Heraklion. The official programme of the festival, in English, can be found here.