Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

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The Mystery of Monastiraki: A Search for the Most Sacred

Phil Butler

On the island of Crete many mysteries wait patiently their discovery. One place that comes to mind when I think of misunderstood Minoan Crete is the site of Monastiraki, what was probably a palace overlooking the Amari Valley, south east of Rethymno.

Cultural Tourism on Crete: Spotlight Argyroupoli

Phil Butler

The Cultural Association of Argyroupoli, the Parish of Argyroupoli Rethymno in collaboration with the Cretan Gastronomy Center, the Municipality of Rethymno and Travel Massive – Chapter Crete organize a significant event in April to promote cultural tourism on Crete: Traditions as a tool for the economic development of rural areas.

Scientists Unravel the Secrets of the Phaistos Disc

Phil Butler

The mystery of the Phaistos Disk has been “solved by 99 percent” according to linguist and archaeologist Gareth Owens.The Disc is one of the most controversial inscriptions in the history of mankind.

Wondrous Echoes In the Aegean: The Colossus of Rhodes

Phil Butler

the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A magnificent  bronze statue of the Greek sun god Helios, it was constructed to celebrate Rhodes’ victory over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, whose son unsuccessfully besieged Rhodes in 305 BC.

Crete Daydreams – The Village of Loutro

Phil Butler

Crete holds so many secrets safe-and-sound still. Our journeys here began in 2014 on an extended vacation visit. And as a friend who’s a Cretan once told me, “During my lifetime here I’ve searched something new each week, and I’ve still not discovered it all.” After having lived here some months I am convinced too, that […]

A Top Ten of Crete Stays from TripAdvisor

Phil Butler

With hundreds of choices as to where to stay on Crete, one of the best ways to choose is to read and compare reviews before booking. Given the swath of worldwide hotels reviewed by TripAdvisor, we thought we’d save readers and potential travelers a bit of time sorting things out for themselves.

Five Videos to Make You Mad for Crete in 2018

Phil Butler

We moved to Crete for good in the Summer of 2017. The reasons for an American and a Romanian to venture far afield from America or our previous home in central Europe are manifold, but a 2014 visit played a major role.

Greek Spa & Medical Tourism Set to Take Off

Phil Butler

News from the Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs promises an upswing in Greece spa and wellness tourism once regulatory goals are met. According to Markos Danas, General Secretary of the organization, the ironing out of technical specifications, distribution and setting out protected zones are the prerequisites for the development of thermal springs and spa tourism in Greece. This opens up the ultimate potential for a vast opportunity to create a medical tourism industry that could well supercharge Greece’s main economic engine.

An Easy Christmas at Ostria Resort & Spa

Phil Butler

Three years ago, my team at Argophilia visited Crete for the first time. After the visit we took it upon ourselves to try and promote “off season” tourism on this magnificent island in the south Aegean. Unknown to us at the time, one resort had already seized upon the potential. Here’s a Christmas story from […]