- The new luxury edition, “The Plain Upon the Mountain,” showcases experiential tourism in the Lassithi Plateau.
- Initiative marks 50 years of the Metaxas Hospitality Group.
- Written by journalist Isabella Zambetaki after extensive field research.
- Highlights routes, traditions, gastronomy, crafts, and landscapes of the plateau.
- Features regenerative agriculture stories and photography by Pavlos Kapoglou.
- First edition gifted by the Metaxas Group; reprint expected in 2026.
A new bilingual luxury edition titled “Ο Κάμπος του Βουνού” (The Plain Upon the Mountain) places the Lassithi Plateau at the centre of a thoughtful cultural and experiential narrative. According to TravelDailyNews, “The Plain Upon the Mountain” is a luxury, collector’s edition album created by the Metaxa Hospitality Group, not a traditional commercial book. The edition is part of the Group’s communication strategy to promote local culture and authentic hospitality and is not intended for general sale.
Authored by journalist Isabella Zambetaki, the book emerges from extensive research across one of Crete’s least-charted regions. Through stories, field notes, and photographic impressions, Zambetaki brings forward the lives, traditions, and hidden places that quietly define the plateau’s character.
Routes, Traditions, and the Taste of the Land
“The Plain Upon the Mountain” presents sites and activities ideal for experiential tourism, inviting readers into the plateau’s rhythm rather than simply offering destinations.
Among the featured experiences:
- Ascent to the Minoan site of Karfi, with sweeping views of the Lassithi basin and the Cretan Sea
- Cycling across agricultural paths framed by stone walls and cultivated fields
- Birdwatching in Chonos, where the plateau’s wetlands draw migratory species
- Visits to local churches, adorned with icon screens crafted by the renowned nitadoroi wood-carving school of Mesa Lassithi
The region’s distinctive gastronomy holds a special place in the book: pastofasoula, sfougato with tsimoulia, and the rare dryli — dishes shaped by altitude, seasons, and the self-sufficiency that defined plateau life.
And, of course, the iconic windmills, symbols of the Lassithi Plateau’s identity, appear not only as landscape markers but as reminders of the island’s relationship with wind, craft, and ingenuity.
Farmers, Regenerative Agriculture, and a Landscape of Revival
Through the lens of photographer Pavlos Kapoglou, the book also presents the personal stories of local farmers participating in the Regenerative Agriculture Programme established by the Metaxas Hospitality Group in partnership with the Agricultural Cooperative of Lassithi.
These narratives reflect a quiet but meaningful transformation — a return to soil, knowledge, and sustainable practices. Much of the Group’s hotel produce come directly from this region.
A Limited Edition Already in High Demand
The first run of “The Plain Upon the Mountain” is distributed as a gift by the Metaxas Hospitality Group. A reprint is planned for 2026, as the edition has already become sought after among readers in Crete.
Beyond its pages, “The Plain Upon the Mountain” stands as an invitation — not only to visit the Lassithi Plateau, but to experience it with attention, patience, and curiosity.
It is a reminder that Crete’s mountains hold stories as deep as its coasts, and that some of the island’s richest cultural threads run through places once thought quiet, remote, or uncharted.
