A cluster of Venetian houses dating from 1660 in the heart of Rethymno’s Old Town, Avli Lounge Apartments has been lovingly transformed by owner Katerina Xekalou from a ruined urban quarter into one of Crete’s most celebrated boutique addresses. Seven sumptuously decorated suites surround a bougainvillea-filled courtyard, while the award-winning restaurant, rooftop jacuzzi, and 320-label wine cellar cement its reputation as a flagship of Cretan hospitality.