Meet the locals: Crete’s artist who colors Alagni with joy

How one artist’s colors brighten everyday moments in Alagni

Hospitality in Crete is more than a tradition—it’s a way of life. It’s hard to put into words; you have to experience it to feel how it touches your heart. Cretan people love to share their joy—whether it’s a meal, fresh vegetables from the garden, coffee, or baked sweets. Their warmth makes you relax, breathe, and feel at home. I have never experienced anything like it.

This spirit of generosity is found in every village. In Alagni, it shines through Giuli, the local artist, who opens her colorful home to friends—a place where art, laughter, and tradition come together in harmony.

Giuli’s home: a sanctuary of art and life

Inside, every wall glows with color—village scenes, blooming wildflowers, and sunlit nature. It feels less like a house and more like a living gallery, where every corner has a story to tell.

In a cozy corner with colorful cushions, Giuli offers homemade Cretan pies and a glass of local wine. Everywhere you look, the space reflects her resilience and free spirit. As the afternoon light drifts across the paintings, sharing conversation about life, joy, and presence makes the moment itself part of the art.

A village touched by Giuli’s art

Alagni is a village shaped by Giuli’s art. As you walk its streets, her work greets you at every turn—floral door frames, sunflower-painted tables at the kafenio, and a plateia alive with color. A simple stroll becomes an art walk, each step reflecting her joy for life. Sit for a coffee, and you’ll likely rest at a table painted by her hand. Even the daily act of fetching water is brightened by her touch.

During Easter and the August festival, her decorations fill the village with even more color and celebration. Her spirit reaches beyond Alagni, carrying the message that art belongs to everyone.

The moment I arrived at Giuli’s home, I felt the magic. The walls were alive with lavender, sunflowers, and wildflowers, each brushstroke her own. Even the door was a canvas, full of color and joy. She welcomed me with a bright smile and open arms, and in that instant I felt her true hospitality, a sanctuary where art and kindness live together.

The art of everyday happiness

The art of everyday happiness lives in Giuli’s joyful spirit. She moves through life with gratitude, sharing her brush and her laughter with everyone around her. Her husband joins her in her painting projects, supporting and helping bring her art to life. Giuli believes joy is hidden in all of us, and she loves gathering her children and friends in her home to share the simple beauty of everyday life.

In the evening, after hours of painting, Giuli rests on the shaded terrace, watching the sun sink behind the hills of Alagni. Surrounded by her colors and the scents of nature, she feels the quiet peace of a home filled with love and art. On rainy winter days, she enjoys sitting by the fireplace, surrounded by family pictures, and looking through the big window at the greenery rising above the village.

An invitation to YOU

You can also paint with Giuli and experience her art firsthand alongside locals. I’d be happy to arrange this for my guests—just drop me a message, and we’ll make it happen, giving you a chance to create, learn, and share in her joyful spirit.

Paint your paradise

Meeting Giuli reminded me we are all artists; we just need to take the brush and begin. As Kazantzakis said, "You have your brush, you have your colors, you paint paradise, then, in you go." Paradise is something you create yourself.

You already hold the tools: imagination, choices, actions, and attitude. With them, you don’t just dream of a better world, you shape it into something beautiful and then step inside it.

Crete offers the perfect canvas with the blue sea, golden sun, green vineyards, plateaus and it's villages. Drive through the mountains, wander the narrow streets, taste the wines, and let the warm winds guide you. Here, you don’t only paint your version of paradise, you live it.

Tonia ❤️