Meet the locals: Giuli, 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 is a way of life. It is a warm embrace, a shared meal, an open door that welcomes you not as a stranger but as family. This spirit of generosity lives in every village, and 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, wildflowers in bloom, and nature touched by sunlight. It feels less like a house and more like a living gallery, where each corner tells a story.

In a cozy corner with bright cushions, Giuli offers homemade Cretan pies and a glass of local wine. The afternoon light drifts across the paintings, and as you share conversation about life, joy, and presence, the moment itself becomes part of the art.

A village touched by Giuli’s art

Alagni is a village touched 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 adorned with color. A simple stroll becomes an art walk, each step revealing her joy for life. Sit for a coffee and you will 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 too, carrying the message that art belongs to everyone.

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

The art of everyday happiness

The art of everyday happiness lives in Giuli’s joyful spirit. She moves through life with gratitude, offering her brush and her laughter to all around her. Homes glow with her colors, children’s eyes shine at her festive paintings, and with her husband beside her, she gathers family and friends to share meals and celebrate the simple beauty of each day.

In the evening, after hours of painting, Giuli rests on the shaded terrace, watching the sun slip 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.

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 ❤️