The metochi estates: Metochi Kefalianos

The Kefalianos estate was located in Pervolia, south of Chania. Similarly to the other metochi estates, the two-story building at its centre was the owner’s residence. There were also various warehouses and an oil press which was connected to the main residence through a roofed passage. In the recent photographs accompanying this entry, we can see the arched entrance which led to the main courtyard and the roofed passage.

The lands of this metochi were deemed exchangeable and divided among four Asia Minor families. Just like most of the other exchangeable estates, this fragmentation was one of the reasons that the metochi eventually lost its character as an agricultural production unit, since it could no longer guarantee the food security of its residents. Through the years, the main residence was gradually abandoned and is now collapsing, while the auxiliary buildings and part of the arable land have been turned into new residences and small farms.