The Villa Andromeda at Chania in Crete is a Neo-Classical mansion built in 1870. It has been very carefully restored so as to preserve its characteristic nineteenth - century architecture. During the period of the autonomous Cretan state (1897-1912), the Villa Andromeda housed the German consulate. Nearby stood more mansions, including the consulates of the other great powers of the day, the Palace of Prince George (high commissioner of Crete ), and the residence of Elefterios Venizelos (later Prime Minister of Greece ). In 1940, the Villa Andromeda was used by the German Military Autorities and among those who stayed there as guests was Field - Marshal Rommel, commander of the Afrika Korps . Villa Andromeda was fully restored on April 2003.