somewhere between calabria and corfu, the blue really begin s… you are aware of a change in the heart of things: aware of the horizon begin ning to stain at the rim of the world: aware of islands coming out of the darkness to meet you’. so begin s lawrence durrell’s 1945 ode to corfu, prospero’s cell. even today, visitors to the island often arrive by sea, approaching from italy in the west of the greek mainland in the east.
in the early morning sunlight, the pastel-hued houses overlook corfu town’s historic port. they create a charming medley of slender levels interconnected by narrow alleyways. laundry hangs from every balcony, resembling vibrant festive bunting swaying in the breeze.
towering venetian mansions, bearing ancient coats of colourful paint softened by countless winters, give town visitors the sensation of stepping into a watercolour masterpiece.
corfu has rightfully earned its reputation as greece’s music capital
the island boasts a multitude of music associations, orchestras, bands, and a musical tradition dating back 400 years to the venetian era of the island.
at the heart of the town lies a broad tree-lined promenade known as the spianada. elegant french arcades reminiscent of rue de rivoli echo through the air. an intriguing british influence can be discovered on this grand square. it transforms into a cricket pitch during the summer, a unique feature as it’s the only operational sports field within a unesco world heritage site.
meanwhile , the corfiot countryside showcases a mournful beauty unparalleled across greece. it contrasts starkly with the stark barrenness of the aegean. drenched in brilliant white sunlight during summer, the island undergoes a sublime transformation thanks to winter rains. this causes lush greenery to blanket the inland valleys, which are thickly carpeted with wildflowers and adorned with gnarled olive trees, while dense groves of swaying cypresses punctuate the landscape.
in the sophisticated northeast, known as “kensington-on-sea,” you’ll find the finest real estate in greece. the imposing summer villa of the rothschild family anchors it. here, the luxury villa lifestyle reigns supreme. hillside properties are secluded amidst the landscape, boasting private infinity pools and awe-inspiring sea views. the enigmatic epirote mountains, crowned in snow, loom mysteriously in the east.
where the mountain above barbati reaches the sea, a headland divides the shore into two small coves. almare is built into that headland — two levels of full-height glass and open terraces descending to a pool at its base and a jetty reaching into the shallows below.
the main floor opens as a single room facing the water — living area, kitchen island, and dining table in sequence, the glass along the full elevation sliding back onto the terrace beyond. the kitchen runs in matte black cabinetry along the back wall, with a marble island and splashback in white and grey; the flooring is pale and cool underfoot. inside and outside, at this level, are the same room.
from the roof terrace, the coast curves north toward kassiopi and the lights come on one by one.
each of the four ensuite bedrooms opens through floor-to-ceiling glass onto its own terrace facing the sea. the morning light comes off the water directly into the rooms, early and unhurried.
the pool sits at the lowest level of the house, an infinity edge over the sea, with the pebble beach and the jetty reachable by steps from the terrace beside it. sun loungers line the pool surround and a jacuzzi sits on the terrace above. the roof terrace is the quieter space — a built-in concrete bar, rattan stools, the glass balustrade open to the water, and after dark the lights of the coast strung low across the horizon.
the jetty extends from the base of the rocks into water clear enough to see the bottom.
the restaurants and beach tavernas of the north-east coast are within a few minutes; beyond them, the coast road continues north through nissaki and kalami toward kassiopi.
this property is eligible for both the golden visa and the greek non dom program.
