sitting in the most northwesterly corner of greece, corfu is an elegant and cosmopolitan island, wearing the mantle of its colourful venetian history with style.
‘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. emerging in the early morning sunshine, the pastel-hued houses above corfu town’s old port are a jumble of slim tiers with narrow passages running between them, made brilliant with washing hung out to dry from every balcony like festive bunting. the tall venetian mansions display ancient coats of coloured paint, blurred by successive winters and giving visitors to the town the feeling of stepping into a watercolour painting.
the town is centred on a wide tree-lined esplanade called the spianada, whose french arcades echo the rue de rivoli. a drop of britishness is to be found on the noble sweep of this square, which is transformed into a cricket pitch throughout the summer - the world’s only working sports field within a unesco world heritage site.
meanwhile , the corfiot countryside boasts an elegiac greenery, unrivalled across greece and contrasting remarkably with the solemn barrenness of the aegean. bathed in brilliant white sunlight throughout the summer months, the winter rains ensure a sublime frondescence across the island, with the inland valleys thickly carpeted with wild flowers, studded with gnarled olive trees and dense groves of stiffly swaying cypresses. the sophisticated north-east is known as kensington-on- sea, and is the site of the rothschild family’s imposing summer villa. it is here that the luxury villa lifestyle comes into its own, with the hillsides sprinkled with secluded, high-end properties boasting private infinity pools and awe-inspiring sea views, with the snowcapped albanian-epirote mountains rising mysteriously in the east.
the estate is made up of a small hamlet of properties all of traditional corfiot architecture and is harmonically met with modern day aesthetics. it consists of 1 villa, 2 bungalows and a separate cottage surrounded by a beautiful garden with a pool. the beach of agios spyridonas is just 500 meters away. a small stone path leads from the property directly down to a small , very secluded beach.
the stone-built holiday complex features romantic, country-style interiors with distressed wood furnishings, organic materials and hand-painted details. each unit consists of 2 bedrooms, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen.
the cottage is located inside the property, on a secluded hillside. it is the ultimate place to relax in privacy and discreet luxury. it consists of 2 bedrooms and an attic, that can accommodate up to 5 persons, 2 bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a living room. in the backyard there is a private pool. the cottage has its own private entrance and parking spot.
the nearest beach is 50 meters from the complex, while bars, restaurants, horse riding & cycling facilities, fishing, scuba diving and a playground can also be found within proximity. the main town and port of corfu are 40 km away.
