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 or 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 those of 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 in stark contrast to 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.
occupying a south-east facing slope on the kommeno headland, one of corfu’s most established residential areas, this substantial estate looks across the channel toward the opposite shoreline, with mature pine and olive trees enclosing the grounds on three sides. the house sits quietly within the landscape, its terracotta-toned render, brick-arched loggias and layered terraces giving it the atmosphere of a property shaped gradually over time rather than recently imposed upon the land.
arranged across three levels that follow the natural descent of the hillside, each floor opens directly onto terraces or garden spaces, allowing the house to remain closely connected to its surroundings throughout. the principal reception rooms occupy the seaward side of the main floor: a generous living room and adjoining dining area separated by a sculptural spiral staircase, with travertine flooring running throughout and floor-to-ceiling glazing framing the channel view across the entire façade. morning light moves steadily through these rooms and remains soft into the afternoon, while the stone floors retain a coolness underfoot even during the height of summer.
eight bedrooms are distributed across the three levels, allowing the property to function comfortably both as a private residence and as a house intended for extended family stays. the principal suite opens onto its own terrace facing directly towards the water, while a separate library and study sit slightly apart from the main entertaining areas, providing quieter rooms within the wider plan of the house. three fully equipped kitchens make it possible to operate sections of the property independently when needed, particularly for guest accommodation.
the grounds extend across 3,500 sqm and are planted with mature cypress, olive, rosemary and oleander. stone pathways descend gradually through the terraced gardens towards the swimming pool, which occupies a lower level sheltered by tall cypress trees on three sides. the pale limestone surrounding the pool absorbs warmth from the morning sun and holds it well into the evening hours. on the western side of the estate, a separate guest cottage sits within its own enclosed courtyard, where an antique olive-press millstone remains set into the lawn — a quiet reminder of the long agricultural history of this part of corfu.
one of the most distinctive areas of the property is the upper terrace beneath the brick loggia, where a long iron-and-glass dining table faces directly across the channel. as the afternoon light begin s to soften, the terracotta façade takes on deeper tones reflected from the water below, and the terrace gradually cools beneath the sea air moving through the headland. the rosemary planted along the terrace wall releases its scent as evening arrives, while the first lights begin appearing across the opposite shore one by one.
the estate is equipped with air conditioning, security systems and private parking, combining the scale and privacy of a substantial corfu residence with immediate access to the coastline and to corfu town beyond.
eligible for the greek golden visa and non dom programme.
