Secluded and surrounded by nature, the Wine-Grower’s Cottage exudes simplicity and charm. With a backdrop of the velvety green cypress forests and views right across Fiskardo bay to the island of Ithaka, the cottage is in an ideal location for guests to enjoy a peaceful holiday retreat yet close to the beach and to amenities.
The cottage has been beautifully renovated and the rhythm of its architecture reflects the gentle sunny slope on which it has stood for the last few hundred years. The ground floor is an L-shape with a lovely open plan kitchen still featuring the original wine-press from times gone by when the family would have pressed their grapes here in the kitchen. Both the kitchen and dining area are decorated in a sunny ochre-yellow which contrasts beautifully with the original 19th Century decorative floor tiles. A few steps lead up to an open living area with a cosy sofa piled with cushions and armchair set around the fireplace. From the windows set in the metre-thick stone walls, guests can enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside with the sea glistening below.
The same staircase leads down to a lower level where there is a very peaceful double bedroom with white-washed walls and soft, antique brick floor. This bedroom has French windows leading out to its own patio shaded by a vine-covered pergola.On the ground floor to the left of the kitchen a corridor leads to a spacious bathroom with shower, marble basin and wonderful antique tiled floor that serves both bedrooms. Further along the corridor is the second double bedroom decorated in a soft apple green with exposed beams and French windows leading to the garden and pool terrace.The property has a fully equipped kitchen including dish-washer as well as air-conditioning, TV and DVD.
The cottage is nestled in acres of woodland with a large garden that blends in naturally with the surrounding nature. In spring and autumn, the ground is carpeted in wild crocus and cyclamen. Lavender and aromatic plants tumble over the stone walls. Fruit trees and age-old olives as well as Mediterranean pine, birch and cypress trees provide a refreshing coolness on long hot summer days with just the sound of the birds singing or a goat bell tinkling gently in the sea-breeze.
The cottage has its own private pool, a lovely outdoor shaded dining area and comfortable loungers from which to sit and enjoy the wonderful view across the ‘wine-dark sea’ to the island of Ithaka. Through the grounds, a little pathway leads to a track that takes you down to the seashore where there is a secluded beach and bay with crystal-clear water.
Although the property is very secluded and quiet, it is just a few minutes drive from the colourful fishing village of Fiskardo which is one of the prettiest on the island. Guests can choose from an array of waterfront restaurants or cafes, wander along the narrow streets that burst with blooms of bougainvillea, explore the boutique shops and watch the yachts and ‘caique’ fishing boats come and go. Boat hire is available locally and a wonderful day out is to take a boat and explore the many coves and bays that lie along this part of the coast as well as around the island of Ithaka opposite.
Wine-Grower’s Cottage is a little jewel that is becoming rarer to find now in Greece. It is an idyllic property for honeymooners and couples wanting to find total seclusion and privacy as well as for small families who love to have large grounds for the children to play with beach and village close by.