Odyssey. Greek Island

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1 Greek Island Odyssey Whether you seek romance in Santorini, cuisine in Chios, or a historic immersion in lesser-known Kastellorizo, there s a Greek island to suit every mood, writes Marissa Tejada. 78 May 2015 dotwnews.com dotwnews.com May

2 Dreamy views from Katikies Hotel on the island of Santorini (previous page) A villa with its own private pool at Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos (left) Views from the Marbella Hotel in Corfu (below left) and The Santa Marina Resort & Villas in Mykonos (below) Culture Corfu Corfu s main town is a beautiful example of just how culturally influenced this northern Greek island is. A UNESCO World Heritage site, its ochre colors blend architecture dating from the island s Venetian, British and French ruling periods. Fortresses and archeological sites and are among the key landmarks. Culture lovers can choose from museums dedicated to archeology, Asian art or Byzantine culture. A fourth celebrates the work of famous Greek poet, Dionysos Solomos. One of the top resorts, The Marbella, overlooks Agios Ioannis Peristeron beach. A yacht can whisk you off to explore the island s hidden bays and coves that are only accessible by sea, where you can discover pocket-sized beaches that are complemented by the deep greens of the island s forested slopes. Romantic Mykonos Private jets, yachts and helicopters are all part of the jetset migration that flocks to Mykonos each summer, and all that glamour and energy means romantic atmospheres are easy to come by. Gourmet restaurants featuring celebrity Greek chefs offer romantic dinner date potential, while world-class shopping awaits in the island s whitewashed and lively central village. The private beach at The Santa Marina Resort and Villas could set the scene for a certain question, or the hotel can arrange private sailboat excursions including one to the serene temple ruins on nearby Delos, the sacred uninhabited island of the ancients. The Belvedere Hotel is the top luxury boutique option that arranges a romantic cruise aboard its private yacht, allowing you to enjoy an evening meal catered by its gourmet restaurants under the moonlight and within view of the lively glow that emanates from Mykonos Town. Romantic Santorini With its radiant sunsets, Santorini inspires romance on a nightly basis. The island is a unique formation of steep cliffs created after a tremendous volcanic explosion rocked the land mass 3,600 years ago. Cascading down the slopes, the island s cubist whitewashed homes and blue-domed churches are a photographer s dream. Tucked within them is the Katikies Hotel, where the luxury suites feature sea-facing whitewashed rooms shaped from the island s volcanic rock. The hotel s K-Club Escapes services offers romantic chauffeur driven outings to the best sunset viewing spots on the island. Or, you can simply hop aboard a private sailboat excursion that sets off for Santorini s coastline and around the inimitable caldera. Spend a few hours swimming in the caldera s hot springs with your significant other, and end the day with a bespoke dinner on-board with a serene backdrop of the Greek sea, the caldera and the island. The glamour and energy in mykonos means romantic atmospheres are easy to come by 80 May 2015 dotwnews.com dotwnews.com May

3 The Algarve Culture Andros Andros has a rich history of merchant wealth with a shipping industry that once competed with Great Britain. That s how the Greeks coined its nickname Micra Anglia or Little England. The moniker was also adopted by the best hotel on the island, The Micra Anglia, which is situated in the main town, marked by a blend of medieval, neoclassical and Cycladic architecture. On an islet nearby, a Venetian castle, one of four on the island, stands tall with an arched stone bridge dating back to the 13th century. Museums are plentiful including the Museum of Modern Art, two archaeological museums and the Cyclades Olive Museum. The rest of Andros is rich with green valleys. You can join a bespoke hiking tour with Andros Routes ( ; to explore the island s ravines, rivers and villages that tell fantastic stories of the island s diverse population and past. End with a specially prepared meal incorporating the bountiful local produce grown at Andros farms and fruit orchards. Foodie Chios To Greeks, Chios Island is synonymous with some of the country s finest natural foods. It s lush with citrus groves, its ouzo liquor is famous for being sweet and subtle, and even more special is the island s mastic, which is an aromatic gum and resin. Chios is the only place in the world where mastic is found and its villages, called mastichochoria, grew wealthy from producing it. Joining a private tour with Mastic Culture ( ; www. masticulture.com) offers an insight into mastic, with a hands-on demo of how mastic is harvested, followed by rustic lunch under the shade of mastic trees. After a visit to local food culture museums, you can end the day with an exclusive private dinner prepared at a traditional mansion in Kampos town. Stay at the Argentikon Luxury Suites amid a garden filled with fruit trees, and enjoy the elegance and luxury of a palatial estate that was once the home of the Genoese Argenti family for 200 years. Enjoy historic old windmills near the port (above) on Chios Island, along with palatial estates such as Argentikon Luxury Suites (below left). On Andros, stay in luxury at the The Micra Anglia (below right) with its blend of medieval, neoclassical and Cycladic architecture chios is synonymous with some of the country s finest foods 82 May 2015 dotwnews.com dotwnews.com May

4 Foodie Crete Crete is the birthplace of the healthy and delicious Cretan diet and Cretans are fiercely proud of what comes naturally to them. The best of Cretan food culture is incorporated in an exclusive Vintage Routes ( ; com) tour that chauffeurs you to the Heraklion countryside with a local food expert. Education about Cretan wine takes place in the form of tastings at the island s best wineries. Decide on your favourite labels, including some produced with the local Vidiano grape variety, and end the day with a specially prepared, five-course Minoan dinner prepared by a celebrity Cretan chef and in a cozy village restaurant, before heading back to the coast to a luxury villa at Grecotel Amirandes. The impressive palatial paradise is a modern interpretation of ancient Minoan palaces, swathed in classical Grecian décor and set among olive and palm tree gardens and sparkling lagoons. Tour the Crete countryside and vineyards with Vintage Routes (above, left ) and enjoy classic Cretan cuisine at Greocotel Amirandes (top, and above right) Sunset at Lerapetra, a town on the southeastern part of the island of Crete (right) 84 May 2015 dotwnews.com dotwnews.com May

5 Explorer Paros A favourite summer haunt for celebrities like Tom Hanks (who owns a Parian villa), the island has a lively mix of things to explore, from the local art community and gourmet restaurants, to the trails that lead along the coast, dotted with whitewashed windmills, cubist homes, an ancient town and charming harbours. Polos Tours ( ; guides hikers down sea-facing walking trails, some dating back to Ancient Greece. Adventurists have the sea as their playground, as the island s weather conditions offer excellent windsurfing and kitesurfing potential. With its private beach, art gallery and graceful gardens, The Astir of Paros shows off the island s complete cosmopolitan character, with attentive service and décor that reflects the clean lines and bright white architecture of the surrounding Cycladic landscape. Explorer Kefalonia Kefalonia, an island ringed with scenic bays and carved with mountainous slopes, is made for intrepid explorers, particularly at Myrtos Bay, which is a swirl of turquoise shades and idyllic beaches surrounded by dramatic cliffs. The island is dotted with several picturesque villages including Fiskardo and Assos. Kokolis Private Tours ( ; whisks you through the island s highlights and includes a hike through the natural phenomenon of Drogarati Cave. Take a private boat to explore Melissani Lake and its cave, gliding between the walls of dazzling stalactites and stalagmites. Your day of exploration can then end with a luxurious rest at the Petani Bay Hotel, which is known for its panoramic sea views and memorable sunsets. Explore the streets of Paros (above), a favourite summer haunt for celebrities like Tom Hanks The Pentani Bay Hotel (left) on the island of Kefalonia 86 May 2015 dotwnews.com dotwnews.com May

6 Enjoy the medieval architecture synonymous with Rhodes while overlooking yachts at Mandraki Harbour (left) Stay in one of five luxurious suites at the Kokkini Porta Rossa in Rhodes, which was once a knight s mansion (below right) Turquoise water views over Rhodes from the town of Lindos (below left) Surrounded by aquamarine waters, Rhodes has an impressive medieval walled city where the pages of history books come alive Historic Rhodes Surrounded by aquamarine waters, Rhodes has an impressive medieval walled city where the pages of history books come alive. Rhodes Wonder Private Tours ( ; com) chauffeurs you to the Old Town, with its 13th-century ramparts; the opulent Palace of the Grand Masters and to the Lindos Acropolis where a donkey can assist you up 292 steps, should you prefer not to hike it. You can stay amid history too, at Kokkini Porta Rossa, housed in a beautiful home built in Centrally located in the picturesque streets of Old Town, the property was a knight s mansion before it was converted into a Turkish mansion with five luxurious suites. An exclusive excursion organised by the hotel takes you to the mountains to visit the less frequented or forgotten ancient ruins of the historically-rich island. 88 May 2015 dotwnews.com dotwnews.com May

7 Stay Katakies Hotel The Santa MariNa Resort and Villas The Belvedere Hotel The MarBella The MicraAnglia Argentikon Luxury Suites Grecotel Amirandes The Astir of Paros Petani Bay Hotel kastellorizo s Ottoman style mansions surround a calm harbour Kokkini Porta Rossa Mediterraneo Kastelorizo Hotel Historic Kastellorizo A mere three kilometres from the Turkish coast, this tiny island in the Dodecanese is a historic wonder. Famous names like Eric Clapton and David Gilmour are among those to discover this southernmost Greek island where Europe ends and Asia begins. The island s Ottoman-style mansions surround a calm harbour of yachts and fishing boats. In town, the Mediterraneo Kastelorizo is a waterfront boutique hotel known for its luxurious suites. The hotel arranges historic walking tours that explore an Italian market and the remains of baths and schools dating back to Turkish occupation. A guided mountain hike leads through archeological ruins and the remains of an old castle. You can also explore the island by boat to discover the Blue Grotto and the spectacular blue light created by the refraction of the sun into the sea cave. Another boat journey lands you onto the uninhabited shores of St. George the island s own island getaway. The sunrises over Kastellorizo are just one of the island s many draws (above) Dive into the waters from Kastelorizo Megiste, a waterfront boutique hotel (right) 90 May 2015 dotwnews.com dotwnews.com May