Villa Athina is a charming stone villa that is dramatically positioned on a cliff-top terrace with absolutely spectacular views of Souda Bay, the Akrotiri Peninsula, The White Mountains and the quaint villages that are dotted along the coastline below. The villa has been cleverly designed to ensure that the 3 of the 4 outdoor terraces enjoy these views with both privacy and a choice of sun or shade. In order to make your stay completely stress free, traditional features such as honey-blonde stone walls and arches, beamed ceilings, and pergolas made from local bleached cypress wood, blend effortlessly with every possible modern comfort including a fully equipped kitchen, satellite TV, and 3 fully tiled bathrooms. Set on the outskirts of the quaint white-washed village of Kokkino Horio, Villa Athina is within walking distance of the excellent taverna and well stocked mini-market on the pretty village square, and the glass blowing workshop and organic taverna, or a short drive to the sandy beaches and many amenities at the seaside resort of Almyrida.

The villa has been named after the Greek Goddess Athina who ruled the arts, literature, intellectual activity and reason, and you will understand why once you have spent a fantastic holiday relaxing at this very special villa. The artistic Australian owners have spent a considerable amount of time creating a very attractive and comfortable home which has air-conditioning in the living room and 2 upstairs bedrooms, and thanks to the stone walls and north east corner location, the downstairs bedroom stays naturally cool and has a fan. For the cooler nights at the start and end of the season the A/C units double up as heaters and there is a fireplace. The intelligent layout over 2 floors means that none of the spacious bedrooms share an adjoining wall, which may particularly suit families who are sharing but still enjoy moments of peace and solitude.

Villa Athina has quality contemporary furnishings that have been chosen to beautifully co-ordinate with the pale cypress wood beamed ceilings and kitchen cabinets. The lounge has comfortable couches, a WIFI hub with free unlimited WIFI access,  a wall mounted LCD TV with a built-in DVD player, and a satellite box, and the fully equipped modern kitchen has every possible appliance including a ceramic hob, a fan assist oven, a dishwasher, refrigerator/freezer, a microwave oven, a kettle, a toaster, and a coffee maker. In keeping with the rest of the villa and the surrounding landscape, the doors, windows, and shutters have been made of bleached wood. For entertainment purposes a selection of books, DVD’s, books, and games for both adults and children have been thoughtfully supplied, and beautiful flower arrangements, candles, and pretty ornaments complete setting. 

Despite the villa’s elegant and welcoming interior, you will probably want to spend most of your time relaxing outside on one of the villa’s many outdoor areas whilst taking in the infinite sea views. The property has been carved into the rock and creatively landscaped in order to incorporate the natural stone outcrops and stone walls, and maximise the privacy. There is a grass lawn at the rear of the property, and a selection of colourful oleander bushes, fuchsia bougainvillea, geraniums, and small fruit trees.

The elevated hillside position means that the villa is often blessed in the summer by refreshing breezes that come in off the sea, and on the occasional windy day there is a rear terrace that is perfectly sheltered by the villa itself and is shaded by a bamboo topped pergola to which climbing grapevines are being introduced. The pool terrace has sun-beds, an umbrella, a built in stone and marble table and chairs, and a traditional built-in barbeque/oven that can be lit with either wood or charcoal and is perfect for grilling the delicious fresh produce that you can buy locally. The dining area will undoubtedly be the focus of many a congenial meal and is adjacent to the family friendly private pool which has a built-in bench at one end where you can cool off during the long hot summer days, or sit with a cocktail in the evening whilst the water laps around you. An array of garden furniture on the terraces and balconies invites you to do nothing more taxing than lie back and marvel at the gorgeous sunsets, or on a warm clear night look at the twinkling stars, and the lights in the bay from the ferries that go past on their nightly journey to Athens.