The winter holidays, as well as the cold winter weekends, are associated in most people’s minds with nice excursions – and even nicer stays – at small mountainous villages in Greece.
Whether you like crowds and so choose popular locations, or you prefer laidback strolls in the calm of nature, Greece, thankfully offers options for both that include everything. And when we say include everything we mean amazing hotels and guesthouses for comfortable and (why not?) luxurious stays, as well as great restaurants and taverns, since good food and good accommodation are equally important.
Theonimfi Guesthouse
This guesthouse is in Dimitsana, in the village’s old square, with the Folklore museum and the cathedral. It is an 1850 mansion that was abandoned for many years and needed to be completely reconstructed.
As the owners wanted to preserve the Arcadian architecture they used the basic traditional materials in its reconstruction. Stone and timber are the main elements both for the interior and the exterior of the guesthouse, that, by the way, includes an elevator. The traditional and modern elements have been graciously mixed creating a great result, while the breakfast they offer is traditional with delectable breads, butters, cheeses and local pies. An additional advantage is the lovely cobbled path, a stone’s throw away from the Lousios valley. The rooms are spacious, decorated in warm, earthly colours with traditional windows with wooden shutters and designer light fixtures. There is a fireplace in every room with complimentary wood, while in the shared spaces vinyl records play, and there are magazines and board games available. Dimitsana, Tel.: 0030 2795029215, 0030 6932336442
Pileas & Thetis villa
Once upon a time, one of the Tsangarada mansions, built in 1863, started going into decline but remained in the ownership of the same family. In 1978 the house and the shed passed into the hands of new owners. The new owners gave new life and a new aesthetic to this traditional Pelion stone mansion and were rewarded for their efforts. In 2001 Pileas & Thetis, today’s guesthouse, was born. Two separate houses: Pileas, a two-storey 200 m² house, perfect for large groups to enjoy the magic of snowy Pelion, with a dining room, a large living room, a rich library, an energy efficient fireplace, and three bedrooms with two bathrooms on the upper level, all decorated with authentic antiques, lovely fabrics and unique light fixtures. And Thetis, the original shed, next door, renovated in 2010, a 70 m² house with a loft, with a living room, an energy efficient fireplace, two bedrooms and two baths. The loft has a third, smaller ensuite bedroom. Tsangarada, Tel. 0030 24260 49244, 0030 6944 534854, 0030 6948 178281
Kannaveiko Mansion
One of the most prominent families of Byzantine Empire, the Kannavei from Constantinople, settled here, in Ano Hora in Nafpaktia. The family’s history and adventure is long and starts in 1204 when Nicholas Kannavos was named emperor. He was quickly assassinated and, in 1453, after the fall of Constantinople, the family migrated to Nafpaktia. Antonis Kannavos is one of the first members of the Filiki Eteria (or Society of Friends).
Later on, after a dispute with the Sotiropoulos family, almost the whole family was killed at an explosion in the mansion. One of the few remaining descendants, Giannis Kannavos was one of the founding members of Eleftherios Venizelos’ (former prime minister of Greece) party the Komma Fileleftheron (Liberal Party) and served as minister at various times. He died, destitute, in 1950, having spent his fortune for his political career. In 1925, the mansion was sold to Vasiliki Kostogianni. It was declared a protected monument by the ministry of Culture in 2001 and its life as a traditional, restored guesthouse began. It has 8 furnished apartments, all of them fully equipped and uniquely decorated. Ano Hora, Nafpaktia, Tel.: 0030 6945 700778, 0030 26340 41077
Sakali Mansion
An amazing, atmospheric guesthouse with luxurious details. In the scenic village of Pinakates, just 4 km from Milies, in Pelion, the Sakali Mansion stands out. This impressive 18th century building, of traditional Pelion architecture that has been renovated and restored with great care by Kritonas and Athanasia has been transformed, together with other similar local buildings, into a high-end guesthouse. Large, high-ceiling rooms and suites, noble and elegant, with great wooden ceilings, handmade rugs, antique furniture, lovely mirrors and a great balance of stone and wood.
The windows look out to the pool and the gardens, to the sea and to the mountains in the background. They have an indoor pool with a view. Some rooms have elaborate fireplaces. While their hammam and jacuzzi is ideal for relaxation. They also offer massage treatments if you arrange it in advance. The rich breakfast includes handmade bread, various cheeses, marmalades and many local products. The all-day pool bar serves local delicacies, coffee, spoon sweets, drinks and cocktails. The service is impeccable, and you can also have dinner comprised of daily specials prepared by the owner herself. The grand suite is a must. The personal service and the amazing view of Pelion and the Pagasetic gulf only add to the experience. Pinakates, Tel.: 0030 6932 429150, 0030 24230 86560, 0030 210 9657584
Archontiko Dilofo
In one of the most beautiful villages of central Zagori, Dilofo, that has remained untouched by time with many beautiful mansions you’ll find the Dilofo mansion. The mansion was built at three stages, in 1633, in 1864 and in 1865. In 1633 it was just a shed, while in 1864 the main mansion was added. Gradually the rest of the utility rooms, like the kitchen, the warehouses and the stables, were constructed. Now, it’s a charming guesthouse, with the main building housing 7 rooms and the breakfast area, and the second building housing a two-room suite. The frescoes in the shared spaces were created by local folk artists and have been removed from the walls, restored, and put back on the walls.
Even though the guesthouse is modern the owners have tried to preserve the old functions of the traditional Zagori house, like the Manzato (the kitchen and rest space with the fireplace and the oven), the Krevata (the bedroom), the two ontas (a living space used during the winter), the ground floor for food storage, today the katói (the ground floor that used to be the space for the animals and for food storage) houses the breakfast hall and the cellars. Finally, in the middle of it all, the bimtsa, a cool, moist space for the perishables. The guesthouse has seven rooms and a suite, while the arhontariki (the sitting quarters) is the lobby. They offer traditional breakfast, a fireplace, and you can also enjoy a cheese and charcuterie board, as well as a few dishes like rooster in red wine sauce and pork with celery, with a glass of wine, when you return to the guesthouse at night, after a day spend exploring the area. Dilofo, Tel.: 0030 2653022455, 0030 6978417715
Kinsterna
A few years ago, in southern Greece, in the Peloponnese, right across the stunning rock of Monemvasia, Kinsterna hotel first opened. An impressive 17th century mansion became one of the best hotels in the country, a true jewel for the area. The compound is built around a cistern – hence its name (Kisterna derives from cistern and means cistern in Greek). It most probably served as the home of the local judge, while in 1821, it was owned by Ibrahim Bey. The Kapitsini family bought it and resided there until the end of 1970. In 2003, it passed in the hands of Sgardelis, an engineer, who, together with a large team of architects, engineers and local craftsmen, started renovating it in 2006. Fully respecting the local architecture and the traditional materials, the team created a masterpiece, a small paradise on 70,000 m². At the manor, that has been awarded by international institutions, during your stay you can learn to bake bread in a woodburning oven, to make soap, to weave on the loom or go horseback riding. Monemvasia, Tel.: 0030 2732 066300
Vergoula’s Mansion
Its history starts in 1857, when a master craftsman, Alexios Vergoulas, famed in his era, starts building this architectural jewel for its time. So, in that quarter of Kastoria, in “Doltso” (the old town) an amazing house of 700 m² is built overlooking the Kastoria lake. In 1994, Tassos Sfinarolakis buys the Vergoula mansion and decides to turn it into a hospitality unit, preserving all the special characteristics of the mansion, as well as the original owner’s passion. So, all the details of the original structure and decoration have been preserved intact taking the visitor on a trip through time.
Today, the historic three-storey mansion has 12 rooms on the first and second floor, five of which have a view of the beautiful Kastoria lake, and two with a fireplace. What makes the décor stand out is the beautiful period furniture, the huge mirrors, the rugs and the kilims on the floor. They serve continental breakfast with warm bread, homemade marmalades and local pies. In the basement, the renovated cellar with its heavy furniture and the large monastery tables is impressive. Kastoria, Tel.: 0030 24670 23415, 0030 24670 23676
Chatzigaki Manor
The Chatzigaki family played a crucial role in the political, social and spiritual life of the country. The construction of the mansion began in 1890 by Swiss architects. For many years, the mansion was the summer and winter country home of the family, since it is located in Pertouli, a perfect destination both for the winter with the snow and the ski centre, and for the summer, as it is cool place surrounded by firs, perfect for resting. Safety was of outmost importance when the mansion was built, and so the design resembles a castle more than a mansion.
The well-travelled owners decorated it with objects they had acquired on their trips around the world, like French porcelain sets, textiles from Moscow, oriental rugs and Asian ivory furniture sets. This grand country house has welcomed royals, members of the Filiki Eteria, as well as politicians, socialites and artists of the time. During the Second World War, the mansion became the headquarters of the area’s Greek People’s Liberation Army and that’s why in 1943 the Germans burnt it to the ground. In 1993, the owner, civil engineer Dimitris Chatzigakis decided to renovate it and turn it into a high-end guesthouse. So, on 8,000 m² grounds covered in fir trees, the stone mansion and the smaller utility buildings were reconstructed, remaining faithful to the original design and architecture.
The manor retains an air of the past, with antique furniture and luxurious details while at the same time offering all modern amenities and facilities. This five-star hotel-mansion has 8 classic rooms, 8 garden rooms, 13 superior rooms and 7 suites with a stunning view of the Pindos’ slopes, of Pertouli and of the rare local nature. Pertouli, Tel.: 0030 24340-91146
Archontiko Soulioti
This renovated 19th century two-storey mansion adds a luxurious air to the village of Metaxochori on Kisavos mountain that remains unspoiled by tourism. Metaxochori, a famed artist village, is surrounded by plane trees and thick cool vegetation due to the many water masses in the area. The mansion’s renovation focused on stone and wood, and the elegant curtains add to the ambience of all rooms. The cobbled yard where breakfast and dinner is served is impressive. When the mansion was restored, a hotel was created with six rooms on the ground floor and a shared living room with a fireplace on the first floor. Breakfast is rich and traditional, and accommodation can be combined with ceramic and mosaic lessons, with strolls in the village’s blooming alleys, canoeing or rafting on Pinios river, as well as with amazing hikes on Alexander the Great’s trail. Metaxochori, Tel.: 0030 2494022040, 0030 2494022008, 0030 6949199657
Aristi Mansion
An atmospheric guesthouse located in a great location in this famous Zagori village. It’s location, on the slopes of Pindos, ensures an amazing view of the Vikos Gorge and the mountain of Astraka. The amazing surrounding nature combines perfectly with the guesthouse’s unique Epirotic architecture. This old mansion that is at least 200 years old has been restored with great care and respect of its history by the Dimitriadis family. Combining tradition with the needs of the modern traveller, the rooms are equipped with a fireplace, a jacuzzi and more amenities, something that makes it truly one of a kind. The Aristi mansion is one of the favourite destinations in the Zagori villages. Three new stone buildings were added to the guesthouse recently, some of which also have a fireplace. The rooms can accommodate pairs, as well as groups of three and four people, and so are ideal for families, while the breakfast buffet is rich. Aristi, Tel.: 0030 26530 42210, 0030 6945 676261
