With quarantine restrictions still dominating travel headlines in the UK, most people are looking for more sedate and idyllic escapes rather than crowded city breaks. With 227 inhabited islands in Greece, there are bound to be options for those looking for a peaceful Mediterranean escape.
One to consider is the picturesque island of Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian islands and famously depicted in the Hollywood film, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The question you might ask is do I stay in the south or north of the island?
South is the more developed part of the island including Argostoli, the capital, and the sandier beaches. Whilst the north has the remote, dramatic landscapes with spectacular sheer cliffs and quaint picturesque villages. This is where NorthPoint Houses are based.
Villa
There are three spacious villas to choose from including Milos (Windmill), Ormos (Bay), and Faros (Lighthouse). All with stupendous views of Fiskardo bay and village, which is equally beguiling in the daytime as it is in the night time when the twinkle of lights from the villas and restaurants create a romantically tranquil atmosphere.
The villas are all double-storey buildings with an immaculately landscaped garden boasting attractive and aromatic flowers, a private swimming pool, and sun-loungers. On the upper floor is an open-plan living room with a fully equipped kitchen and the best bit of all is the picture windows that lead to postcard-perfect views of Fiskardo. On the lower floor, you will find two spacious identical bedrooms with ensuite marble bathrooms and air-conditioning. Apart from the king-sized bed, the key selling point is the ability to jump straight from bed to pool.
There is tasteful artwork reflecting local culture adorning the walls, whilst the usual hotel comforts are all present including slippers, bathroom, and Apivita toiletries, and you will find Coco-mat mattresses, which guarantee a great night’s sleep using only natural products.
Food
All the essentials are supplied including drinking water, milk, tea, and coffee in the fridge, while a continental breakfast is available as part of the upgraded package. A private chef can be hired too, which is handy when you have a fully-fitted kitchen and outdoor barbecue equipment to utilise and there are two supermarkets in Fiskardo village.
If you want to dine at restaurants, there are very decent options to choose from in Fiskardo village including the likes of Tassia and Irida, which are all a short eight-minute walk from the villas.
To do
Most people travel to Fiskardo for relaxation and to catch up on their long-forgotten book lists, but there are plenty of things to do in the region. Sightseeing is a must including a scenic, albeit tricky, drive to the charming village of Assos. Other places to consider include Melissani cave, which is a stunning subterranean cave with 15-minute guided boat tours which is popular with Instagrammers and the general public alike whilst Drogarati cave is one of the most impressive limestone caves you will find on any Greek island.
For beach lovers, there are several beaches on the northern part of the island including Foki and Emplisi beach which are closest to the villas. However, most people head for Myrtos beach, which is a secluded white sand beach surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs.
Closer to the villa is a ferry port (approximately four minutes away) which offers trips to the northern part of the neighbouring island of Ithaca. Alternatively, if you don’t want to leave your villa, binoculars are provided for stargazing and it’s hard to find a better place to go stargazing in Kefalonia with minimal light pollution. Yoga sessions can also be arranged for you in the mornings or afternoons.
In a nutshell
In these tricky times, you may be looking for a remote, charming, quiet place to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The magical fishing village of Fiskardo should fit the bill perfectly and NorthPoint Houses are only a short walk away, boasting unbeatable views of the stunning landscape.
Factbox
Villas can be booked from 450 euros.
Address: Fiskardo Village, Kefalonia
Phone: +690 7055556
Email: info@northpoint.gr
Website: northpoint.gr/houses.php
Getting there
There are direct flights from most major UK airports direct to Kefalonia, however getting to the north of the island does involve a roughly 1.5 hr drive through some steep but extremely scenic parts of the countryside. The villas are near to Fiskardo village although a lack of signage, once you are near the hotel, makes it tricky to find.
