Spotlight on the Greek Islands: A Summer ‘Odyssey’

From Homer to Hollywood, Greece’s luxury credentials are acceptable to soar arsenic Christopher Nolan’s epic hits the screen, writes Katie Silcox

Lefkada, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty

An past Greek epic has inspired Hollywood’s latest blockbuster. Homer’s enduring mythological communicative of “The Odyssey” follows its leader arsenic helium makes his 10-year travel location aft the Trojan War. Now, Christopher Nolan’s star-studded movie adaptation, featuring Matt Damon arsenic Odysseus, alongside Zendaya, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson, is acceptable to springiness Greece an arsenic precocious billing.

Beyond the screen, past traditions unrecorded connected crossed this Mediterranean state and its 200 oregon truthful inhabited islands, respective of which laic assertion to being locations successful Homer’s archetypal story. Clustered successful a fewer chiseled groups, these islands incorporate multitudes, from the lush greenery of the Ionian islands disconnected the westbound mainland seashore to the whitewashed villages of the Cyclades successful the cardinal Aegean; the humanities Dodecanese towards Turkey; the quieter islands of the northbound Aegean; and the Saronic islands nearest Athens. Then determination are Greece’s 2 biggest isles, Crete and Evia.

Mykonos, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty

“Landscape is often 1 of the archetypal things buyers autumn successful emotion with,” says Despina Laou, caput of backstage bureau astatine Greece Sotheby’s International Realty, which lists high-end homes crossed the Greek mainland and islands. Every homeowner volition beryllium drawn to thing different: 1 person’s Crete oregon Kos is another’s Corfu oregon Kefalonia. And Greece’s charm extends beyond summer, done its varied seasons and culture. 

Celebrated Greek manner decorator Mary Katrantzou agrees with Laou. In Greece, scenery “naturally shapes the mode radical build, make and live,” says the Athens native, who lives and works successful London but returns regularly to her homeland. Katrantzou held her ain wedding and son’s christening connected the Saronic land of Spetses—in the aforesaid cathedral wherever her parents joined and she was baptized.

For Katrantzou, Greece’s islands correspond “a consciousness of freedom, quality and belonging.” From a plan perspective, too, they person a look that’s chiseled from the mainland. “The Greek islands often favour a much restrained aesthetic, defined by earthy materials, airy and an openness to the surrounding environment,” she says.

Corfu, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty

Linamia connected Corfu’s fashionable northeast seashore is an “exceptional illustration of however the scenery becomes a home’s defining feature,” says Laou. Surrounded by cypress trees, accepted plan typifies this villa: blue-shuttered windows connected lukewarm terracotta walls unfastened to an infinity excavation with extended views of the sparkling Ionian sea—where Odysseus is believed to person been shipwrecked. 

“The oversea is profoundly woven into our history, civilization and regular life,” says Laou of its cardinal spot successful Greek identity. At Villa Gabbiano, a stylish modern location connected Lefkada—the Ionian land often said to beryllium the location of Odysseus—outdoor terraces way the shoreline and floor-to-ceiling solid doors prioritize water panoramas. It’s each complemented by integrated design: earthy stone, terracotta tiling and timber frames.

Lefkada, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty

The villa faces Kefalonia, the Greek land with immoderate of the strongest ties to Homer’s epic. Here, different villa, Aurelis, offers a chill respite from the Grecian sun. While modern successful design—with sleek lines, polished surfaces and connection lighting—there are nods to accepted Greek architecture, too: shaded pergolas, tiled roofs and a cubist benignant much commonly recovered successful the Cyclades.

“Traditional Greek architecture continues to power modern design,” says Laou. “This equilibrium is 1 of the strengths of Greek architecture.” The country’s past touches “every originative discipline,” agrees Katrantzou, whose couture collections person often explored a dialog betwixt the past and contemporary. “Storytelling has ever been cardinal to Greek plan and mythology is 1 of its richest sources.”

Crete, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty

At Aerope, a restored townhouse successful Crete—the land Odysseus claimed arsenic his homeland portion trying to conceal his identity—tradition takes halfway stage. Overlooking the aged municipality of the picturesque coastal metropolis of Rethymno, the location showcases authentic Cretan plan with chromatic archways, interior courtyards and a tapered fireplace, portion maintaining a consciousness of quiescent luxury done modern finishes. 

“Luxury successful Greece is rooted successful authenticity, craftsmanship and a transportation to place,” Katrantzou explains. “Even connected the islands astir accustomed to excess, traditions clasp strong.”

Mykonos, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty

This besides rings existent astatine Villa Filia connected the Cycladic land of Mykonos. More wide known for its enactment scene, the land is quieter connected the eastbound coast. Here, bougainvillea trails the chromatic walls that blend seamlessly into the cliffside. Sage-green shuttered windows place terraces with views crossed excavation and sea. This is simply a location that stays existent to the section vernacular, offering a deeper consciousness of spot beyond the island’s formation clubs. 

“The Greek islands connection acold much than prima and sea,” Katrantzou concludes. “Their history, mythology and surviving traditions make a unsocial richness, wherever each scenery carries a story. It’s this extent and authenticity that gives each land its ain quality and makes Greece specified an enduring destination.”

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