Villa Avaia

One of our favourite features of the Mani Peninsula is the contrast between its beautifully traditional landscapes and the high-spec, luxury villas that nestle unobtrusively here and there, enjoying the peace and the heavenly panoramas. Known locally as simply ‘the villa with the view’, Avaia is just such a place, set high above the coast overlooking Stoupa bay and the vast, mesmerising blue of the Messinian Gulf.

The villa has been designed as a permanent residence rather than a holiday home, and this shows in the fastidious attention to detail and top quality finish throughout. From the hotel-quality beds and designer sofas to the super-sleek kitchen, every comfort is catered for to make your stay effortlessly relaxing. The glass fronted living space not only affords incredible views, it also serves to minimise energy consumption as part of an innovative ‘intelligent shadowing’ system that works in tandem with the villa’s own solar power to reduce your holiday carbon footprint.

The outdoor spaces at Villa Avaia are as impressive as the interiors. A pristine infinity pool takes centre stage, where you can float in a blissful blue blur between sea and sky. Bask in the sun or dine in the shade, with organic herbs picked from the garden for the freshest Aegean flavours. For an authentic Greek coffee (or an ouzo!) there’s a little bar in the tiny village of Pyrgos 500m up the road, and a taverna in Neo Chori below, but for eating out we recommend taking the short drive down to the coast. Here you’ll be spoilt for choice between the chic little harbour at Agios Nikolaos and the sandy beach village of Stoupa; both have a great selection of truly excellent yet well-priced restaurants, and sundowners in one of Stoupa’s beachside bars is an essential Peloponnese holiday experience. Being so close to both of these charming villages puts you in prime position to enjoy the unspoilt Mani beaches, which are mainly sandy interspersed with cliffs and pebble coves for superb snorkelling. Nearby Kardamyli is an irresistible blend of classical and café culture for those who want an effortless dip into the extraordinary history of the area, and if you’re up for some more serious exploring, the drive to Porto Limeni and the wild landscapes of the Inner Mani make for a spectacular day out.

Our choice of Greek properties is as diverse as the islands themselves, ranging from simple seaside charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal. To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.