Imbued with the timeless tranquillity of Zakynthos’s emerald hills, and discreetly camouflaged in stone, Louisa is at once unassuming and inspiring. Airy interiors flow out onto an abundance of terraces, 180-degree panoramas take in the azure waters of the Ionian Sea and a wide expanse of the island’s northeast coast, and a sense of calm, dictated by the gentle rhythms of a choir of cicadas, induces total relaxation.
Inside: accommodation at Louisa is laid out over three floors.
The front door leads into a welcoming central hallway, off which all the accommodation flows. Straight ahead is a staircase leading up to the first floor and down to the lower floor, while to the right and left are the communal areas. The gentle colour palette – smooth sandy grey tiled floors, white walls, and pale olive green doors, shutters and window frames – and the uncluttered aesthetics of the interior design create an atmosphere that is calm, tranquil and airy.
A few steps to the right and one is in the generously proportioned dining room, whose centrally positioned table looks out to sea via a wide, elegantly arched set of French doors. The space flows into the large, well-equipped kitchen, which features a breakfast bar, country style olive green cabinetry, and French doors opening out onto the surrounding terraces.
Back in the hallway and turning left, one comes to the living area, a bright, spacious room with a pair of sofas and a selection of armchairs gathered around a stone-clad fireplace, sea views, and French windows opening out, front and back, onto the wraparound terraces.
A couple of steps lead up from one corner of the living area and into the first bedroom, a double with en-suite shower room, separate WC, terrace access and sea views.
The first floor is home to three more bedrooms:
• the main bedroom, a double with four-poster bed, en-suite shower room, separate WC, fabulous sea views, and a private balcony
• a triple, comprising a double bed with a single children’s bunk above, an en-suite shower room and sea views
• a double with en-suite shower room and sea views
On the lower ground floor, meanwhile, there are:
• two double bedrooms, one with en-suite shower room, one with adjacent shower room. Both can be accessed independently via external staircases leading down from the main terraces.
• a games room with table tennis table between the two bedrooms
• a WC and a laundry room
Outside: all the rooms on the ground floor (the bedroom, the living room, the dining room and the kitchen) flow out onto a meticulously paved sea-view terrace that runs along the entire façade of the property. Dotted with sitting spots, this terrace culminates outside the kitchen with a large covered area furnished with sofas, armchairs and a large wooden dining table.
A wide, rather grand flight of paved steps leads down through the gardens to the splendid pool area. At the centre, surrounded by more of that perfect paving, sits the irresistible 14m-long pool, while to one side is a capacious pavilion with stone walls on two sides and wood-beamed ceilings. Gazing out over the blue waters of the Ionian Sea, it hosts a comfortably furnished sitting area, a large wooden dining table, and a kitchen with a built-in barbecue, a wood-burning oven, a sink and a fridge.
Please note that Louisa's newly landscaped terraced gardens have yet to reach full maturity.
Due to the nature of the property including terraces low walls and several drops around the grounds, children must be supervised at all times.
The number of steps that must be negotiated to get into and/or around this property might make it unsuitable for people with mobility problems.
Louisa occupies a privileged panoramic position looking out over the sparkling blue Ionian Sea and the northeast coast of Zakynthos. An easy drive away are a series of idyllic beaches and a number of picturesque villages and towns. At just over 30km long and 20km wide, Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is easy to get around and many of the island's best spots are close to Louisa.
Just 4km from Louisa is the little harbour village of Agios Nikolaos. It may be small, but it offers most of what you will need on a day-to-day basis, including a beach, crystal clear waters, a minimarket, boat rental and a few tavernas and bars.
A few minutes' boat ride up the coast from Agios Nikolaos are the Blue Caves, a series of sea grottoes that are particularly well worth exploring in the morning when the eastern sun illuminates them with the sapphire colours of the sea. It's also a great spot for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Numerous lovely beaches line the northeast coast, including those at Kremidi, Climati, and Makris Gialos, all of which are 10 minutes or less away.
Heading west across the island, meanwhile, you will soon come to Zakynthos's most popular, most spectacular and most photographed beach: Navagio. Taking its name from the shipwreck that has lain on its sand since the early 1980s, the sandy bay is surrounded on three sides by spectacular tree-topped white cliffs and is only accessible by boat. This sublime setting and the bay's transparent, electric blue waters attract the crowds in high summer, but it's most certainly a sight to behold, both from above and below.
In terms of villages and towns in the area, the unspoilt twin villages of Volimes (upper and lower) have some interesting buildings, including traditional stone-built houses, a windmill, a couple of churches and a 400-year-old monastery. There are also a few eateries, should you get peckish while exploring.
Slightly further afield, though still just a 45-minute drive down the coast, is the capital of Zakynthos, Chora (or Zakynthos Town). A few fascinating Venetian buildings survive, and its museums and galleries, vibrant summery atmosphere, and host of bars, cafés and tavernas make it an attractive proposition for a day out.
Arrival details will be confirmed by The Thinking Traveller after your villa is confirmed.
The Thinking Traveller can organise transfers and car hire and an agent will be in touch with you once your villa is confirmed.
Grotte blu8 min in auto - 4.5 km