Accommodation is divided between a main house on two externally connected levels and two garden guest suites. The main house's front door leads into a light, vast hallway. At one end is the generous master bedroom, a double with a marble-finished en-suite shower room, and access to the shady terraces that wrap around the house on three sides. On the other is a family suite, consisting of a double bedroom with French doors accessing the terraces, a marble-finished en-suite shower room, and a single bedroom, suitable for a kid. Both of these bedrooms (and their bathrooms) are refined, generously sized, and airy.
A couple of steps from the hallway lead down through an opening into the main shared area, a bright open-plan space with wide, sea-view picture windows and large French doors leading onto the shady terraces. At one end is a honey-colored, round wooden dining table, while on the other is a fireplace, a pair of gold-colored armchairs, and a corner sofa in blue color.
To one side, the space leads into the charmingly designed and well-fitted kitchen, whose cabinetry in misty blue ideally offsets the fabulous sea views (cooking here is no chore but a real pleasure!). A glass door leads onto the shady terraces and the outdoor dining area.
The first level of the main house is accessed via a flight of external steps and comprises a pretty double bedroom with beautiful sea views and a trio of shaded and sun-kissed terraces. Its bathroom, just across a covered part of the terrace, offers a perfectly positioned sea-view shower.
The two private garden guest suites are accessed via steps leading down from the main house's terraces. Both include large sea-view double bedrooms, marble-finished en-suite shower rooms, and well-equipped shaded terraces.
The villa's generous grounds, planted with colorful bougainvillea, cypresses, olive trees, and other greenery, gently slope down below the house for about 80 meters. At the bottom is a lovely gate, which opens directly onto the picturesque, sparsely populated western bay of Didimes Beach.
The property boasts numerous spots for al fresco living and plenty of lovely corners to gather together or find a private space to read a book or take an afternoon nap.
All the ground-level rooms of the main house open out onto a wrap-around terrace, the great part of which is well-shaded by a wood and cane structure. Accessed directly from the kitchen and one side of the open-concept living area is a cozy outdoor dining area, with comfortably cushioned in-built seating.
The two ground-level bedrooms also flow out onto semi-private parts of the same terrace, and there are lounge areas spread around, providing shade or sun depending. The views, which incorporate the hilly coastline, Didimes Beach, the shining Aegean Sea, and the little islet of Agios Georgios, are magnificent.
The first level of the main house benefits from three more supremely panoramic terraces. One is the shady private area of this level bedroom, but the others can be accessed by other guests.
Those staying in the garden guest suites also have their private alfresco areas, as each boasts its own comfortably furnished, shady sea-view terrace.
The villa is nestled above the twin beaches of Didimes on the south side of Patmos's northern peninsula. Tucked in a virtually serene coastal landscape, and with the nature reserve of the Kampos hills rising behind, it is an extremely quiet place with plenty to explore.
Apart from the beaches of Didimes below the house, there are some more nearby, including those of Livadi Geranou (with a taverna and within easy walking distance), Vagia, and Panagia Geranos. In terms of facilities, there are a few tavernas in Kampos, and a good choice in Skala (15mins drive).
A 20-minute drive away is Chora, Patmos's old hilltop capital. Perched under the extraordinary and majestic 11th-century Monastery of St John the Theologian, it is home to a maze of scenic narrow streets lined with tavernas, shops, cafés, and bars. One can while away many hours here, sipping a coffee and admiring the beautiful views.
Referred to as the Island of the Apocalypse and the Jerusalem of the Aegean, Patmos is characterized by a deep sense of spirituality, serenity, and mysticism. For the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Church, it is a sacred island with many churches, monasteries, and religious sites to visit. The aforementioned fortress-like Monastery of St John the Theologian is a constant reminder that the disciple was exiled here, while the cave in which St John lived, experienced his visions, and wrote the Book of Revelation, is, along with the monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Even for non-believers, Patmos's sense of spiritualism is strong, but most come for the island’s unique vibe and the feeling that it is a little world unto itself. At just 12km long and 7km wide, it’s easy to explore in a week or two. Caressed by gentle waters, its beaches are numerous and beautiful, and the whitewashed, labyrinthine alleys of the island’s towns and villages present a genuine insight into the history of the eastern Aegean.
Patmos can be divided into three parts, from north to south, each one linked to its neighbor by a slender isthmus:
• the northernmost part of Patmos is sparsely inhabited apart from the village of Kampos. There are plenty of charming beaches, including those already mentioned above, and a quiet ambiance
• the central part is home to exciting Chora, the seaside village of Grika, and the main port of entry, Skala, whose alluring, gently buzzing centre is worth a visit. The cave and monastery of St John are also situated in this area, and there are many fabulous beaches to visit on the coast, including those at Diakofti, Chochlaka, and Sapsila
• the southernmost part of Patmos, meanwhile, is practically uninhabited and has no roads. With panoramic hills rising to over 200m and a magnificent beach, Psili Ammos (only accessible on foot or by boat), it’s a superb place for walkers and those who love to get away from it all
Remote for so many centuries, Patmos has developed its own very special (and delicious) cuisine, and one of the real pleasures of a vacation here is dining out in the island's many original tavernas.
