Villa Europa

Seeing is believing when you vacation in the simply stunning Villa Europa, overlooking the bay of Lygaria, on the north coast of the Greek Dodecanese island of Crete, set in the azure Aegean Sea. This jaw-droppingly beautiful villa has six spacious bedrooms, and can comfortably accommodate up to twelve guests in some style. The villa would be ideal for a large family holiday, a group of friends get-together, or simply a celebration. This architect-designed, double-fronted, three-storey, villa is constructed out of glittering whitewashed walls, reflecting the rays of the Grecian sun.

The property is set in five thousand square metres of mature grounds and gardens, with the most expansive sea view terrace, and a centrepiece private swimming pool. Villa Europa comes complete with parking for three cars, complimentary air conditioning, and Wi-Fi throughout. The interiors are exquisite, expertly designed with the most meticulous attention to detail, with sweeping marble staircases, commissioned contemporary furnishings, and original art adorning the walls. The colour scheme is classic Mediterranean cool, crisp whites contrast with hues of sea blues, tempered by soft pastel shades, to create an ambience of calm, luxurious living.

Take the white marble steps up to the entrance to the villa, and enter the breathtaking hallway, with its hand-crafted marble staircase, that is encased in glass, and plaster fretwork, through which you can peek at the adjacent rooms. The elegant seating area has Majorelle blue walls, a wrap-around dove grey sofa runs the length of the room, there is a formal armchair, designer wood coffee tables, a sideboard with a flat-screen satellite television, and vibrant paintings that create a talking point. The blue and white kitchen is fully equipped with the latest professional appliances, designed especially for both chefs and home cooks. The kitchen is home to a preparation island with a breakfast bar, and a sea view, wood and white dining set, the perfect spot for a morning coffee meet-up. A guest cloakroom completes the ground floor.

As you make your way to the first floor, pass the evocative classic artwork, and look up to the interior dome that sits atop Villa Europa. The first floor has three spacious beautifully-appointed double bedrooms. The Master Bedroom has a double bed, an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a furnished sea-view balcony. The second bedroom has a double bed, and the third has convertible twin beds and a sea-view balcony. There is a shared bathroom, with a walk-in shower, double-hand basins, and a WC. On the lower ground floor, there are a further three double bedrooms, each with its own flat-screen television. Two bedrooms are ensuite twin rooms, and one is a double room. A storage, laundry room, and kitchenette complete the accommodation.

Access the grounds and gardens through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors of the living space, where you will be greeted by the most incredible sea views, and a delicate mosaic, white tiled terrace. A superb swimming pool takes centre stage, reflecting the silhouette of the villa, and fitted with twinkling lights that mirror the night sky. The pool has two sets of steps, and a central seating area, where you can soak up the sun's rays. White cushioned, rattan-style sun loungers surround the pool, and two double-shaded day beds are strategically positioned to maximise those magnificent views.

In the cool of the evening take a walk around the manicured gardens, designed to feel like an oasis in the desert, festooned with fragrant flowers and tall trees to line the paths and lead the way. As dusk falls make your way to the iconic stone arch, and watch the sunset as it dips over the horizon. Feast alfresco at the pergola-covered dining set, with dishes specially prepared on the built-in barbeque, and raise a glass of Champagne to the most magical holiday memories.

Features

The Villa
12sqm double fronted, three storey, detached, 6 bed luxury sea view villa, with private pool, and 5000sqm grounds, sleeps 12
Ground Floor

• Bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom
• Bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom
  First Floor
• Living room with large sofa
• Kitchen with oven, microwave, fridge freezer,breakfast bar and dining facilities
  Second Floor
• Bedroom with double bed
• Bedroom with double bed
• Bedroom with double bed
• Bathroom with bath, WC and washbasin
• Master bedroom with balcony access and en-suite bathroom
  Exterior Grounds
• Private pool
• Sun beds
• Pergola covered dining facilities
  Additional Facilities
• Air conditioning
• Wi-Fi
• Washing machine
• Iron & ironing board
• Hairdryers
• Baby cot (on request)
• Television with Sky Sport and Netflix

Location

Villa Europa is set surrounded by ancient olive groves, strategically positioned on a dramatic cliff edge, with sweeping panoramic views over the bay of Lygaria, on the north coast of the Greek Dodecanese island of Crete, in the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. The villa is a thirty-minute drive from Heraklion International Airport, a half-hour scenic coastal route drive to your luxury holiday home. It is a ten-minute drive to the traditional fishing village of Agia Pelagia, with its sandy beach and crystal clear waters, cafes, bars, seafront restaurants, secret coves and a Venetian monastery, souvenir shops and hot nightspots.

The town of Mades has a beautiful horseshoe bay sandy beach, populated with sun loungers and shady parasols, sailboats and fishing caiques. Whilst laid-back Matala beach is surrounded by catacombs, rocky caves, hang-out bars, and watersports. Charter a yacht for a lazy day at sea, where you can swim and snorkel, and sunbathe on deck. For the adrenalin junkies, there's jet skiing and paragliding with one of the many water sports clubs. The port town of Heraklion is a short drive from the villa, visit the ancient Palace of Knossos, wonder at the Archaeological Museum, walk along the Venetian walls, and take a stroll through the old quarter, where you can shop for souvenirs. An hour's drive away is the harbour town of Rethymno, with its ancient market and Venetian and Turkish influences.

For those who love walking, explore the three hundred caves the island hides, hike over hillsides, streams, and rocky ravines to discover watermills and ruins, and stop along the way at a local winery and taste the fruits of the many vineyards. Go further afield to Vai, Crete's easternmost tip, where you will find lush forests and a unique date palm. Explore Psychro Cave, reputedly the birthplace of Zeus, and rock climb Mount Ida to find the Ideon Cave. Sitia Geopark is three hundred and fifty square kilometres of the island's diverse ecosystem, where you can trek through gorges, bathe on beaches, walk the wetlands, and bird watching.

Hike the Richtis Gorge, and stroll through streams to reach the twenty-metre waterfall, where you can cool off in the inviting pool. Find solace in the fifteenth-century Toplou Monastery, where you can see beautiful Byzantine icons. For those interested in archaeology, the cathedral-like Cave of Melidoni is well worth a visit. Dating from the Minoan era, and inhabited since neolithic times, it has more recently been used as a place of worship. Visit the intriguing island of Spinalonga, a former leper colony until as recently as the 1950s, home to a Venetian fortress, it is now an open-air museum. No visit to Crete is complete without a trip to Agios Nikolaos, a harbour town that uniquely houses a lake in its centre, and is home to the archaeological museum of Minoan treasures.