Casa dei Mezzo

Stylish villa combining classical Greek lines, Moorish water features and cool Scandinavian interiors (sleeps 1-8, no young kids)

The wooden roof casts slatted shadows across the pool, while marble columns bisect the backdrop of silver-green olive trees and blue-blue sea. Water trickles from a carved conch down a tiled flume into the pool. Behind, dry mountains rear up; below lie the fishing town and beaches of Makriyialos.

This casa, built on a Venetian olive estate (there are still 10,000m² of trees), stands out from the island’s many identikit villas and restored farmhouses like the Acropolis above the hoi polloi. It was designed by two architects in tandem with the Norwegian owner, and they have been bold and original in their vision. Stone-clad wings enclose green lawns and a raised patio-cum-pool. Interiors are clean and cool, with white walls, varnished floorboards and sliding picture-windows. The 4 double bedrooms have air-con and ensuite showers, while the kitchen fittings put other villas to shame. Team up with some friends for an indulgent week of swimming, boating, hiking, sunbathing, lazy lunches and fish dinners.

Highs

• Stunning setting among olive groves above Makriyialos
• Stylish contemporary interiors – a rarity in Greece
• Blissful pool and patio with sea views
• Picturesque Makriyialos is a 10-minute walk downhill
• Sandy beaches, limestone gorges, Minoan sites, Orthodox monasteries, even an uninhabited island are all within easy reach

Lows

• It ain’t cheap (but it sure is pretty)
• Some of the coast nearby is swathed in polytunnels
• Bedrooms are all double-bedded (not twin)
• Because of unprotected drops around the pool, the villa is not suitable for children under 9 (if you're travelling with kids, try their sister property The White Houses)