Londas Guesthouse

An 18th-century Maniot tower-house converted into a 4-room guesthouse, stylishly decorated and beautifully kept

Even as you approach this imposing, 3-storey stone tower, you can tell that a lot of thought has gone into its conversion to a 4-room guesthouse. The immaculate blue windowframes against the freshly pointed orange-brown masonry suggest an artistic eye. The reworked fortification blocks show a respect for history. The closed wooden door with its handpainted sign hints at an uncommercial approach to guests.

Which all makes sense when you meet Iakovos Xenakis, the Greek who rebuilt this 18th-century tower from near ruins. A professional artist and an amateur historian, he lives on the ground floor and runs his guesthouse almost single-handedly, from fetching fresh bread every morning to chatting easily with his guests at sunset on the roof-terrace. Tucked away on a pedestrian alley in the heart of old Areopolis, the Mani’s ‘capital’ village, there could be no better base for discerning visitors to this rich and textured region.

Highs

• The attention to detail, both in the décor and in the general maintenance
• Iakovos’ and Hans’ stimulating company and local knowledge
• A fresh and varied breakfast
• Sitting on the sun-warmed roof terrace overlooking shimmering olive groves, ouzo in hand

Lows

• With just 4 twin rooms, you’ll need to book early
• The rooms are small, and some doorways painfully low (but that’s the way they were built back then)
• There is no pool, and it is 5km to the nearest beach
• Don’t expect any ‘hotel’ facilities