sitting in the most northwesterly corner of greece, corfu is an elegant and
cosmopolitan island, wearing the mantle of its colourful venetian history with style.
‘somewhere between calabria and corfu the blue really begin s...you are aware of a
change in the heart of things: aware of the horizon begin ning to stain at the rim of
the world: aware of islands coming out of the darkness to meet you’. so begin s
lawrence durrell’s 1945 ode to corfu, prospero’s cell. even today, visitors to the
island often arrive by sea, approaching from italy in the west, of the greek mainland
in the east. emerging in the early morning sunshine, the pastel-hued houses above
corfu town’s old port are a jumble of slim tiers with narrow passages running
between them, made brilliant with washing hung out to dry from every balcony like
festive bunting. the tall venetian mansions display ancient coats of coloured paint,
blurred by successive winters and giving visitors to the town the feeling of stepping
into a watercolour painting.
the town is centred on a wide tree-lined esplanade called the spianada, whose
french arcades echo the rue de rivoli. a drop of britishness is to be found on the
noble sweep of this square, which is transformed into a cricket pitch throughout the
summer - the world’s only working sports field within a unesco world heritage
site.
meanwhile , the corfiot countryside boasts an elegiac greenery, unrivalled across
greece and contrasting remarkably with the solemn barrenness of the aegean.
bathed in brilliant white sunlight throughout the summer months, the winter rains
ensure a sublime frondescence across the island, with the inland valleys thickly
carpeted with wild flowers, studded with gnarled olive trees and dense groves of
stiffly swaying cypresses. the sophisticated north-east is known as kensington-on-
sea, and is the site of the rothschild family’s imposing summer villa. it is here that
the luxury villa lifestyle comes into its own, with the hillsides sprinkled with secluded,
high-end properties boasting private infinity pools and awe-inspiring sea views, with
the snowcapped albanian-epirote mountains rising mysteriously in the east.
An estate of spectacular beauty, unique not only to Corfu but the whole of Greece, Antico Rosso, home to one of the most prominent families,has been brought back to it’s original glory by it’s current owners. Surrounded by a large ancient olive grove, with an abundance of other trees some imported by colonies afar at the time of construction, it’s a private paradise “away from it all”, yet only a few minutes drive from the town of Corfu, the international marina,airport and all amenities.The Corfu Golf club is located 8km away.
This magnificent 17th century home, constructed on the ruins of a 13th century monastery has had all the hard renovation work done to it. All reconstruction works were carried out in full respect of it’s heritage.The new owner will have to add his finishes. The main house, arranged over one and two stories, laid around an exquisite courtyard, measures 1.750 square meters (18,834sqf) and among other features has a 20 meter (66ft) indoor swimming pool. An old olive press and auxiliary outbuildings complete the total of 2.500 m2 (26,910sqf) of potential accommodation. Many original architectural features.
