Archive for 'Architectural Gems in Greece'

Those who holiday in Crete will quickly discover that it is truly a paradise anyone who likes to get outside and get active. While the island has a rich history and cultural heritage to dive into, lots of culinary gems to explore, and much more besides, the diverse and incredibly beautiful landscape of the area is truly mind-blowing and ripe with possibilities. Spend days enjoying her wonderful beaches, of course, but make sure to also set aside some time to see the other natural beauties that Crete has to offer. In particular, if you’re looking for a destination where you’ll have plenty of excellent hiking routes surrounded by stunning views to choose from, then a villa in Crete is just the thing as you will find yourself absolutely spoiled for choice. We have mentioned some notable examples in the past including the famous gorge routes of the island (Samariá Gorge, Imbros Gorge, and Richtis Gorge), the breathtaking trails through the White Mountains, the charming coastal walks and trails around the Gramvousa Peninsula, and more. However, if you’re looking for a lovely hike and a visit to a stunning architectural gem steeped in history in Greece combined, then a visit to Gouverneto Monastery will tick all of your boxes in one!

Heraklion is one of Greece's largest cities and is the economic hub of Crete, if you have found a villa in Crete, it will likely be one of the must-see places to plan a day trip to during your time on the island. While not always orderly or neat, it is picturesque in its own way and is, without a doubt, utterly fascinating. In this city, history is everywhere you look and it is home to some of the most important historical sites and institutions in all of Greece, including the Palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. If you are interested in the grand and rich historical heritage and the impressive ruins for which Greece is so well-known, it is certainly a representative destination for familiarising yourself with this incredible past. One of the best ways to begin delving into to history of Heraklion is to walk the city's ancient walls.

If you have found a holiday rental in Attica or a vacation rental in Greece and are thinking about coming to explore the iconic capital city of Athens for the day, you'll likely be trying to put together a list of the absolute must-see attractions while you are in town. While the city's hip younger neighbourhoods, chic eateries, cute cafes, and cool boutiques are all worth seeing and delving into, it is, no doubt, the ancient ruins of the city that draw the most attention and acclaim. And it would, of course, be a shame not to explore these magnificent and majestic architectural gems that have lasted up to thousands of years and attest to a very different Greece that is now long gone. One of the most iconic of these structures is the picturesque Ancient Agora of Athens.

The Ancient Agora of Athens is the best known example of an ancient Greek agora, a structure that was a central public space in Greek city-states that had multiple purposes and acted as the centre of athletic, artistic, spiritual, and political life in the city. Literally meaning a, "gathering place," or, "assembly," and meaning, “marketplace,” in modern Greek, agoras were first where free-born citizens were gathered for military duty and to hear the statements and proclamations of rulers and then also became marketplaces. These spaces eventually evolved to have many other purposes but can be primarily described as a central point of public life in ancient Greek cities.

This week on Easy Reserve, we have been talking about the incredible island gem that is Corfu. A luxury destination in the Ionian Islands in Greece, it is a place for sun, sea, and fun. The landscape of the island is rugged and charming with lots of opportunities for hiking and exploration and also boasts perfect beaches (such as the beach of Porto Timoni that we discussed in our last post) and glittering sapphire waters made for relaxing, sunning oneself, snorkelling, and lazy days on a boat. However, in addition to the overwhelming natural beauty and perfection of the island, Corfu is also an unexpected cultural gem. Having spent time under under Venetian, French, and British rule throughout the centuries before being united with Greece in 1864, it is a place with a diverse and rich cultural heritage and history, which is reflected in the range of architectural styles that one stumbles past on the island and in the excellent cultural institutions on the island, such as the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu.

The Museum of Asian Art of Corfu is located in in the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in Corfu City on the island of Corfu. This Greek Revival style neoclassical gem by Colonel George Whitmore was originally commissioned by Sir Thomas Maitland as the residence of the British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands and was built between 1819 and 1824. It was then used as a Royal residence after Corfu became part of Greece, until the Second World War. While it survived the Italian bombardment of the city during the Corfu Incident in 1923, it was later used for the temporary housing of refugees from Epirus during the Greek Civil War in the 1940s, which left it in a state of disrepair. Thankfully, with the help of a private trust organised by Sir Charles Peake, the then British Ambassador to Greece, the state was able to restore the palace interiors in 1954. The Greek king continued to use the palace for some state occasions until the 1960s but, today, it is solely used to house the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu.

The gorgeous Mykonos is one of Greece’s most popular holiday locations and must-see destinations. It is easy to see why: it is an utterly stunning island dotted with pretty whitewashed towns, rich blue-coloured domed churches, cute tavernas, little boutiques and shops, trendy bars, donkeys carrying bundles up hillsides, and excellent spots to watch the incredible watercolour sunsets that put on performances above the island each night. If you want to get well and truly away from it all and enjoy the peace and relaxation that the slower pace of life on the Greek islands affords, then just find a vacation rental in Mykonos or a holiday rental in the South Aegean and either stay on the island or visit it for day trips.

While you visit the island, be sure to set aside some time to head to the Armenistis Lighthouse, a pretty and still-functioning historic lighthouse that offers one of the best and most heartrendingly beautiful views on the island. Located to the north-west of the island, above a homonymous bay, Armenistis Lighthouse was built after the wrecking of an English ship on the shores nearby in the 19th century, which left 11 crew members dead. It became apparent that something needed to be done to help prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future and, in 1891, a lighthouse was built.