Greece’s Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport has announced they expect the Corinth Canal to reopen for navigation from the 5th of July.
The 128-year-old canal has been closed to traffic since February 2021, after a series of landslides made it unnavigable. Following its closure, the Greek government commenced vital restoration works worth 30.6 million euros.
The famous canal that separates the mainland from the Peloponnese can accommodate small cruise ships and is crossed by several bridges, including a motorway and railway.
Also known as the Isthmus of Corinth, the canal connects the Ionian and the Aegean Seas, making the passage of cargo and passenger ships between the two much quicker and safer.
As Greece opened up to tourism and yachts last summer, visitors who passed through from the Ionian to the Aegean Seas on yachts and cruise ships had to take the long and costlier route around the Peloponnesian peninsula; however this year the Greek Development & Investments Ministry is hoping to see the Corinth Canal open in July through to the end of October.
A press release issued by the Corinth Canal SA states, “We would like to inform our customers and partners that the restoration works are in progress and that according to the official schedule of the Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport, the canal will be available for navigation from the 5th of July until the end of October 2022, where restoration work will continue.”
To see the Corinth Canal, visitors can drive to it, take a bus, or board a boat cruise that goes through it – boat trips run from Loutraki.
Athens in the spring is an idyllic destination for tourist-free ramblings to parks, museums, neighbourhoods and restaurants. Add the fact that within less than two hours you can hop into a car, bus, or boat and reach somewhere very special for a lovely day trip and you’ve got a winner! Here we put the spotlight on our four favourite places to explore in a day.
Cape Sounio
Head for the southernmost tip of Attica and walk up to the 5th C B.C. Doric Temple of Poseidon, God of the sea, towers on an acropolis with astounding views of the sea on three different sides. Though to be constructed according to Sacred Geometry and according to the metaphysically minded to be positioned exactly under four stars that are the ‘portals of the Universe’ the temple has enchanted thousands upon thousands of visitors throughout the ages, including Lord Byron, who carved out his name on one of the temple’s doorposts. Only around a 50-minute drive from Athens, Sounio is an ideal destination for a sunny springtime day trip. Spend the day by the sea enjoying coffee or a seafood lunch at one of the fish taverns of Lavrio town with its pretty marina and walk up to Temple just before sunset. To explore the surrounding area, head along the Ethnikos Drimos forested road parallel to the road from Sounio to Lavrio and traipse the many paths to come across chapels, ancient wells and a huge crater called ‘Chaos’.
Aegina
In just 40 minutes on a flying dolphin vessel, you’ll find yourself on the pretty, historical and culturally charming Saronic island of Aegina, famous for its delicious local pistachio variety (make sure you try the unforgettable pistachio ice cream sold at the port). Spend the day wandering through the town or take a horse-drawn carriage ride and enjoy views of the sea as you chow down on fresh fish and ouzo. Right outside scenic Aegina Town, with its attractive neoclassical architecture, visit the Temple of Aphaia, one of Greece’s most important ancient sites. Also, within walking distance from the centre of town is the Christos Kapralos Museum, the old studio of one of Greece’s most famous sculptors. To get a feeling of local culture, visit the Orthodox church of Agios Nektarios, dedicated to Greece’s first modern saint and patron saint of Aegina. Explore the villages of Agia Marina and especially Perdika in the southwest part of the island, where you’ll feel you’ve teleported to the Cyclades because of the picturesque, whitewashed houses and streets decorated with colourful flowers. From Perdika you can hop onto a boat for a 10-minute ride to Moni islet where you can admire protected animal inhabitants, including peacocks and deer, and the emerald waters that surround it. Don’t miss out on Paleochora, the island’s ancient capital, an old Byzantine town where you’ll see the remnants of 38 chapels. Also well worth a visit is the archaeological site of Kolona, characterised by the Doric column and the remains of the Temple of Apollo.
Acro Corinth & Ancient Corinth
On your way to these two beautiful and important historical destinations stop at the Corinth Canal, a narrow canal (around 7km across and 8m deep) that marks you’ve started your journey into the Peloponnese region. A strategic trading spot in ancient times, the canal connected the Ionian and Aegean seas. In the modern city of Corinth, you’ll find ancient (chiefly Roman) ruins among streets, tourist shops and eateries. Visit Ancient Corinth, where the likes of Pausanias, and St Paul, who taught the gospel of Christ have trodden. At the ancient site, admire the seven remaining columns of the Temple of Apollo, the North Market, the South Stoa, Lechaion Road, and the theatre and the Asklepion. Just half an hour’s drive away, you’ll reach Acrocorinth, especially lush and photographable in springtime, with increasingly wondrous views as you rise higher and higher up the hill, stopping to explore Medieval and Ottoman fortifications. The Natura 200 habitat of 540m-high Acrocorinth is an excellent place to trek uphill to take in spanning views of ancient Corinth and the sprawling Peloponnesian landscapes all around. From here, drive to Lake Stymphalia to enjoy even more natural beauty with ancient roots.
Nafplio
South of Corinth (and two hours drive from Athens) is Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece and one of the country’s most quaint destinations. With a perfect combination of seaside life, neoclassical Venetian architecture and labyrinthine paved roads, Ottoman and Byzantine buildings, including the fortress of Palamidi (find out for yourself; is it really a whopping 999 steps to reach up there?) that crowns the town, it makes for a dreamy day trip. Explore the Old Town with Syntagma Square and Old Admirals Square, chic little stores lining the Great Road, cafes and restaurants, and don’t miss out on the Archaeological Museum, the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary’s Birth, the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation Museum, the Old Mosque on Syntagma Square and the Palace of Justice.
When visiting the Corinthian Gulf, we suggest you make time for a tour of OLEOSOPHIA Olive Grove, where you have the opportunity of walking through an award-winning olive grove, exploring the olive tree cultivation, and getting a better understanding of what makes the Greek olive tree so important.
Located only one hour away from Athens, OLEOSOPHIA’s tour brings together the culture, history, myths, and legends of the olive tree as well as agricultural practices and the role it plays in today’s world. Visitors get to see the olive trees of the Manaki variety up close – the variety that is characteristic of the location that produces the award-winning mono-varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
IN+SIGHTS GREECE recently spoke with founder and Olive Oil Sommelier Marianna Devetzoglou about this wonderful experience and other cultural and historical sites at the Gulf of Corinth.
Tell us about OLEOSOPHIA’s olive oil tastings?
Olive oil plays an integral role in Greek cuisine. But not all olive oils are good or healthy. Knowing how to understand, appreciate and select the right olive oil is very important, in order to enjoy the health benefits and of course, enhance your cooking. At our olive oil tasting, visitors will learn about the basic principles of olive oil tasting, the importance of sensory analysis, how to taste and identify positive and negative characteristics of olive oil. They will also have the opportunity to learn how to shop for the right olive oil, store and use it properly when preparing meals for their friends and family. Participating in an olive oil tasting is an experience that changes our life and the way we see olive oil and our health.
What can visitors learn about the benefits of olive oil and the Mediterranean diet?
Through our tours and tastings, we aim to communicate the value of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, with olive oil at its very core. Visitors will learn about the values of the Mediterranean diet, the importance of olive oil in its culture, history, gastronomy, and the great effects that high-quality olive oil can have on our body and mind. The tours and tastings are connected into one experience. We begin with a walk through the olive grove tour, discussing olive trees, their origins, and their value, talking about olive oil, its lifecycle, its characteristics, and quality categories. We complete our walking tour at a nice table setting where the olive oil tasting takes place. This is a well-rounded, informative, and fun experience that will create beautiful memories to take home with you!
When do the tours take place?
Our tours usually run from April to October, on a daily basis, with one to two sessions per day, based on our bookings. We take bookings in order to ensure a better quality of the experience, keeping groups at a small size (up to 8 people). In order to make your booking, you can either reach out to us to discuss your arrival dates and make your booking based on your schedule or you can book through TripAdvisor and Viator.
What makes your tour so special?
The simplicity and the real contact with us. Visitors get to discuss with us, learn about us, about our family, our extra virgin olive oil, and more! Visiting the olive grove and attending an olive oil tasting is the epitome of the farm-to-table or also known as farm-to-fork, a major strategy that is at the heart of the European Green Deal, aiming to make food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly.
Tell us about the recent award you received at the Berlin Great Olive Oil Competition?
The Berlin Great Olive Oil Competition is an important competition and our participation was a success! We received the Silver Award for Quality with our OLEOSOPHIA Manaki Monovarietal First Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil and we are part of the Elite Olive Oils on a global level.
What’s the best season to visit the Corinth region?
The Corinth is wonderful to visit any time of the year with spring to autumn being the highlight. We are only one hour away from Athens so access is very quick and easy, making the experience even better. Visitors can see the Ancient Corinth, the Corinthian Canal, the agricultural activities, and experience our olive oil tasting – after all, the area is known for its olive oil production. For autumn visitors, it is also a great opportunity to experience cool temperatures and the harvest season.
A few of your favourite places in Corinth to eat and drink?
I love having lunch or dinner by the sea or up in the freshness of the mountain, so I would say the lovely taverna of Thealos in Assos for fine fish and the traditional EVIVA taverna in Vohaikos for meat. For a relaxed drink, head to the Bahama Café in Vrahati and I’m Going Bananas in Lehaio.
Local dishes/delicacies people should try?
A classic salad with Corinthian currants, Feta cheese, and the famous Agiorgitiko Nemean wine.
Best beaches around Corinth?
I would say Vrahati beach, Korfos beach, and the beautiful Folia tis Fokias beach.
Historical sites?
Ancient Corinth, the Ancient Theatre, Nemea, and right next to our village Kalentzi, there is the beautiful monastery Panton Chara (of all happiness), a historic chapel carved into the rock of Mount Fokas, and the Ancient Corinthian fortress.
What should visitors not miss when visiting Corinth?
The Corinthian Canal and our olive oil tour and tasting, of course, combined with a nice swim at one of the many beaches of the area.
The Corinth Canal, which separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece, is one of the oldest and most striking manmade canals in the world; not to mention a very important navigational route that connects the Corinthian Gulf with the Saronic Gulf.
This narrow canal where the Peloponnese begins was a key strategic and trading point in ancient times that linked the Ionian and Aegean seas. The canal’s position in fact separates the peninsula of the Peloponnese – converting it into an island – from the Greek mainland. And, while the famous canal is quite narrow, it’s a vital lifeline for ships wanting to enter the Aegean Sea.
History of the Corinth Canal
Named after the Greek city of Corinth, the Canal has steep limestone walls that soar about 300 feet from the water level to the top of the Canal but is only 70 feet wide at sea level. Ships must be narrower than 58 feet wide to transit the Canal. This small size was appropriate when the Canal was built in the late 19th century, but it is way too small for today’s cargo and passenger ships.
Facts About the Corinth Canal
Spanning a distance of 6.3 kilometres, the canal helps ships save a journey of 185 nautical miles. Before the construction of the canal, ships passing through this area had to endure a circuitous and a roundabout route in order to enter even the Mediterranean and the Black Seas in addition to the Aegean Sea.
Construction of the Corinth Canal
After centuries of attempts to create the canal, the Roman Emperor Nero made the first effort in 67 AD but the canal was actually completed by French engineers in 1893. The first documented ruler to propose a canal was Periander in the 7th century BC. He eventually abandoned the canal plan but built a portage road, named the Diolkos or stone carriageway. This road had ramps on either end and boats were pulled from one side of the isthmus to the other. The remains of the Diolkos can still be seen today next to the Canal.
Crossing the Bridge
If you have your own car you can cross the bridge on the way to Corinth from Athens, take the exit with a sign that says “Tourist Exit” and drive over the canal to the other side. Visitors can stop and park next to the Isthmia ‘sinking’ bridge on the old National Highway, which links the Peloponnese with Athens. There are a couple of taverns close by, where you can sit and enjoy a coffee or late lunch. From here you will see the bridge submerging under the water, and then reappearing again once the vessel has sailed by.
Visiting the Corinth Canal
This dramatic gorge is one of Corinth’s most visited spots and if you’re after an adrenalin rush, you can even bungee jump down it. The canal mostly sees the presence of small vessels, cruise ships, and yachts, as it has become one of the major tourist destinations in the country, enabling visitors to take short trips through the canal. In today’s world of mega-ships, the Corinth Canal is primarily used by small cruise ships and tour boats.
Cruising Through the Corinth Canal
Visitors have a few options to see the Corinth Canal up close. Cruise lines with small ships transit the canal on eastern Mediterranean itineraries. Otherwise, several private companies depart from Piraeus, the port of Athens, and offer a cruise through the canal. Many cruise ships from Athens also offer a half-day excursion to the Corinth Canal; guests board buses in Piraeus for a 75-minute drive to the Corinth Canal. From there, a local tour boat takes visitors through the canal. These tours offer plenty of chances to see the canal from the top edge to the water level.
With a striking entrance and three different levels, this stunning cave looks almost otherworldly, complete with astounding galleries and unique stalactite formations.
The famous cave is found in the Kastria settlement of Achaia, 17 km from Kalavryta, a lovely mountainous town on the northern side of the Peloponnese.
Apart from its labyrinth of corridors, its mysterious galleries, and its unexpected stalactite formations, the ‘Cave of the Lakes’ has something exclusively unique that can not be found in other well-known caves, as inside there is a string of cascading lakes forming three different levels, which is why it stands out as one of the most unique in the world.
The developed part of the cave is currently 500 metres long. Visitors are able to enter the cave through an artificial tunnel that leads directly to the second floor and man-made bridges allow the passage from lake to lake.
Being part of a secret underground river in the past, today the multi-dimensional cave has 13 cascading lakes of varying sizes, which is again a very unique feature as far as caves go. Only 500 metres are open to visitors because of the rough terrain. By the end of winter, when the ice melts, it floods the cave and creates a series of streams and waterfalls.
In summer, part of the cave dries and reveals new stalagmites formations. The natural entrance is right on the road, while there is another man-made entry a few metres away.
At the lower level human and animal fossils were discovered, including that of a hippopotamus. Scientists and historians claim that the cave was occupied 450 thousand years ago.
According to reports, findings show that man has used the cave since the Neolithic period and throughout the First and Middle Helladic to Late Helladic period, inhabited by people who were young, children, pre-teens, and young adults with a biological affinity.
Exploration is currently ongoing in the cave system and the Municipality of Kalavryta hopes that in the near future they will be able to open up more of Kastria Caves to the public.
Opening times:Winter daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Summer daily from 9:30 am to 6 pm. Note: there is a cafe at the site serving coffee and casual lunch.
Getting there
It is situated 20 km from Kalavryta and 9 km from Klitoria village. You can take a bus from Athens to the Cave of the Lakes via Isthmos, Isthmos, and Kalavryta in around 4h and 30 m. Alternatively, you can take a train from Athens to Cave of the Lakes via Kiato, Diakofto, and Kalavryta, which takes around 5 hours. It is roughly 60km from Tripoli (about an hour’s drive) and a 2-hour drive from Corinth.
OLEOSOPHIA is the result of a love story between a young Greek couple who turned the Ancient Greek tradition of olive harvesting into a modern family business that is being widely recognised and praised as one of the best and healthiest in the world.
Launched in 2018 in the village of Kalentzi, by Marianna Devetzoglou and Aris Magginas, this Corinthian extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants and was recently awarded for its wellbeing content by the World Olive Centre for Health.
Ensuring consistency in quality, flavour, and aroma, OLEOSOPHIA is a limited edition product as the quantities depend on each year’s yield.
The brand’s vision is to promote the philosophy of extra virgin olive oil while sharing the values and ethos of their land. With a mission to inspire people to add this unique and healthy liquid gold into their everyday life- the small and talented team consists of young individuals of different backgrounds who love their country and its produce.
We recently had a chat with co-founder and Olive Oil Sommelier Marianna Devetzoglou about her family business, which is growing rapidly by the day.
Tell us about your olive oil brand. How did it all begin?
It all started when my husband George and I met – two people from different backgrounds who fell in love. We used to attend events and walk together through the olive trees, discussing ideas and future plans. OLEOSOPHIA started shortly after our love story blossomed with the aim of communicating our ethos, our values, and our vision to the world. OLEOSOPHIA represents the wisdom of olive oil, the unification of two families, and their traditions. We are happy to share this love for extra virgin olive oil with people, exchange ideas, and form solid partnerships around the world.
Tell us more about your upbringing and how that helped you launch OLEOSOPHIA?
George and I grew up in very different families. George comes from an agricultural family in the village of Kalentzi, Peloponnese, whose activities involved cultivating olive trees, table grapes, and apricots. He then studied IT at the Polytechnic University and got an MBA degree, before setting out on his IT career while helping his family. I, on the other hand, was born and raised in Athens, away from nature and in an urban family. I studied Physics and Materials Science in Athens and London before coming back to Greece. When we met, we enjoyed long hours of talking about new ventures, while our romance grew. Despite the different backgrounds, we shared the same passion – sharing our dreams and values with people, contributing to life changing experiences. There, under the olive trees, OLEOSOPHIA was born as a manifestation of our common passion: to create a point of reference where people can learn, enjoy, participate and get to know the local culture, the local olive variety, build a health-oriented mentality, experience artisan products and create long-lasting friendships.
What is the history behind your olive grove in Corinth?
My in-laws family live in the village of Kalentzi, which is located at the base of Mt. Fokas (in the Corinthian area), the mountain where the Lion of Nemea was born, according to legend. For three generations, the family has been cultivating olive trees, table grapes, and apricots.
Blessed with a strategically mild microclimate and fertile land, the area offers a variety of products with excellent quality and authentic taste. OLEOSOPHIA is our family’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil, produced by handpicked olives from our family grove, ensuring consistency in quality, flavour, and aroma. This tradition and experience has been passed on from generation to generation and is an integral part of our identity. Now, the new generation, young brothers and sisters have spread their wings, built their education in different sectors – chemistry, physics, and engineering, and have returned to their roots to build a new era for the family – with ethos, persistence, honesty, and integrity. Our olive grove is our sacred family heirloom, where we work hard to produce our awarded monovarietal extra virgin olive oil of the Manaki variety. It is also open to visitors to learn, explore, share and experience the magic of olive oil through olive grove tours and olive oil tasting events under the trees.
Tell us about your varieties?
In our olive grove of approximately 4,000 olive trees, we cultivate and produce monovarietal, first harvest Manaki Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which is health claim certified and represents our local variety, with a well-balanced, smooth sensory profile whilst we also produce Manaki/Megariti extra virgin olive oil variety combined with a playful twist. As olive oil production has been running in the family for more than three generations, we have improved and optimised our agricultural practices in order to achieve higher quality and showcase the beautiful variety of Manaki. We bottle in luxury bottles of 500mL and 250mL which are ideal for everyday use as well as for corporate or personal gifts.
What do you think makes your business so successful?
We are a team of young people with different backgrounds and this is what makes us so strong. The team consists of Aris, Marianna, and Myrto. Aris is responsible for the cultivation. He is very knowledgeable, takes great care of the trees, and makes sure to keep them healthy and happy in order for them to give us their best fruit every year. I am the Olive Oil Sommelier, responsible for networking, PR, exports/sales, and of course, our olive oil tours and olive oil tasting events. I’m very active through education seminars to both consumers and professionals, while being the contact point between the family and our partners. Myrto is our Quality Advisor – coming from a chemistry background, she is the go-to person for all the necessary, quality-related processes, organisation advice, and science. The three of us complement each other, each building on each other’s strengths and weaknesses, creating a productive, well-balanced result.
What makes Greek olive oil so healthy?
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – the highest grade of olive oil – is the healthiest one can possibly consume, rich in healthy fats and antioxidants that have demonstrated to contribute against a number of changes our body undergoes. Moreover, it is a natural juice that comes directly from the pressing of the olive fruit. Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil, in particular, is healthy and rich in different sensory profiles because of the many different olive varieties found in Greece. As a result, the consumer can enjoy all the health benefits and experience authentic flavours that depict the local microclimate and flora of each region.
What makes your olive oil so unique?
A number of reasons make OLEOSOPHIA special. The Manaki variety that we cultivate in our family olive grove is a sensitive variety that is mainly used for the production of high quality, high-end extra virgin olive oil. The variety is found only in two areas in Greece and is not cultivated in other countries, making the experience of OLEOSOPHIA an authentic one, one you may explore when travelling in our region. Moreover, OLEOSOPHIA monovarietal extra virgin olive oil holds a Health Claim certificate for its phenolic content – this means that consumers may use OLEOSOPHIA as a health supplement, not just as a tasty ingredient in their everyday cooking. Both, our monovarietal and our varietal combinations have been awarded a GREAT TASTE AWARDS 2020, one of the most prestigious food competitions globally. Finally, OLEOSOPHIA is not just a product – partners and consumers can enjoy this unique variety, participate in our online workshops and also, visit our olive grove to experience olive oil tours, olive oil tasting, and food pairing guided by our Olive Oil Sommelier. Our vision is to create a community of Oleosophers and let people enjoy it, learn about our ethos and olive oil culture, and become part of our family.
Tell us about your awards and accolades?
Our family is constantly working hard to ensure high-quality extra virgin olive oil in order to enjoy the health benefits and unique flavour of our Manaki variety. Our hard work has been rewarded with an OLYMPIA AWARD 2020 for OLEOSOPHIA’s Monovarietal Manaki Health Claim and phenolic content while we have also won our GREAT TASTE AWARD 2020 for both our monovarietal and our variety combination with very positive comments by the judges.
Where is your oil stocked and do you ship internationally?
In our village, Kalentzi, and near our olive grove, we stock our olive oil in stainless steel containers, in dark, cool places as per the appropriate specifications of olive oil maintenance. Internationally, we have been working with a number of high-end, fine food shops globally that address a demanding audience that seeks healthy, authentic, and original products. Our partners are located in the EU (France, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Sweden), USA, and Australia while we keep growing our network through product collaborations, article contributions, olive oil tasting events, and training workshops.
Are you working on any new projects and what is your long-term vision?
Every year we work hard to improve our products and our methods, simultaneously improving ourselves with respect to our land and its value. We continue working on our product range that will eventually include not only extra virgin olive oil but also olive oil-based cosmetics, herbs, and table olives. Our vision is to communicate our philosophy of life and of extra virgin olive oil while sharing the values and ethos of our land and family. We aim to become a reference point for excellent quality manaki extra virgin olive oil, olive oil tastings and tours, education workshops and to make our local variety known across our network of partners and community of Oleosophers.
You also offer olive oil tours.
Yes. Seeking to communicate our family values and mentality, we host olive oil tours and tasting sessions in our olive grove as part of the OLEOSOPHIA experience. Visitors have the opportunity to walk through the olive grove, learn about the olive trees and the manaki variety specifically, and explore the authentic flavour by experiencing olive oil tasting sessions under the olive trees. We book small groups to ensure a better experience and guide them through the lifecycle of olive oil. We discuss with them the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil, its role in the Mediterranean Diet, ways to make it part of their daily gastronomy, and why it is more of health investment, rather than simply a tasty ingredient. Moreover, visitors can learn which are the positive attributes of extra virgin olive oil, which are the defects, and how to identify them when seeking to purchase olive oil for their friends and family. This is a unique experience, one that enables people to explore new flavours and aromas, live a local, authentic experience and way of life, participate in the evaluation of olive oil and learn how to make well-informed decisions about their health. The tours run all year round, based on bookings, and with a special emphasis in the spring-summer season. We are always happy to welcome visitors, get to know them, educate them, share our values, and make long-lasting friendships with people from around the world and from different backgrounds.
A collection of deluxe apartments and suites in the Corinthian seaside town of Korfos make for an idyllic year-round stay, just an hour’s distance from Athens!
Korfos in Corinthia, is a destination that’s kept a bit of a secret by those who love it so dearly that they don’t want to see it ruined by tourism.
The tree-speckled shoreline is shielded from the wind, the central road is lined by rows of charmingly old fashioned tavernas and simple stores, above which rise a few tiers of picturesque houses on a verdant hill. All styles of boats bob in the waters, and sailboats and yachts are anchored at the marina. The amphitheatrically shaped fishing village is especially idyllic for those seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city or more boisterous destinations. Only over an hour and a half from Athens, this is a wonderful destination for swimming in clean, lovely waters and sunbathing on pebble and sand beaches, eat fresh fish, trek along the lush hills or just savour a serene holiday.
Location
Korfos is in southeastern Corinthia in the Peloponnese, around 35km from the Corinth Canal. On your way down along winding roads take in the splendour of the blue sea and verdant hills that surround it. Just a short drive from Athens as well as being near Spetses and Poros, it can be a destination in itself, or a great base for lovely day trips by car or boat. It’s also a wonderful place for snorkeling, hiking, sailing, cycling, SUP and as of recently since a school opened up, surfing.
Built in 2017, Lavender Cove is a collection of beautifully built – and organically, artfully-integrated in the landscape – luxurious accommodations just minutes from a small, pretty beach. From apartments that face the garden or pool to larger sea-facing suites with a private pool, the accommodations provide facilities like a kitchenette, two large shared swimming pools surrounded by poufs, sun loungers, and umbrellas, and a sprawling lavender garden.
Services
The highly professional, familial, and very helpful Lavender Cove team expertly advises guests on everything from where to dine, hike or swim in the town to other activities in the vicinity. Visit monasteries, archaeological sites, nearby villages, isolated beaches with splendid waters, and beautiful trails. Lavender Cove also rents out bicycles free of charge and can arrange for you to have a yoga or other lesson upon demand.
Style & Character
Immediately upon arriving at Lavender Cove we enjoyed being immersed in the silence, beauty and allure of the surrounding nature. The lavender-filled garden (inspired by the lavender fields of France), includes many other indigenous aromatic herbs to discover, like rose geranium, oregano, thyme, rosemary and lemon verbena. The vibe is laid back, tranquil, quiet and restorative, and it’s particularly comforting to be staying in a beautiful place by the sea with no other buildings or infrastructure nearby.
Rooms
Lavender Cove is made up of five luxury villas that are separated into 10 apartments, and three luxury suites set on the sea-facing hillside of Korfos. The modern, clean and lavish accommodations are elegantly decorated in a soothing and uplifting style, with hints of local tradition and references to the surrounding nature. The minimalist decor combines the neutral tones of the floors, walls and furniture with pops of colours like blues, whites, yellows and greens, depending on the theme of each residence. The bathrooms include complimentary toiletries by Greek organic brand Korres. Free WiFi is offered to all visitors. The accommodations are held in high esteem by their foreign and local visitors, with ratings such as 9.2 on booking.com, 9.6 on hotel.com and 4.5 out of five on Tripadvisor.
Food and drinks
Guests are offered a feast-like breakfast, delivered by staff to beach accommodation between 8:30-10:30. You’ll receive baskets full of delicious foods and drinks, from warm local pastries to eggs, cheese, condiments, bread, milk, fresh juice, fruit, and more. Throughout the day guests can order a snack or light meal or drinks in-room or stroll/drive to any nearby taverna for super-fresh fish or a grocery store to shop for foods that can be cooked in the private, fully-equipped kitchenette. Korfos has two seaside, casual bar-clubs but is mostly on the quiet side at night. Most of the tavernas here serve good food, but we especially liked Valera, known for its excellent fresh fish as well as quality grilled meats and many homemade sides (visit here at sunset and book a table on the beach for the best experience) and fish tavernas Celana and To Delfini. For drinks head to Exo All Day, where you can spend the entire day swimming too as it provides sun loungers and umbrellas for rent. For desserts like waffles and ice cream go to Psyllos on the coast.
Shop
Korfos has one modern pharmacy selling all the essential medications, supplements, and cosmetics, two mini-markets, a few shops like Kapouzi and Eleven selling beachwear, beach accessories (from masks and flippers to towels and umbrellas), and Souvenir Korfos where you’ll find stylish clothes and accessories like swimsuits, silk scarves, jewellery, and hats as well as tasteful home décor items.
Price range
Between 150 and 350 € in the high season, depending on the accommodation.
Ideal for…
Families (the larger suites can be given joint access), couples, or a group of friends in the summer months. Retirees during spring or autumn. Writers, hikers, painters, or workshop organisers during the cooler months.
