|
|
|
"When we arrived, the villa was more then I could have imagined! Breathtaking view, beautiful accomodations EXACTLY as shown on the website, yet one has to go there to really get the affect of this place. The Stargazer villa was the best value I have ever seen...I stayed in Athens in a small hotel room for MORE then this large, romantic villa. I must say, this far exceeded even my expectations !! and my heart will always have the vision of that view, out those big windows, sipping our coffee..amazing view, amazing villa, amazing price, amazing owners." Meredith Davis, Pt. Townsend,
WA
|
|
No matter the language or how you spell it, Schinias is a beautiful area bordering both suburban Athens and the Marathon Plains; the site of the Battle of Marathon and the birthplace of the "Marathon Run". Ranked among the top ten tourist attractions by Yahoo! Travel, enjoy all that Athens has to offer then relax in our home located close to the sea in a rural resort setting with some of the best beaches in Greece. Three aquatic adventures await your pleasure. Only a few minutes down the hill from our villa, you can enjoy delightful swims, snorkeling, or diving off the rocky coast in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. This cove, is one of the best kept secrets in Greece. The water here is immediately about three meters deep. Diving off the rocks is very popular among the young and not so young! The fish and other marine life are delightful to watch while snorkeling. The rocky coastline abounds with secluded spots perfect for sunbathing in privacy. If you prefer sandy beaches, wade and swim at nearby Schinias Beach with its umbrella pine forest, sunny shores, and resorts that offer wind surfing and other water sports. Schinias is an environmental park with three distinctive types of terrain. The inland Schinias plain is mostly wetlands and a stop over for migratory fowl during the winter. Thanks to the Olympic Games of 2004 the Greek government stopped the drainage of the wetlands and they are reverting to their natural state. The wetlands border on the Marathon plain, the site of the Battle of Marathon. The western part of Schinias is a large crescent beach of fine sand, a National Park beach with an umbrella pine forest providing shade down to the water's edge. Many water related resorts and taverns are located within the forest providing tasty foods, refreshing drinks, and a variety of water sports. This environment is perfect for families and people in general who want to relax and socialize. There is something for everybody! Many of us swim as late as November. The water is warm, the air chill. Some real dedicated swimmers do not give up till January. Small children love Schinias Beach, one of the most popular in the Athens area. Unlike many beaches in Greece, it is a sand beach. The water is clean, clear, and protected from large waves and sea currents. You can walk a long way before the water comes up to your waist, about a couple hundred meters for an adult. The kids love it! It is perfect for toddlers. They learn how to swim without being afraid of the water, by playing and wading in and out. I have watched my grandkids many a summer day do that! This beach is just right down the hill from our villa. You can get there within 3 minutes drive.
The eastern part of Schinias (and our community) is mountainous and separated from the western part by a distinctive narrow peninsula dashing out to sea. The mountainside is the location of the planned community of Schinias and is dotted with summer vacation villas. Only one road services the "gated" community of Schinias. The community covers a 4 kilometer stretch of mountainside coastline varying from 1 to 3 kilometers in width. Homes are in clusters, separated by large open green areas, and cover about 25% of the area preserving the rural setting of our neighborhood. A small convenience store is the only commercial enterprise in the community. However, it provides all the necessities from fresh bread every day, to fresh vegetables from the area farms, eggs, milk and beer and of course ouzo, among many other amenities. We have barely any traffic on our streets and walks on them are a pleasure. This part of Schinias has rocky seashores with deep water. The peninsula and mountainside seashore are protected from development but access for spectacular swimming, snorkeling, and diving is allowed. A pedestrian only road provides one the pleasure of a long stroll along the sea shore enjoying the pleasure and serenity of the sea with solitude and peace.
|
