Rural Retreat

Stroggyli, Thinali

Our semi-wild garden surrounds the old stone house built by my great grandfather. Embracing the story of the house, we left the external wall intact: a stone canvas on which centuries of developing housing needs are traiced. Likewise, the massive rocks left wedged in the ground whisper the story of the birth of the garden from the rough mountainside.

 This garden is a celebration of fruit-trees: a mulberry, lemon, pomegranate, almond, two plum trees, a kumquat treelet, an olive tree, a laurel and a tztitzifia border the terraces. All planted by my beloved father more than 30 years ago, they generously offer their delicious fruits from spring to autumn. Right now, plums abound.

Other enhancements to nature are more subtle and include local shrubs and climbing ones like jasmine and an impressive stately purple bougainvillea that graces the upper level. Wildflowers and Judas trees are glorifying the spring.

All terraces look out over the tiled roofs of the village and the hills overflowing with olive groves and cypresses, towards Roda bay and the Diapontian islands.

Sunsets in the evening are stunning!