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.
Iris, an extraordinary waterfront home with private beach. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and part of a gated estate on the island of Corfu, it enjoys 180° panoramic views across to the bay of Corfu Town and Gouvia. As dusk falls, the lights from the city turn the bay into a distant glow of shimmering golden light.
Step inside to find gorgeous interiors. Comfortable furnishings fill each and every room with a sense of romance. Neutral tones have been used throughout and thoughtful accessories provide bursts of colour in these soothing spaces.
A lovingly created fitted kitchen features an island worktop and patio doors lead from both the sitting and dining room out to a portico. Here you can enjoy dinner whilst enjoying looking out over your private infinity pool across the sea all the way to Corfu Town.
The floor plan incorporates three floors and five double bedrooms. One bedroom is located on the ground floor. Upstairs on the first floor, two double bedrooms have French doors that open out to enjoy views of the grounds of the estate and the top floor, also has two double bedrooms and sitting area.
Well designed outdoor spaces can really make you love your home. Providing extra space for the whole family can really add to quality of life and here at Iris you will want to spend as much time as possible outside. You can spend hours by the pool, or relax under the pergola, an area furnished with comfortable sofas and day beds.
Iris, who according to Greek myth was the goddess of the sea and the sky, is simply breathtaking and should be seen to appreciate it in its entirety.
The private beach is an enchanted, special place. Here you will appreciate moments of total peace and quiet in private, magical surroundings.
