Calthea - Six Chambres Villa, Couchages 13

A private, multi-dimensional home with spectacular views of Hydra Port and easy access on foot to its tavernas, bars and sea access.

Sitting in a super-panoramic position above beautiful Hydra Port, Calthea rises proudly in local sandy-grey stone, testament to the grand mansions built by the island's shipping magnates in times gone by. With an abundance of terraces, and accommodation for 13 spread out over different levels, there's space and opportunity aplenty for large groups wishing to spread out, come together for convivial moments, and amble into Hydra's evocative, atmospheric capital.

Inside: accommodation at Calthea is arranged over a main house on two floors and a series of externally accessed bedrooms on several levels. A class example of traditional Hydran architecture, the property features stone walls, alternating chessboard and hardwood flooring, lofty wood-beamed ceilings, artworks, and an eclectic mix of antique furniture and more modern pieces.

The main entrance leads in from an indoor-outdoor dining area to a well-equipped kitchen with a dumb waiter lift serving the first floor dining room (about which more anon). From here, a door leads into a central hallway, off which the remainder of the ground floor accommodation flows. A door opens into a snug sitting room with a sofa, a pair of easy chairs and French windows opening out onto a communal terrace. The views, typical of most rooms in the property, are magnificent, and take in the sea and the picturesque town of Hydra Port wrapping around its harbour.

A door to the left of the sitting room leads into the first bedroom, a double-twin with French windows accessing the communal terrace and an en-suite with marble-topped vanity unit and a tub with shower attachment.

Back in the central hallway, another door opens into a suite comprising: a generously proportioned double bedroom with a wall of bespoke wardrobes, a little sitting area, more of those wonderful views of Hydra Port, and access to the communal terrace; an en-suite bathroom with separate shower and tub; and a separate WC.

Back in the hallway once more, a staircase leads up to the first floor, most of which is taken up by a fabulously voluminous and panoramic open-plan living and dining area. A pair of sink-in sofas and a few armchairs are gathered around an impressive fireplace, intricately designed, double-height wood ceilings rise above, art enlivens the walls, an array of bibelots adds character, a sequence of French windows open out onto terraces, and a large dining table makes indoor dining hard to resist.

An opening to one side leads in to a snug reception room, where the dumb waiter lift arrives from the kitchen, which in turn accesses a guest WC, another panoramic terrace, and a study - the perfect spot for anyone who needs to combine their holiday with a little work.

Back on the ground floor, and following the communal terrace past the two bedrooms and the living room snug, one comes to two more bedrooms, each one accessed independently from outside. The first is the children's room, a triple with bunk beds and an en-suite bathroom with tub and shower attachment; the second is a double-twin, also with en-suite bathroom with tub and shower attachment.

Steps lead down from the main house to a lower terrace, which is home to the games room with a pool table (available upon request), kitchen and shower room, and then on down to another terrace, from which one may access the the remaining two bedrooms:

• two identical doubles, each one spread over three levels: on the main level is a little sitting area; above is a mezzanine sleeping area with great views of Hydra Port; and below is a kitchenette and a shower room.

Outside: like the accommodation, Calthea's al fresco areas are wide-ranging and spread over a variety of levels. Each one offers tantalising views over Hydra Port and out to sea.

Wrapping around two sides of the main house's ground floor, and accessed from all the ground floor bedrooms, is the first of numerous terraces. Furnished with comfy outdoor furniture, it extends into the first dining area, an indoor-outdoor spot served by the kitchen.

The first floor of the main house also boast a pair of good-sized terraces, the most panoramic of all. Accessed from the voluminous open-plan communal space and from the second, smaller reception room, both are comfortably furnished , while the larger one also hosts a splendid dining area.

From the terrace outside the ground floor of the main house, steps lead down to several other levels, each one offering space in which to lounge, take the sun and read in the shade. Colourful flowers, climbers and trees rise from a liberal scattering of pots to enliven the atmosphere and perfume the air.

One of the lower terraces flows into a large stone-built pergola that's home to the hot tub, while another provides access to the games room.

Gates on several levels allow guests to pop into town with ease.

To make the journey up to Calthea more comfortable, you could "rent" a mule to take you up (the traditional way of getting around on this island without motorised vehicles). This option is great if you're looking to add a bit of authenticity to your trip.

As this villa is located on an island, we recommend extra caution when booking your flights to avoid problems or delays with ferries and hydrofoils. It may be advisable to arrive a day earlier and depart a day later. Please contact us for any information or advice.

Due to the nature of this property, children must be supervised at all times.

The number of steps that must be negotiated to get into and/or around this property might make it unsuitable for people with mobility problems.
Calthea looks out over charming Hydra Port, which is a few minutes' walk away. It's a pretty, unspoilt town that's enjoyable to spend time in. Its harbour-front tavernas and bars rub shoulders with grand mansions built by 19th-century shipping magnates, and there are plenty of independent little shops and a few museums and galleries to explore.

Hydra is the most southerly of the Saronic Islands after Spetses, and is located off the eastern tip of the Peloponnese. Measuring just 20km (west to east) by 5km (north to south), it is easy to discover in a week, as long as you rent a boat or travel by sea taxi - cars are not allowed on Hydra and there are very few roads.

The island boasts a good selection of beaches and idyllic bays, including those of Mandraki, Avlaki, Vlichos, Plakes and Molos on the west coast around Hydra Port, Bisti, Mpisti and Agios Nikolaos in the south, and Limnioniza in the southeast.

The island's mountainous hinterland is scattered with monasteries and crisscrossed by ancient mule tracks, making hiking an interesting proposition in the spring and autumn. One such leads straight out of Hydra Port up to the impressive Monastery of the Prophet Elias. Peaks rise up to over 500m before plummeting precipitously into the sea, especially on the south and east coast, creating a spectacular coastline.

Arrival details will be confirmed by The Thinking Traveller after your villa is confirmed.

The Thinking Traveller can organise transfers and car hire and an agent will be in touch with you once your villa is confirmed.