Thetis - Quatre Chambres Villa, Couchages 8

An airy, light-filled contemporary villa with stunning sea views, an infinity pool, and a basketball court.

Perched in a fabulously panoramic position on the west coast of Tinos, Thetis is a luminous, warmly welcoming villa with much to fall in love with, not least the magnificent views. Whether you're waking up to another day in paradise, enjoying breakfast on the terrace, sipping a sunset aperitif, or dining late into the starry night, you'll constantly find yourself gazing out across the sparkling cobalt waters of the Aegean Sea.

Inside: accommodation at Thetis is arrange over a main house on one floor and two externally accessed guest bedrooms.

The main entrance leads into a hallway, off which one may access all the accommodation in the main house. To the right is the spacious, open-concept communal area, whose white walls and ceilings, polished dove grey concrete flooring, and white spotlights, are all design elements that recur throughout the property. A couple of contemporary artwork adds a splash of colour and the overall effect is one of tranquillity, minimalist order, light and grace.

To one end of this space is a modern white kitchen, a wooden breakfast table and French doors leading out to the terraces, while to the other is a large, white, L-shaped sofa, a wooden coffee table, a TV, and 4.5m-wide sliding glass doors, which both frame the magnificent views and allow guests to enjoy a seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Heading back past the front door, a corridor leads to the bedrooms of the main house, which comprise:

• a double bedroom with sea views, terrace access and a shower room across the corridor
• the spacious main bedroom, also a double, with a pair of armchairs, sea views, terrace access and an en-suite shower room

The two guest bedrooms are accessed from the main sea view terraces, just a few metres from the main house. Each one has a double bed, sea views and an en-suite shower room.

Outside: most al fresco life at Thetis plays out on the long polished concrete terrace, much of it shaded with cane-topped pergolas, that runs along the entire sea-facing side of the house. Accessed from all the rooms in the property, this space is an organic extension of the interiors, and there is plenty of room for lounging, dining, sunbathing and relaxing in style while gazing out at the sublime views.

Immediately outside the kitchen and dining area is the shady al fresco dining area, while between the living area and the external guest bedrooms is a recessed, secluded spot furnished with three well-cushioned built-in sofas.

The two bedrooms in the main house have their own section of shaded terrace, while the externally accessed bedrooms share one.

A step down from the al fresco dining area is the lovely infinity pool, which, flanked on two sides by sunloungers, offers swimmers more of those splendid views out to sea.

Where the concrete terraces end, the gardens begin, and these have been planted with low-lying aromatic shrubs, which also extend into the recessed space between the two bedrooms in the main house.

To the side of the house, meanwhile, is a half-size, sea-view basketball court. This adds a whole new dimension to life at Thetis, offering opportunities for those who love to play a little sport while on holiday.

Last but not least, a path leads from the property down to a little pebbly beach. The 8-minute walk is well worth it.

Thetis features a fantastic infinity pool, offering swimmers stunning views while in the pool. Please refer to our general safety page if you would like more information about infinity pools.

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

When the ferry connections timetable is not yet published for your travel dates, we recommend choosing a flight arriving in Athens or Mykonos by midday or, alternatively, adding a night in Athens or Mykonos the day before and/or after your time in Tinos.
Thetis is located just above the south coast of Tinos, between the beaches of Agios Fokas and Agios Sostis/Laouti, which are a 5- and 10-minute drive away respectively. Both have a few tavernas and cafés, and the latter also has a couple of minimarkets. Just below the house, less than 10 minutes' walk away, is a little beach. Other gorgeous beaches nearby include those of Agali and Agios Ioannis.

The island’s capital, Tinos Town, is about 10 minutes’ drive away, and it is here that you will find a wider selection of amenities, from minimarkets and banks to petrol stations and chemists’. It’s a gentle place, with a weave of pretty streets, a good range of tavernas, and a bustling port. Arguably the star of the show is the church of Panagía Evangelístria, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Greek Orthodox world. Built in 1830 in florid renaissance style, it houses an icon of the Virgin Mary that is said to have performed numerous miracles.

Measuring just 27km long and 13km wide, Tinos is easy to explore in a week or two. The west coast is a series of little coves, many of which have little sandy beaches, and a day or two exploring these by boat is highly recommended, also because some are difficult to access on foot or by car.

The interior of Tinos is mountainous and home to a liberal scattering of pretty whitewashed villages just waiting to be explored. Many of these have their origins in Byzantine and Venetian times and it is no coincidence that they were all built at a safe distance from the sea. The rocky landscape is also home to numerous intricately designed dovecots and cylindrical windmills, both architectural traditions introduced by the Venetians, who ruled the island between the 13th and the early 18th century.

The most northerly quarter of Tinos, after the lovely village of Pyrgos (Panormos) is largely uninhabited, but there is a curious profusion of churches and chapels. The simple roads that connect them are interesting to explore on foot or bike, and one really has the feeling of being off the beaten track.

The highest point of the island is the mountain of Tsiknias, which stands at 750m, but arguably the most interesting peak is the jagged stone cone of Exomvourgo (641m). It was here that the Venetians built an impregnable fortress that was never vanquished, despite numerous attempts by Ottoman forces. It only fell into Ottoman hands in 1715, when the governor surrendered, an act of treachery that enraged La Serenissima so much that he was sentenced to life imprisonment on his return home.

Lastly, if you wish to indulge in a little island-hopping, frequent ferry services connect Tinos Town to Mykonos. Crossings take just 22-35 minutes, meaning that it’s perfectly viable to go for a daytrip.

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.