Yiannis & Inge's Houses, Peloponnese, Greece

Highly praised family hideaway

• villas with their own pools • short walk to shops, tavernas & beach • cycle hire • visit beautiful Voïdhokilia Beach • car hire included • welcome hamper

On the hillside above Yialova, surrounded by olive groves and attractive gardens planted with banana trees and colourful shrubs, is the highly praised estate of Yiannis and Inge, which offers breathtaking views over Navarino Bay. This is a great place to relax and unwind, but there is also plenty to see and do, whatever your family’s interests.

Great days out

In addition to several ancient sites, there are many caves and castles in the surrounding area which make for interesting – and fun! – days out.

One of Greece’s best-preserved castles – a 16th-century structure built on a hill to guard the entrance to the bay – can be found at Pylos, a pretty, unspoiled harbour town with whitewashed houses and a charming Italianate square with colonnaded shops. You can also take a water taxi to Sphakteria Island, the scene of many naval battles from 425BC up to the Battle of Navarino in 1827. (The latter was triggered by a ship in the bay accidentally firing its cannons, but resulted in Greek independence from the Turks.)

Another very interesting castle is that of the laid-back seaside village of Methoni, on which the Byzantines, Ottomans, Venetians and Turks have all left their mark over the centuries, with wall built upon wall. Seek out the Byzantine church, Turkish baths and World War II structures, and stroll out across the causeway to the small fortified island of Boursi with its octagonal tower.

There are other castles at Koroni, a picturesque waterfront town of traditional whitewashed houses, and Kalamata, where you can buy some of the olives for which this thriving port is renowned, as well as visiting the archaeological museum and amphitheatre.

Intriguing caves are equally numerous if you don’t mind a longer drive. The Diros Caves (which were discovered by a dog and have since yielded Palaeolithic and Neolithic remains!) boast spectacular green, amber, purple and red rock formations within the network of chambers and passages, which you explore by punt. Visits to the Pyrgos Dirou Caves, whose astonishing stalactites are reflected in the underground waterways, are also by boat. Closer to ‘home’ is Nestor’s Cave, so named as it was here – according to Homeric legend – that King Nestor kept his cows.

For a spot of ancient history, head to nearby Nestor’s Palace, a well-preserved complex of Mycenaean remains mentioned in the Iliad. Also within reach for a longer day trip are the sanctuary and stadium at Olympia, set in a lush valley planted with olive and plane trees, and the incredibly complete Byzantine town of Mystras, boasting winding streets, frescoed churches and elegant palaces.

Walking & other activities

If you wish to explore this corner of the Peloponnese on foot, Yiannis and Inge will be happy to make suggestions. One possibility – especially if your family likes bird-watching – is to explore the nature trails of the Divari Lagoon, a protected area of wetland marshes that is visited by 254 species of bird over the course of a year and is home to the endangered African chameleon.

There are several beautiful beaches along this stretch of coast, so you may well wish to spend a lot of your time by the sea. Yialova’s sandy beach is situated within a small sheltered bay and is popular with locals and visitors alike, the fine sands shelving gently into the impressively clear water. The celebrated horseshoe beach of Voïdhokilia is even more alluring, and just 9 kilometres from the villas. It was voted one of the top twenty beaches in Europe in The Times, and the long, shallow slope out into the sea makes it perfect for children.  

For something different, you can hire bikes (both adults’ and children’s) from your hosts – a perfect way to explore the local area at your own pace – or rent a motor boat from Pylos’ harbour to explore the bay.

The villas

Our arrangements are based on the newer, detached houses, which each have their own swimming pool. They comprise two or three double or twin bedrooms, plus a living room with a kitchenette (equipped with a fridge-freezer, oven and hob), a shower room (the three-bedroom villas also have a bathroom), a covered balcony and views mainly towards the coast (those that are located in the olive groves of the valley do not enjoy the same outlook, but the tranquillity more than compensates for the lack of views). Villas with shared pools are also available; please contact us for details and prices.

You will find everything you need in the peaceful village of Yialova, just 350 metres from the estate – a handful of tavernas, a small supermarket and a café. A laundry service is available for a small charge.

Prices & travel 2009:

We are currently updating our website - please call for 2009 prices.

** Adult price payable by first 2 adults in the party; additional adults travel free of charge
# Free child price only applies with 2 paying adults. If only one adult is travelling, the first child pays adult price.
Start: Sunday
Nights: 7
Property & hire car includes: 7 days’ category D hire car (e.g. Hyundai Accent)
Recommended airport: Kalamata
Driving time from airport: 0h45
Book your flights through us and we’ll find the best route, times and price to suit you

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