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“ Best Place to Visit in Europe.”
Lead a retreat in a remote region named one of Lonely Planet’ s
— Lonely Planet
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Blue Seas Villa provides immersive, educational and cultural experiences tailored to creatives who are looking to host workshop retreats and small group travel in Greece.
We are located in Monemvasia, at the small seaside village of Plytra, better known as the Ancient town of Asopos. You can spend days painting and photographing our mountains, Blue Flag award-winning beach, neighboring islands, vineyards, olive groves, and 360° views of the Aegean Sea from Xili mountain.
Come join us for a week and enjoy life at a Grecian pace. We’ll take care of the rest.
About our village
Plytra is a charming sea-side village, and one of Greece’s best-kept destination secrets. In walking distance from the Villa, there are restaurants/taverns, a mini-mart with ample necessities, several beaches, and inspiring scenery. You might meet the neighbors, as sheep and goats also like making the occasional appearance in the yard.
Modern-day Plytra is also the site of Ancient Asopos, whose founding period is pre-historic. It was a prosperous port city until 365 BC when a strong earthquake sank the town into Xili Bay.
You can walk from the Villa down to the ruins via the back roads. On land, there are tombs, at least two bathhouses, reservoirs and mosaic floors made from locally excavated marble. Underwater, there is even more of the city which you can see by snorkeling.
Once you visit us, it is easy to see why Greeks choose Plytra as their summer home.
This is the where the Olympian gods played, where Spartans battled, and where the epic poet Homer found the inspiration for his tales, The Odyssey and The Iliad.
The romance of country life comes alive in the Peloponnese. Kalamata olive groves line the mountainsides and citrus groves color the valleys.
From quaint villages with immense character to grand celebrations of the olive harvest and Saint’s days, there is no doubt you will leave a part of your heart here.
Add the award-winning beaches, the historic churches and castles, sun-filled days, warm and hospitable people, diverse topography, and you have the perfect place for an artistic and soul-fulfilling retreat.
Waterfalls in the spring.
©George Panagakos
Elafonisos
Photo by Alex Antoniadis on Unsplash
We recommend you visit Elafonisos on an “off day.” Simos Beach has been included on lists of the World’s Best Beaches with its golden sands and dazzling turquoise waters.
When you return after a long day at the beach, join us on the verandas in the evening for socializing over local wine, ouzo, mezé, and traditional Greek hospitality.
Excursions Monemvasia - A UNESCO World Heritage Site, 30 minutes from Blue Seas Villa. After you walk through the archway of carved stone, you enter a magical, pedestrianonly medieval town best characterized by cobblestone streets, Venetian style mansions, multiple Byzantine churches, and the famed 12th century Agia Sophia Church.
Dramatic lighting at Golden Hour washes the buildings in soft, warm light, turning the stones lavender, earning this fairy tale fortress the nickname “Violet City.”
Monemvasia is the perfect place for late afternoon painting and photography sessions, leaving time for exploration in the morning, a hike to the summit to see Agia Sophia church and boutique shopping in the afternoon.
Monemvasia streets.
©Violeta de la Serna
Monemvasia, from the Upper Town.
©George Panagakos, all rights reserved.
We journey south towards the Entrance to Hades for a trip to the underworld.
Diros is ranked in the top 3 caves in the world with its unique stalagmites and stalactites. On this 40-minute boat tour, we go through passages and galleries with glimmering formations.
Bring a bathing suit and take a dip at the white pebble beach, or simply get inspired to create a painting with the scenery.
If time and weather allow, we will make a stop at the wreck, SS Dimitrios, a 67 meter (220 ft.) freight / modern pirate ship that rests on a beautiful stretch of sandy beach.
SS Dimitrios
©George Panagakos, all rights reserved.
Diros Caves
@Violeta de la Serna
Blue Seas villa
Asopitan Plaz - a Blue Flag Award Winning Beach
©George Panagakos, all rights reserved.
