At the southernmost tip of mainland Greece in a region awash with myth and natural beauty, husband-and-wife architects Costas Zouvelos and Kassiani Theodorakakos have converted a deserted 19th century watchtower into a boutique
hotel and retreat. Constructed from local stone bound with lime and river sand, the tower emerges impressively from the mountain rock while inside, custom-made furniture settles into the original structure, with a series of timber ladders and stone alcoves. Vistas of the surrounding sea and cliffs can me seen from the family room at the top of the tower, while chef George Samoilis has devised a menu of updated regional Maniot dishes emphasizing seafood from local harbours and the region’s notable olive oil. Byzantine churches and villages dotting the surrounding peninsula offer a cultural fix, and sandy beaches invite guests in for a dip in the clear, deep waters of the local bay.
