Londas Guesthouse

Esther Selsden

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A three-storey stone tower converted into a remote and minuscule guesthouse run by chatty artists.

The Peloponnese is, technically speaking, part of mainland Greece but its remoteness from Athens and the bleak intensity of the rocky landscape give it an island feel - particularly since there's no-one else there.

I flew to Athens and then drove for five, long hours to get here - but this finger of land stretching out into the sea was worth it.

Areopolis, the area's 'capital' village, contains several, impressively fortified, 18th century stone towers, one of which was bought in 1984 by a couple of artists who then restored it to its former perfection.

They now live on the ground floor and take guests in each of the four upstairs bedrooms. The result is an intimate experience in an area beloved of hikers and history-lovers - most of whom seemed personally known to my attentive hosts.

They chatted over breakfast, fussed over the freshness of my bread, explained the area's history and sorted out my life. It was so civilised.

The stone steps up to my second floor room were perilous but the room was cosy and the ascetic décor was livened by one of my host's own canvases. And the shower was great.

This is not a fancy place, and deeply unsuitable for anyone over six feet tall, but as I sat on the terrace sipping an aperitif and chatting to my hosts about classical history I felt really contented.

Room rates : €77 - €100 per room, bed and breakfast

Phone : 00 30 27330 51360

Fax : 00 30 27330 51012

Address : Xenonas Londas, Gr 23062, Areopoli, Peloponnese

Map: link to Multimap

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