Waking up in paradise at Angsana
Imagine an infinity pool with the only horizon a shades of blue in which the Ionian Sea and the deep sky merge. If that sounds like a dream, the Angsana Corfu Hotel is real. The first establishment of the Banyan Tree group in Europe, the 5-star hotel has just opened its doors on a hill in the east of the island, overlooking the turquoise waters of the historic bay of Benitses. With 159 rooms and suites with contemporary decoration, as well as 37 villas with private swimming pools, the Mediterranean sanctuary remains faithful to the values of the Singaporean group.
Starting with its name, Angsana, inherited from a majestic tree from the tropical forests of Asia, spotted by its flamboyant crown in the shape of a dome of fragrant golden flowers. The delicacy of the scent fills the Angsana Spa, where treatments based on natural ingredients are provided by therapists trained in the art of touch in Thailand and Indonesia. The moment of relaxation continues with a cocktail on one of the Sunrise Pool Bar's sun loungers or around the divine plates of one of the establishment's 3 restaurants (Italian cuisine, Japanese fusion or Greek influences). We then touch the local philosophy of "
philoxenia
", an act of hospitality and generosity towards foreigners.
Angsana Corfu Resort (Tel .: +30 2661 022900), Vrionis-Aghiou Nikolaou, Mpenitses 49084. From € 219 per night in low season (from October 1), € 454 in high season, breakfast included.
Read also: Corfu: from beaches to ruins, heading for the most colorful of the Greek islands
Learn about pottery in an inhabited garden
The statues of Villa Inspirante attend the parade of apprentice potters every summer.
O-Eleonas / Press photo
They have seen the centuries and storms pass by, without ever losing their allure. The statues of Villa Inspirante, a haven of silence in the center of the island, add soul to the flower garden of this old oil mill built in 1740. It is in this historic setting that Elena, the founder d'O-Eleonas, introduces locals and passing tourists to its techniques. This artist, whose works are exhibited in Europe and the United States, is committed to promoting the plastic and visual arts through cultural exchanges.
Every day, for a week or two, she delivers the keys to learning the art of pottery: hand construction, figurative sculpture with live model, use of molds, sketching, sliding techniques, glazing, cooking ... Once they are comfortable, the apprentices will be able to draw inspiration from the ancient walls of Corfu, the ancient sites and the daily life of the village to create a work in tribute to their stay on the island.
And never to forget the inspiration found in the shade of olive trees.
O-Eleonas
(Mail: ekora@o-eleonas.com), Villa Inspirante, Kompitsi 49100. Allow around 400 € for 16 hours of lessons, including materials and clays.
Read also: Fashion and crafts, hand-sewn experiences
Bask on the most beautiful beach on the island
The bay of Porto Timoni is very popular with snorkeling enthusiasts.
Wabeno / AdobeStock
In the north-west of the island, a piece of land breaks with the harmony of the geographical contours of Corfu.
Afionas, a small village accessible by a winding road studded with cypress trees and hundred-year-old olive trees, marks the birth of this point.
But there is still a long way to go to reach what many consider the most beautiful beach on the island.
Forget the car, you have to continue on foot!
In the town's main square, a traditional stone tavern indicates the way to go.
For about twenty minutes, the rocky and steep path winds between green hills and the ruins of a Venetian fortress from the thirteenth century.
A breakthrough into Corfu's prestigious past, where Greece and Italy freely marry their influences.
As the sea breeze and the wild herbs let out their scent, it emerges behind the olive trees.
The bay of Porto Timoni, its two beaches and its turquoise waters.
A few more meters of descent before taking the plunge.
Heaven has to be earned.
Porto Timoni Beach, Ag. Georgios 490 81. Before getting off, make sure you pack enough water and sunscreen to stay on the beach until sunset.
Try your hand at Corfiote grape varieties
The wooden tables in the heart of the vineyards of the Ambelonas Corfu estate restaurant.
Ambelonas Corfu / Press photo
"Wine. Gastronomy. Culture."
These are the 3 key words of Ambelonas, a vast wine estate located 6 km from Corfu town. Acquired by the ancestors of the current owners in 1600, after they emigrated from Venice, the land is suitable for the development of two ancient Corfiote grape varieties: the red “skopelitiko” and the white “kakotrigis”. Since references to the wine character of Corfu can be found in
Homer's
Odyssey
, Ampelonas cultivates this heritage and produces the wine, aged in oak barrels, using traditional methods.
But the vines are not the only asset of the domain: part is dedicated to olive trees, the cultivation of which became widespread during the Venetian occupation of the island, between 1386 and 1797. At the time, olive oil olives are a major commodity, less for food than for a lighting function.
To highlight this double production of wine and olive oil, the owners recently built a museum rich in explanations of traditions, archives and videos.
But to be sure to embrace the Corfiote soul, nothing beats a dinner in the heart of the vineyards, on a wooden table covered with these local dishes steeped in history.
Ambelonas Corfu
(Tel: +30 69 321 58 888), Karoumpatika 49100. Dinners and visits by reservation.
