Villa Natalia

Spartohori, located high above Spilia Bay, with spectacular views across to the mountains of Lefkada, was once a sanctuary from the pirates who plagued the Ionian Sea. Nowadays only yachts and fishing boats pass peacefully through the narrow entrance to the bay with its pretty waterfront tavernas and delightful beach.

Like the village, Villa Natalia has outstanding views, framed by trees ensuring privacy. The house has been designed so that the view can be equally appreciated inside or out. The pool on its spacious terrace surrounded by greenery is truly an extra outside room, completed by the barbecue to the side.

Meganisi is the perfect island for getting lost, in the sense of losing all those trappings of a busy world. Old mule trails wind through olive groves, some leading down to quiet beaches, others suddenly opening out onto a hilltop where the trees give way to fields enclosed by drystone walls with the islands of the Inner Ionian Sea at ones feet. The main road from Vathi and Spilia to Spartohori is not exactly a major highway, with all the associated traffic and petrol fumes, but can be subject to delays depending on how much time the goats spend browsing on the verges. The village of Spartohori, with its cobbled lanes and tavernas tucked away in secluded alleys, is a short distance away from the villa, whilst Vathi and Katomeri, the other main settlements on the island, are within a few minutes’ drive.

Whilst walking is a delight on Meganisi, its spectacular west coast cliffs, pierced by natural arches and massive sea caves are best explored by taking a tour boat from Nidri on Lefkada, easily reached by ferry, and these boats usually circle round Skorpios Island, now owned by a Russian oligarch. Who cares, when Villa Natalia is itself a private island of tranquility free from the cares of a hectic world?