Take one small Ionian island, cover it with trees, give it a history that goes back a thousand or so years and surround it with the clearest, bluest water and you have Paxos. There can be few better places to enjoy this wonderful combination than Villa Melissa.

Set high on a hillside, with sweeping views over the olive orchards and rooftops of nearby Gaios and across the Inner Ionian Sea to the mountains of Epirus, this traditional cottage has one of the finest locations on the island. Surrounded by beautiful gardens planted with fruit trees, and terraces –the view from water level in the swimming pool is second only to that from the house terrace above – Melissa is a secluded delight, yet it’s hard to believe that the waterfront at Gaios with its narrow, winding streets, tavernas and shops is less than five minutes’ drive away, or fifteen minutes on foot.

The house was built long before the age of concrete so retains much of its traditional character and has been recently refurbished inside to give an interior layout that is both comfortable and spacious. The open plan living and dining room with its fitted kitchen opens onto a broad terrace, partly shaded by vines with a fantastic sea view.

Melissa’s Villa is full of Paxos charm, the perfect choice for a family with outstanding views and peace for everyone.