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THE VILLA

Sarakinatika is a small villa, around 200 years old, perched into the hillside 300m above Kalami bay on the north east coast of Corfu in the village of Porta. It is slightly cooler than the coast, with a constant sea breeze up the valley.

Though thoughtfully renovated with new wiring, plumbing, stairs and garden steps, kitchens, bathrooms and pool, it remains simple and unsophisticated. It is very comfortable for five, with room for entertaining.

Our house manager is available if there is a house emergency.


key features

Sleeps five in three bedrooms, plus a garden room with space for two further beds.

  • two bathrooms with showers and loos

  • 10 m outdoor swimming pool

  • outdoor undercover kitchen and dining area

  • five additional outdoor sitting and lounging areas in private garden and terraces

  • parking for 2 small cars

  • wifi in the villa and all outdoor areas

 
 
 

good to know

  • There are steps throughout the villa and the garden.  The steps are even but narrow and steep and mostly have handrails. The villa and pool are spread over the equivalent of four stories.

  • The villa is on a small village road which leads into Porta and on to a couple of hamlets in the hills.  It is active in the daytime but falls silent at night.

  • A good choice of food shops and restaurants are a 10 minute drive away in Sinies and beyond.

  • Cleaning twice a week: once during the week and again at the end of the week or changeover day.  Bedding and towels changed once a week.

  • Swimming pool cleaning and maintenance three times a week.

  • No smoking property.

  • Limited air conditioning but there are ceiling fans in most rooms and thick walls ensure constant temperature.

  • All windows have optional mosquito nets; none are provided for the beds.

  • There is one small freezer with plenty of ice trays.

  • Water is in short supply; we ask that showers are short and infrequent.

  • There is a washing machine for essential washing and clothes lines for drying (no tumble drier).

 
  • Sewage system is restricted to body waste only; bins are provided for paper and towels.

  • Swimming pool has gates for securing from young children, if necessary.

  • Swimming pool is only 1.6m at deepest – no diving.

  • We drink some tap water but most prefer to use purchased water from a nearby filling station.

  • Animals abound! You will see little and very large crickets (large ones eat fabric so please flip them off), lizards; large green outside and little chitchats inside (harmless and to be left alone), possibly little and medium snakes outside on walls or paving (nearly all harmless, leave alone) and polecats, possibly on the roads at night (stay away) and neighbours’ cats (do not encourage).  Birdlife seems to disappear in the summer.  We are hoping for a tortoise.

  • No radio or TV

  • No clocks

  • Ceramic artworks and paintings throughout the house are original and soft furnishings all hand made.

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DOWNSTAIRS

The front door leads from covered parking directly into the kitchen which flows straight into the dining area and sitting room.  This makes for a sociable space where cooking can be separated or shared with others.  Open plan stairs lead to the first floor, so all the villa is connected to this open plan ground floor.  It is both spacious for ease of movement and intimately small. The three downstairs windows are raised above the road and look over our neighbours’ hedge to the sea.


kitchen

  • Two ring induction hob

  • Fridge/freezer

  • Electric fan oven and grill

  • Microwave

  • Dishwasher

  • Four bins for recycling and rubbish

  • Kettle

  • Food mixer

  • Cutlery and dishes for eight


sitting room

  • 3 seat sofa

  • 2 arm chairs

  • Large foot stool

  • Music and games cupboard with selection of board games and record player with bluetooth speaker

  • Side tables

dining room

  • Dining table and chairs for up to eight

  • Sideboard

  • Under-stairs cupboard with cleaning equipment, spare bulbs and iron and ironing board

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UPSTAIRS

All bedrooms have a breath-taking window view of the length of Corfu island, with Paxos tucked in behind the southern tip on clear days, and the sea channel between the Corfu and Albania through to mainland Greece and the mountains of Albania.

All are equipped with modern lighting, charge points, mosquito window nets, fans and storage for clothes and hanging space.

Beds are standard British sizes, with good quality locally manufactured mattresses and fine cotton bedding. In summer months, beds are made up with two pillows per person, fitted sheets and cotton duvet covers only. We provide loose padded cotton quilts to throw over for extra warmth if needed. If cooler, we put lightweight duvets into the covers.

All guests are provided with a fluffy cotton bath sheet and a cotton hamman pool towel.


double bedroom

  • Kingsize bed

  • Bedside tables

  • Bedside lighting controls for whole room, reading and side lights.

  • Bedside USB charge points.

  • Chest of drawers

  • Large hanging cupboard

  • Chair

  • Ceiling fan

  • Air conditioning

single room

  • Single bed

  • Bedside table

  • Bedside lighting control for whole room and side light.

  • Bedside USB charge point.

  • Shelved cupboard

  • Covered hanging rail

  • Arm chair and writing desk

  • Ceiling fan

  • No Air conditioning

twin/double bedroom

  • Two single beds or converted to super-king size bed

  • Bedside tables

  • Bedside lighting controls for whole room, reading and side lights.

  • Bedside USB charge points.

  • Chest of drawers

  • Covered hanging rail

  • Bench

  • Chair

  • Ceiling fan

  • Air conditioning

bathroom 1

  • Two basins

  • Loo

  • Large walk in power shower

  • Heated towel rail

bathroom 2

  • One basin

  • Loo

  • Large walk in power shower

  • Heated towel rail

  • Clothes washing machine

garden room

  • Three seater sofa

  • Two single pull-out day beds

  • Folding table

  • Ceiling fan

 
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OUTSIDE

Cut into the hillside, the garden area is spread over three levels of paving and planting, supported by stone walls. The garden has been redesigned and planted for privacy, flowers and survival (hot summers with freezing winters). There is plenty of colour and textural interest in the flower beds and the many large terracotta pots.

On the other side of the house, the land is a terraced with fruit and nut trees of pomegranate, apricot, almond and figs and abundant wild flowers in the spring.

When the weather is warm, it is possible to live outside. We have created both private and sociable spaces, undercover and in the sun: hammocks, sunbeds, hard chairs, cushioned sofas, hanging chairs, soft chairs, coffee tables, dining tables. Wifi is good in these areas and cooking and eating is easy with the well-equipped outdoor kitchen. The views are all spectacular and it is mostly private and quiet.


road level

  • Parking off road for two cars

upstairs level

  • Garden with planted slopes dropping down to paved terrace and covered veranda soft seating area

  • Clothes drying line

pool level

  • Five seating areas; hanging hammock and chairs under the pergola, soft seating under roof cover, dining table and chairs under roof cover, table and chairs under olive tree and six poolside loungers.

  • 10 m pool, including built-in steps. Infinity view along one side and marble and stone paving around other sides with plenty of space for two large umbrellas and six loungers.  The pool can be shut off with gates if necessary.

  • NB. 25 steps down to house, bathrooms and loos.

top kitchen

  • Large marble sink with extending tap

  • Dishwasher

  • Double induction hob

  • Kettle

  • Fridge (no freezer)

  • Cutlery, plates, cups and cooking equipment.

  • BBQ