My five-year-old daughter is lying in the crook of my arm as we relax on a terrace overlooking the lonian Sea, teased by a light breeze that tempers the heat. It seems apt that I'm reading her the opening of Roger Lancelyn Green's Tales of the Greek Heroes, stories of immortals who wander amid the towering heights of great mountains, like those that rise behind us. Mid-sentence, Darcy turns to me and asks: "Is Pan the shepherd still there?", and it really feels as though he might be.
After all, we are on the island of Zakynthos, where the natural landscape-ancient olive groves and saturated skies seems touched by the otherworldly (in The Odyssey, Homer calls it "wooded Zakynthos"). Today, the south coast is lined with late-night bars and tourist traps, but our villa is near the north-east, where the rhythms of the day are shaped by nature, from the birdsong that greets our ears as we wake to the rising moon that shines yellow each night.
Our base is Livadi, an airy five-bedroom villa close to the port of Agios Nikolaos. Cast in a C-shape, the house hugs a wide courtyard on one side, and on the other sees the landscape fall dramatically away, layer by layer, towards the sea, with the sloping path to the kidney-shaped infinity pool fringed by herb gardens bursting with rosemary, thyme, and oregano. The villa was originally designed by Dominic Skinner, an English architect and former associate of Norman Foster, who lives part-time in Corfu. Unusual in layout and scale, the property has two ensuite bedrooms flanking the courtyard and is independent of the main house, making it perfect for teens who want their own space. As our party consists of two families with four children under seven, we find ourselves spending much of our time in the double-height living room, where sunlight beams through the French doors.
This story is from the November 2022 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2022 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
10s Across The Board!
Ten Lee is stepping into an even bigger spotlight. The K-pop superstar opens up about going solo and growing into his many facets.
The House That Fred Built
FRED, the jewellery Maison that Fred Samuel created, pays tribute to his philosophy of life, light, and an unmistakable bold aesthetic in the art and pioneering craft of precious gems.
Impossible Is Possible
In a marriage of aesthetics and technology, Richard Mille strikes the perfect balance with its RM 07-01 Automatic collection.
Beauty Visual Cues
Amp up your peepers with bold lines and punchy colours that accentuate metallic frames. Librarian chic never looked so good.
Hair - Raising Issues
Unpacking the relationship between hair, health and mental well-being.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
Managing consultant Corinne Ng's brutalist home is a safe space that showcases her passion for minimalist design and playful art.
TWICE AS NICE
Thai actresses Sarocha \"Freen\" Chankimha and Rebecca \"Becky\" Patricia Armstrong have broken barriers for inclusivity with their onscreen portrayals, leaving global audiences wanting more.
FEELS GOOD. MAN
Feather-light hydrators and sunscreens that pamper and protect, without the weight.
MOST WANTED
The Kelly clasp is one the most distinctive visual codes in the Hermès canon-one of the many reasons why a product from the House never needs any logos to be recognisable.
HOROSCOPE
TAURUS (21 APR - 21 MAY) Happy birthday, Taurus! This May, your life takes the form of a mandala an intricate shape made from coloured sand that is destroyed after its creation. This doesn't mean that you'll lose everything. In fact, the whole month has the potential to be highly abundant, especially around the 19th, when Venus transits through your sign. Be brave and let go of attachments.