Ohlive Villas

Dazzling Water, Sunshine and Architecture

These vivid villas for rent in Greece shine like proverbial diamonds in the rough from their unspoiled perches dense with gnarled olive trees above the waters of the Aegean. Modern wonderlands designed by renowned Greek firm 3H Architects, each of these newly constructed homes was created in celebration of the Greek tradition of living outdoors, with sliding walls of windows, interconnected pavilion designs, covered terraces and shimmering infinity pools with unobstructed views out to sea.

The two villas are connected but have two separate entrances, with discrete parking areas, gardens and pools, meaning they can be rented separately without either party intruding upon the other. Booked together, however, they make an impressive space for up to 16 guests.

Set on the thickly wooded Greek island of Skiathos, an Aegean landmass packed with pine forests, millennial olive groves, archaeological ruins and chalky beaches backed by sun-bleached limestone, the newly constructed villas are deliciously private, sleek and modular, loaded with modern amenities that make a blissful, barefoot life possible.

Created by Nikitas Hatzimihalis of 3H Architects, the homes occupy the limits of the Mandraki natural reserve and overlook the aquamarine sea. Each villa features the privacy of nature out its doorstep and was built as a series of interconnected pavilions for an ambiance of spaciousness, and a focus on true indoor/outdoor living. Shaded terraces surround the homes, opening out from sliding walls of windows and the villas’ cool, composed interiors are clean lined and unfussy, accented in a natural color palette with minimal ornamentation. Created expressly for ease, these villas for rent in Greece are each simply yet comfortably furnished, low-key spaces ideal for unwinding, unplugging, and soaking up the invigorating island sun.

Villa I: Stony and strong-lined, with echoes of mid-century modernism, this four-bedroom villa’s varied pavilions are connected by shade structures and dining and living terraces all designed behind low-slung privacy walls that also contain the rectilinear lap pool. Planted beds surround the home, and roof terraces give the villa a seaside watchtower character.

Villa II: This seaview villa sees stone, metal, wood and slab combine in a geometric perch where all eyes are directed out to sea. Four bedrooms and baths fill the rambling, multilevel space, connected by sunlit stairwells and long, linear shaded porches. An infinity pool stretches out alongside the outdoor living and dining decks, outfitted with comfortable seating for contemplating the view.

AROUND

Skiathos is the love language of OHLIVE Villas owners. One grew up on the island, the other can’t get enough of its rutted dirt roads, secret rocky shores and coves (or its lobster pasta)! Located in the Sporades archipelago in Greece’s northwest Aegean Sea, Skiathos is the smallest island of the four that make up the chain. Known for its unique, forested interior versus the arid, sunbaked island landscapes more typical of the Greek isles, Skiathos offers more than 60 sandy beaches around its green periphery. 

It frequently holds a leading spot on “best Greek island” lists, and Skiathos gained additional notoriety with the filming of Mamma Mia in its popular east coast town and harbor, where a maze of narrow, flower-filled alleys and small squares is home to shops and nightlife, plus restaurants, bars, and colorful cafes. Svelte yachts and funky fishing boats are also abundant in the town’s picturesque harbor. Yet part of what makes these villas paradisical is their privileged location on a part of Skiathos Island that few tourists ever see. The homes overlook the spectacularly unspoiled bays of Kechria and the Pilion peninsula on the unpopulated western side of the island, home of the Mandraki natural reserve that insulates the area from development. The region is home to some of the island’s most coveted beaches, including Elias, Mikro Aselinos, Ligaries, and Kechria. 

The island and villas aren’t only for beachcombers, though. Walkers and hikers will also find their Eldorado on Skiathos, where trails all across the island lead up rocky slopes fragrant with wild mint, thyme and oregano and ancient photo-ready ruins crumble beside well-traveled footpaths around the island shore.

LOCATION

Skiathos, Greece. Nearest airport: Skiathos, Volos, Athens

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to September is "the season" on Skiathos.