Villa Asteria

In Sifnos, a Stargazer’s Airy Paradise

Daytime pursuits here are just as pleasurable in this hillside villa in Sifnos, with a traditional stone façade that echoes the rugged outcroppings. Inside, living and outdoor areas face west, offering shade in the morning and views of the Aegean and the Western Cyclades from nearly every turn. One floor down is a playroom, equipped with a TV, table tennis, and a kitchenette with a small fridge.

Two bedrooms, to the right of the entrance, are stunning places to retire, with crisp beds looking seaward. Left of the entrance is the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and direct access to the pool; a little farther down the corridor is a second bedroom with its own private sea view balcony.

Pluck some thyme or oregano from the bushes outside and cook a Greek feast, or lay poolside, still and peaceful as the nature around you. Explore the small, low-key island of Sifnos when adventure calls.

This four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa in Sifnos is a perfect place for one or two families to enjoy a Greek holiday. Entertain outside with a large concrete dining table for 12 people, with wooden benches and a built-in corner sofa, and a coal BBQ.

Sharing the property of 5’300 sqm is a second, similarly-designed house of similar architectural design, but with seclusion and privacy highly considered. Contact is limited to the south-facing stone wall, while the living areas of both villas are on opposite ends, 40 meters apart.

A limited cell phone connection – operational in the external sitting area of the house and partly in the living room – along with a void of artificial lights, lets the stars shine their brightest.

SIFNOS' CYCLADIC BEAUTY

Located within a small cluster of summer homes on the Greek island of Sifnos (just 24 km long), one neighbor on the other side of the hill is a shepherd and his family (here you can buy fresh eggs and cheese). Below the villa is Vroulidia beach, a five-minute drive away. 

The village Artemonas, with its Neoclassical mansions and windmills, has a supermarket and spectacular view if you walk to the top, of Paros, Naxos, Sikinos, and Folegandros. One and a half kilometers from Artemonas is Apollonia, another postcard-worthy village with shopping and nightlife. The iconic blue-domed Church of the Seven Martyrs, atop Kastro village, is perhaps the most photographed of the island’s hundreds of religious buildings.

Archeology and history lovers should visit Agios Andreas, an ancient citadel with an Acropolis that dates to 13th century B.C. 

Sifnos is also a foodie haven, known for its variety of restaurants, both traditional – think fish and slow-cooked stews – and modern, with sushi and ceviche. 

LOCATION

Sifnos, Cyclades, Greece. Nearest Airport: Athens International Airport (3 hours from Piraeus). Paros (1 hour from Paros)

WHEN TO VISIT: Late spring and early fall, with warm temperatures, less wind and crowds, and lower rates.