The villa enjoys a unique countryside location, close to Danilia village, where many Hollywood movies have been filmed, such as the James Bond film 'For Your Eyes Only' and the BBC television series 'The Durrells.' Danilia has a fascinating history, as it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt by a businessman called Bouas in the 1970s. Now, it serves as an open-air museum of bygone times.
Visitors can take a tour of the village with its antique bakery and blacksmith, two picturesque open squares and traditional cafe and an old church. The charming, crumbling architecture is in shades of sienna and ochre, peppered with colourful shutters.
A visit to Gastouri is a popular choice for visitors to Corfu. The village is also known as Acheillio, after the famous summer palace of Empress Sisi of Austria. Located just 30 minutes' drive away, the palace draws intrigue due to its historical and cultural significance. The palace was built in 1898 by an Italian architect and Greek sculptor with inspiration from Greek mythology. Iconic statues of Zeus, Hera and Achilles himself are dotted around the palace, which is surrounded by dazzling gardens and boasts incredible views of the Ionian Sea.
Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian islands and has strong Venetian influence in the architecture, as well as Byzantine. The name means 'a pair of peaks' as the island has two hills topped with fortresses that defended the island from the Ottoman Empire. The largest of the hills has a lighthouse with spectacular views over the sea.
The Old Town has a myriad of narrow, winding lanes, filled with Venetian and Neoclassical architecture, painted in sunny yellow and orange. Just off Spianada Square, where locals congregate, is the Old Fortress on the site of an acropolis atop a rocky peninsula. Visitors can walk up to the highest point for breathtaking views, passing a small chapel and museum along the way.
Liston Arcade, full of famous cafes and a promenade inspired by the Rue de Rivoli in Paris is also nearby - it is so atmospheric with its graceful archways. It's a perfect spot for people-watching with a coffee in hand.
A popular trip from Corfu is to nearby Pontikosini (Mouse Island) where there is a tiny Byzantine monastery surrounded by pine and cypress trees. According to local legend, this is the spot of Ulysses' ship after it was turned to stone by Poseidon. The island gets its name as it's said to be the outline of a mouse when you look at it from a bird's eye view.
A day at the beach is what springs to mind when booking a holiday to Corfu - and with so many to choose from, you could try a different beach every day! Canal d'Amour is a popular beach in Sidari, the northwest side of the island. This beach has gorgeous sand and turquoise water, but the unique element is the rectangular rock with a gap that you can swim through on a calm day. It's said that couples who swim through together will get married within the year.
A spectacular beach on the west side of the island is Agios Spyriodon - you can drive across the island to reach it. Two tone, crystalline waters make up the bay and an endless stretch of golden sand makes up the beach. Many of the beaches have pebbles in this area, so this beach is considered one of the best. The monastery of Agia Ekaterini stands proudly nearby, as well as plenty of coffee shops and restaurants.
There are plenty of tasty treats to tuck into on Corfu, such as bourdeto, which is rockfish in a tomato sauce with plenty of onions and garlic, and pastralio, with fried aubergine layered with cheese and baked with boiled eggs, pancetta or salami, with a tomato and basil sauce. For the adventurous, try sofrito - veal cooked in a wine sauce with white pepper and garlic and served with rice or mashed potato.