ADVERTISING FEATURE


Fishing harbour, Spetses


Clients seeking the best of both worlds on their next Greek adventure should pair a city break to Athens with an island escape in upscale Spetses


S


Spetses


tarting among the storied streets of the Greek capital, one of the oldest cities in the world, clients will find ancient sites and historic monuments set among high-end hotels, contemporary restaurants and a lively nightlife scene. Known as the historic capital of Europe, visitors shouldn’t miss the Acropolis of Athens, the Parthenon temple and the National Archaeological Museum. When it’s time to slow down, clients can hop on a ferry and head southwest to the island of Spetses in the heart of the Saronic Gulf, just three hours away. Ringed by miles of golden coastline and furnished with a rich interior of pine, jasmine and bougainvillea trees, this elegant isle is the perfect antidote to an urban adventure. Visitors can take their pick from well-organised beaches with comfortable sunbeds and premium facilities or opt for untouched, hidden stretches of sand with nothing but the waves


Athens


for company. Crystal-clear waters complement beachfront restaurants, boutique hotels and historic sites like Magus House, which inspired English novelist John Fowles to write The Magus. Visitors to Spetses can spend their days hiking the island’s forested interior and discover why it was named Izola de Spezzie (the fragrant island) or explore remote coves and caves by boat. With cars not allowed on the island, the third-most popular mode of transport is two wheels and clients will find plenty of options for bike hire dotted across Spetses. Even better, both Athens and Spetses are year-round destinations thanks to a favourable climate and good accessibility. Exhibitions, musical performances and theatre shows run


year-round in Athens, while Spetses hosts off-season events including the Spetsathlon, the biggest triathlon in Greece, in April, and Armata, a re-enactment of a naval battle, in September.


PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK/IMAGIN.GR PHOTORAPHY, PNIKOL, MARAT LALA


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128