Artelia - Five Bedroom Villa, Sleeps 10

A bright, convivial modern villa offering bird's eye views out to sea, a feature pool, and plenty of space for relaxation and diversion.

Occupying a fabulously private position above the sea and the wooded hills of southwest Zakynthos, Artelia inhabits a magical world all of its own where guests will be pampered by the staff and can luxuriate in its splendour. Included in the extensive estate is a manège where guests can delight in the rare Akhal Teke horses an experience not to be missed for all horse-lovers! All this whilst also being in easy reach of sandy beaches, crystal clear coves, welcoming tavernas and character-filled villages, all of which offer plenty to see and experience for guests who manage to tear themselves away from their secluded hill-top hideaway.

Inside: accommodation at Artelia is arranged over two floors. The property’s design is a pleasing mix of clean lines, contemporary elements, and nods to traditional island architecture. Wood, from the flooring and the furniture to the lofty beamed ceilings of the first floor, is a significant component of the overall aesthetic, as are the strategically placed exposed stone walls. These subtle hints at Zakynthos’s heritage are tempered by thoroughly modern banks of floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding glass doors and the luxurious styling of the kitchen and the bathrooms.

The main entrance takes one into a hallway and then into a generously proportioned double-height space that occupies most of the ground floor. Light floods in via two floors of windows, creating a wonderfully luminous and airy environment. To one side is the well-equipped modern kitchen, complete with large island; in the centre is a large dining table; and at the far side is the living area, whose sofas and armchairs are gathered around a fireplace. All three zones flow out onto the surrounding terraces via a series of wide sliding glass doors.

The remaining accommodation on the ground floor comprises a double-twin bedroom served by an adjacent shower room.

An n-shaped staircase near the hallway leads up to the first floor, where a three-sided gallery walkway looking down into the dining area below provides access to four more bedrooms. On one side of the gallery is:

• the main double bedroom, complete with en-suite shower room, wonderful sea views and a private balcony overlooking the pool area
• a double-twin with en-suite shower room and mountain views

On the other side of the gallery, a little corridor leads to:

• a double bedroom with its own private balcony offering the same views as the main bedroom
• a double-twin with mountain views
• a centrally positioned shower room shared by the two bedrooms

Outside: Artelia sits amidst a private 250-acre estate which includes vineyards, stables, and a manège of rare horse breeds, including Andalucian horses and the rare golden Akhal Teke from Turkmenistan. Guests are welcome to visit the manège for a demonstration during their stay.

Al fresco life at Artelia revolves around the fabulously panoramic and wonderfully spacious pool terrace. Accessed via wide sliding glass doors from the ground floor’s open-concept communal space, and boasting majestic views out over the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, this area caters for pretty much all eventualities.

Sitting in pride of place at the centre is the dreamy infinity pool, which is divided into two parts by a central sitting area with sunken firepit. The main section of the pool includes water jets and a hydro massage system, while the other section is a shallow pool that's ideal for the younger members of your party.

To one end of the pool is a well-furnished sitting area with bar and a shaded dining table served by an outdoor kitchen with built-in barbecue, separate gas barbecue, sink and work surfaces.

To the other end of the pool there is an external shower and behind this, accessed down 10 steps, are two WCs to service guests enjoying the pool and outdoor areas.

Fanning out around the house, sheltered by stone walls, are more terraces bordered with greenery, flowers and shade-giving trees.

Service: Artelia’s wonderful staff, which includes a cook and house manager, a housekeeper, and a groom, is there to ensure you can sit back and relax during your stay. Service at Artelia starts with dinner on the day of your arrival (selected by you from the cook’s carefully curated menu in advance) and continues through to breakfast on your departure day. The cook will then be available every day from 8:00-22:00 to serve you breakfast and either lunch or dinner (both can be arranged if preferred at a small extra charge) - just let her know in advance when you will be dining at the villa and your preferences in terms of menus. The cost of the cook service (for breakfast and either lunch or dinner) is included in your stay at the villa, but please note the ingredients should be paid locally in cash on presentation of receipts. The maids will service your rooms daily and change your linen and towels mid-week.

Artelia features a fantastic infinity pool, offering swimmers stunning views while in the pool. There is a drop off the infinity side so we recommend children are supervised at all times. Please refer to our general safety page if you would like more information about infinity pools.

Due to the nature of the property including terraces low walls and several drops around the grounds, children must be supervised at all times.

The large estate at Artelia is also home to the owner's rare breeds of horses. They are looked after by the Property Manager and are not visible from the villa. If you would like to meet them, however, we can certainly arrange it. It is also possible to organise horse riding lessons and dressage performances at the estate's manège. Please contact us for more information.

The owner's dogs live in a secure area on the grounds.

There is a racetrack further down in the valley; this is used for practice each Sunday for a few hours in the evening (or the morning between October and April).


Please note that parts of the surrounding landscape are still recovering following a wildfire in summer 2025.
Artelia occupies a wonderfully panoramic position in the southwest of Zakynthos and offers spellbinding views down over the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, the idyllic islet of Marathonissi, and a 6km-long stretch of sandy beach where sea turtles come to lay their eggs.

In terms of amenities, there are several inland villages nearby with tavernas, such as Agalas, Lithakia and Koiliomenos (all between a 10- and 15-minute drive), while down on the coast, at Agios Sostis (20 minutes) and Limni Keriou (25 minutes), there is a greater selection of amenities, including minimarkets, cafés and bars (not to mention beaches and boat hire).

A 20-minute drive will also take you to the charming little village of Keri (not to be confused with Limni Keriou mentioned above) on the southwestern tip of Zakynthos. It's a particularly attractive spot in the late afternoon when the sun begins to set into the sea, and there are a couple of good tavernas in which to while away an evening.

As far as beaches are concerned, nearby are Agios Sostis and Limni Keriou, both of which offer a gentle summery buzz and a good selection of seafront tavernas, cafés and bars. The long stretch of sand that's part of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (mentioned in the opening paragraph) is the obvious choice for many. Some sections have beach clubs and facilities, while others are quieter, out of respect for the visiting turtles. For more dramatic coastal scenery and wonderful snorkelling, head to the cliffs and rocky coves of the west coast, such as those at Porto Roxa and Porto Limnionas (around 30 minutes away).

Zakynthos's most popular, most spectacular and most photographed beach is Navagio, located in the northwest of the island. Taking its name from the shipwreck that has lain on its sand since the early 1980s, the bay is surrounded on three sides by spectacular tree-topped white cliffs and is only accessible by boat. This sublime setting and the bay's transparent, electric blue waters attract the crowds in high summer, but it's most certainly a sight to behold, both from the viewing point above and from the water below.

At just over 30km long and 20km wide, Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is easily discoverable in a week and you're never more than an hour's drive from most places of interest. The island's hinterland is peppered with other villages, a few of which, such as Lithakia and Exo Chora (this latter with 16th-century houses, a 17th-century church and a 2,000-year-old olive tree) survived the earthquake of 1953 relatively unscathed.

Finally, just half an hour's drive away from Artelia is the capital of Zakynthos, Chora (or Zakynthos Town), which is well worth a visit. A few of its historic Venetian buildings remain, there are some interesting museums and galleries, and its streets and squares are flanked by a summery buzz of bars, cafés and tavernas.

Arrival details will be confirmed by The Thinking Traveller after your villa is confirmed.

The Thinking Traveller can organise transfers and car hire and an agent will be in touch with you once your villa is confirmed.