Amanzoe – Porto Heli, Peloponnese, Greece

Amanzoe is an ultra-exclusive resort with an emphasis on health and wellbeing. Situated on a gentle rise surrounded by undulating olive groves, Amanzoe’s 360-degree views take in the Peloponnese countryside and rocky coves. The resort is within easy reach of a wealth of archaeological sites and bustling Porto Heli.

Amanzoe’s location is hard to beat. This region is steeped in mythology, with several important archaeological sites, including the Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus and the citadel of Mycenae; Spetses and Hydra are within easy reach; and there’s a super-chic Beach Club on the coast just below.

Amanzoe, surrounded by undulating olive groves and overlooking the turquoise Aegean Sea,  is a ten-minute drive from the tavernas and cosmopolitan stirrings of Porto Heli. The isles of Spetses and Hydra are nearby, as are countless ancient ruins, from millennia-old amphitheatres to Byzantine monasteries.

ACCOMMODATION

Pavilions

Drawing on classic Greek architecture, with strong lines and a pared-back aesthetic, Amanzoe’s standalone Pavilions all open onto terraces with private plunge pools and views of the surrounding land and sea.

Each Pavilion is accessed via a stone-walled courtyard, leading to a high-ceilinged living area and king-size bed positioned in a marble alcove with views.

Beach Cabanas

Situated directly on the beach, the spacious, air-conditioned Beach Cabanas provide all the comforts of a Pavilion, combined with a terrace,private garden and swimming pool. 

Guests can enjoy a day on the beach, swimming in the sea, discovering bays by canoe and sunbathing in privacy. Meals can be enjoyed at Amanzoe’s Beach Club restaurant or in the privacy of aBeach Cabana.

Villas

Amanzoe’s Villas are cool, spacious abodes surrounded by olive groves. Overlooking the Aegean Sea, each of the four-to-nine-bedroom Villas features an open terrace with sand-coloured marble floors, traditional dry stone-clad walls and concrete columns and cornices. A chef and a host serves each one.

WELLNESS & SPAThe holistic healings of Hippocrates are the inspiration for Amanzoe’s light-filled 2,850-square-metre Spa, combining diet, gymnastics, exercise, massage and sea bathing with modern natural products and treatments.A gym is also available, and studios host yoga and Pilates sessions.DININGFrom Nama’s Japanese cuisine to the Restaurant’s Mediterranean fare, Amanzoe places the focus on simple flavours, expertly prepared.Daily deliveries of local bass, bream, grouper and crustacean, as well as locally reared lamb, pork and rabbit, make Amanzoe a champion of produce that is local and seasonal – all served in the airy Restaurant, with its deep-blue sea views, by the pool, at the informal Beach Club, or surrounded by candles in private.

PORTO HELI, PELOPONNESE, GREECE

The Peloponnese (Πελοπόννησος) is the stuff of legends. Literally. It is here that Hercules fought the Nemean lion and gods walked the earth, meddling in mortal affairs; it’s from here that Paris of Troy eloped with Helen and the Argonauts set sail in search of the Golden Fleece. Celestial and mythological charms aside, this region bears tangible traces of the many civilisations that once called it home, witnessed in its classical temples, Mycenaean palaces, Byzantine cities, and Ottoman, Frankish and Venetian fortresses.The very topography that kept invaders at bay for centuries – lofty, snowcapped mountains, vast gorges, sandy beaches and azure waters – now draws visitors of a very different kind. Filoxenia(hospitality) is as strong here as anywhere in the country; the food is among Greece’s best; and the region’s vineyards are contributing to Greece’s wine renaissance. Locals claim to have the best of everything to give. And that’s no myth.