By Nicolas Bard

In Sykia Xylokastro, in a dense pine forest, the emblematic villa of the great poet Angelos Sikelianou is well hidden. It is a place that Dandis deeply loved with the rigorous principles and cultural concerns, but also a space of special architecture, aesthetics and sophistication, which refers to the French and Italian countryside of the European aristocracy.

Angelos Sikelianos on a trip to the area in the distant 1908, along with his many years older and deep -in -law, Eva Palmer, was fascinated by the natural beauty of the place, the rich green and the deep blue of the sea. Thus, Palmer bought this seaside plot for the sake of her husband.

The rebuilding of the villa began a few years later, in 1911, with plans by Sikelianos himself, and was completed in 1916, to serve as a holiday home for their couple and monk, Glafkos. It is the first and only architectural attempt of the poet, in which we find various styles, such as elements of ancient Greek, Byzantine and Venetian architecture.

The columns on the facade are inspired by ancient Greek architecture, windows and openings are elements of Byzantine culture, while balconies are features of Venetian mentality. The porchs were transported with Moutzouris, the train of the time. It is an eccentric residence that reflects the prosperity of the family. In fact, it is a residential jewelry and is part of the list of buildings in Greece, which is worth visiting at least once in our lives.

In the rooms and gardens of the building, the Sikelianos couple lived much of his life. There their son grew up and were hosted by some of the greatest personalities of the Greek spirit, from Kostis Palamas and Nikos Kazantzakis, to Mitropoulos and Mr. G. Karyotakis. Bengles with philosophical discussions and glittering secular gatherings were alternated, writing the story of the famous building.

During World War II, the villa was a headquarters of the Italians and later the German conquerors. Externally it was painted in purple and returned to its original color in the 1950s, when it passed into the hands of Greek shipowner Spyros Tipaldos. He, being the owner of a neighboring hotel, turned the house into an imaginative reception for the reception season. In 1989, Melina Mercouri, enchanted by her beauty and architecture, described Sikelianos’ villa as a historical and preserved monument, as it was a true work of art.

Today this historic villa is part of the Sikyon Coast Hotel & Resort and has been fully renovated, giving aristocratic vibes of another era. When you walk from the villa to the coast and pass through the bench sitting by Sikelian himself, you realize that something was happening there. You feel it in the aura! It is no coincidence that all these sacred monsters of the intellect were found in this place. The lyrics of Angelos Sikelianos come to life in front of your eyes and you are moving into another world, more romantic, pure and less complicated. This in itself is a unique experience, which if you are in the area is worth living!