Greece’s new holiday option: back to the farm
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WITH its stunning white-washed islands and great beaches, it is easy to forget that Greece is also home to lush forests, vast mountains, gorges and largely undiscovered wildlife.
Just over three hours’ drive from Athens, one finds the southeastern Peloponnese prefecture of Laconia dominated by verdant mountains.
It has ancient sites, monuments, museums and traditional villages where it seems time has stood still. Opportunities are opening up here for return-to-the-land holidays where visitors can savor the relaxed Laconian lifestyle.
Flanked by endless olive and almond groves and hillsides covered with pine trees, Eumelia, an eco-conscious retreat in the village of Gouves, offers travelers the traditions of rural Greece year-round.
Eumelia is the creation of Frangiskos Karelas, who gave up a career in the European Parliament to invest in his family estate. He expanded it five years ago to comprise 1,000 organic olive trees, hundreds of fruit trees, vineyards, organic vegetable and herb gardens and farm animals. Five traditionally styled houses accommodate guests looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination.
The farm is managed according to the principles of bio-dynamic agriculture. The accommodation was built from environmentally friendly materials and exploits ecological technology, such as geothermal heating and cooling. It’s worlds away from Greece’s package tourism.
Karelas, who named Eumelia from the ancient Greek word for “harmony,” offers his guests the chance to mingle with villagers, take part in seminars and workshops, visit wineries, make soap and learn about organic farming methods.
“People need to get back to nature and find themselves again. Everyday stress can really be overwhelming, so it is important sometimes to just get away from it all and relax,” said Karelas, who treats guests to home-cooked meals, preserved jams and freshly baked bread.
Guests may take part in farming activities, such as harvesting olives, grapes, fruit, vegetables or herbs, or participate in yoga, tai chi and photography classes.
The de-stressing process, however, would not be complete without sumptuous food. The nearby mountain villages of Koupia, Kosma and Kremasti are a gastronomic paradise.
In the quaint village of Koupia, Eleni Grigorakou, who runs the rustic Pyrostia taverna, specializes in mouth-watering pies made with mountain greens and cheese, traditional hand-made pasta, or “gogges,” and oven-baked lamb and pork.
The estate also serves as an excellent base for one-day excursions where guests can hike along kilometers of trails across Taygetos and Parnonas. More adventurous vacationers can try out sea kayaking and mountain biking.
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