Authentic Greek mountain house, built back in the rocks, deafening silence due to location in abandoned village.
Surrounded by nature, with a beautiful view of the sea and mountains. To reach via donkey path, 150 meters from parking at church at the beginning of the donkey path.
Our house is located in the village of Ano (above) -Tobra, Ανο Τομπρα, in the "outside-Mani", the middle finger of the south of the Peloponnese at about 475 m. Above sea level, 13 km from the sea. The coordinates: 36 ° .46 'N / 22 °. 26.5 'O. In clear weather you can see the island of Kythera! The house is built in the style of the Mani with stacked natural stones. It probably dates from the end of the 19th century, the foundation with the camara, καμαρα, and the apothiki, αποθηκη, is even older. The walls are 80 cm thick and finished with clay and lime on the inside. In 2015, all walls were newly joined and the entire roof replaced in original style and well insulated. Because the house is built against the mountain there are access doors on two levels. On the mountain side is the front door that gives access to the upper floor. Downstairs at the front are the two doors of the apothiki (workshop) and the camara. Inside, the two floors are connected by a stone staircase. Under the camara is a cisterna, a private water reservoir with 17000 liters of water. There is water through the Greek water pipe, but it sometimes falls out and then we can fall back on our own water supply.
Due to the thick walls of 80cm it is quite cool in the house in hot periods, especially in the camara it is wonderful to stay and sleep. Due to the high location it is always about 3 degrees cooler than on the coast.
The nature around our house:
Our house is on the edge of a virtually deserted village.
Only a few weeks in the summer and during the olive harvest in winter there are some residents in the village. Our house is the only house that is regularly inhabited. This gives animals free play. You can find all kinds of animals that you normally do not come across in their natural environment. We continue to amaze and rejoice: foxes, badgers, pine martens, weasels, owls, jays, various birds of prey, butterflies in all colors, lizards, geckos, turtles, etc. However, some caution is required and this rich animal life requires a little more alertness than you may be used to in the Netherlands at home. Outside closed footwear is recommended and it makes sense to leave no food left around and in the house.
At night there are often seven sleepers active; they are harmless and do not enter, but can sometimes make noise on the roof or in the walls. In order not to be bothered by insects, there are mosquito nets in the house above all beds.
