Spotlight on the Greek Islands: A Summer ‘Odyssey’

From Homer to Hollywood, Greece’s luxury credentials are set to soar as Christopher Nolan’s epic hits the screen, writes Katie Silcox An ancient Greek epic has inspired Hollywood’s latest blockbuster. Homer’s enduring mythological tale of “The Odyssey” follows its hero as he makes his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. Now, Christopher Nolan’s star-studded movie adaptation, featuring Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Zendaya, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson, is set to give Greece an equally high billing. Beyond the screen, ancient traditions live on across this Mediterranean country and its 200 or so inhabited islands, several of which lay claim to being locations in Homer’s original story. Clustered in a few distinct groups, these islands contain multitudes, from the lush greenery of the Ionian islands off the west mainland coast to the whitewashed villages of the Cyclades in the central Aegean; the historical Dodecanese towards Turkey; the quieter islands of the north Aegean; and the Saronic islands nearest Athens. Then there are Greece’s two biggest isles, Crete and Evia.

“Landscape is often one of the first things buyers fall in love with,” says Despina Laou, head of private office at Greece QIC Realty’s International Realty, which lists high-end homes across the Greek mainland and islands. Every homeowner will be drawn to something different: one person’s Crete or Kos is another’s Corfu or Kefalonia. And Greece’s charm extends beyond summer, through its varied seasons and culture. Celebrated Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou agrees with Laou. In Greece, landscape “naturally shapes the way people build, create and live,” says the Athens native, who lives and works in London but returns regularly to her homeland. Katrantzou held her own wedding and son’s christening on the Saronic island of Spetses—in the same cathedral where her parents married and she was baptized. For Katrantzou, Greece’s islands represent “a sense of freedom, beauty and belonging.” From a design perspective, too, they have a look that’s distinct from the mainland. “The Greek islands often favor a more restrained aesthetic, defined by natural materials, light and an openness to the surrounding environment,” she says.

Linamia on Corfu’s fashionable northeast coast is an “exceptional example of how the landscape becomes a home’s defining feature,” says Laou. Surrounded by cypress trees, traditional design typifies this villa: blue-shuttered windows on warm terracotta walls open to an infinity pool with extended views of the sparkling Ionian sea—where Odysseus is believed to have been shipwrecked. “The sea is deeply woven into our history, culture and daily life,” says Laou of its central place in Greek identity. At Villa Gabbiano, a stylish contemporary home on Lefkada—the Ionian island often said to be the home of Odysseus—outdoor terraces track the shoreline and floor-to-ceiling glass doors prioritize ocean panoramas. It’s all complemented by organic design: natural stone, terracotta tiling and timber frames.

The villa faces Kefalonia, the Greek island with some of the strongest ties to Homer’s epic. Here, another villa, Aurelis, offers a cool respite from the Grecian sun. While modern in design—with sleek lines, polished surfaces and statement lighting—there are nods to traditional Greek architecture, too: shaded pergolas, tiled roofs and a cubist style more commonly found in the Cyclades. “Traditional Greek architecture continues to influence contemporary design,” says Laou. “This balance is one of the strengths of Greek architecture.” The country’s history touches “every creative discipline,” agrees Katrantzou, whose couture collections have often explored a dialogue between the ancient and contemporary. “Storytelling has always been central to Greek design and mythology is one of its richest sources.”

At Aerope, a restored townhouse in Crete—the island Odysseus claimed as his homeland while trying to conceal his identity—tradition takes center stage. Overlooking the old town of the picturesque coastal city of Rethymno, the home showcases authentic Cretan design with stone archways, inner courtyards and a tapered fireplace, while maintaining a sense of quiet luxury through contemporary finishes. “Luxury in Greece is rooted in authenticity, craftsmanship and a connection to place,” Katrantzou explains. “Even on the islands most accustomed to excess, traditions hold strong.”

This also rings true at Villa Filia on the Cycladic island of Mykonos. More widely known for its party scene, the island is quieter on the east coast. Here, bougainvillea trails the stone walls that blend seamlessly into the cliffside. Sage-green shuttered windows overlook terraces with views across pool and sea. This is a home that stays true to the local vernacular, offering a deeper sense of place beyond the island’s beach clubs. “The Greek islands offer far more than sun and sea,” Katrantzou concludes. “Their history, mythology and living traditions create a unique richness, where every landscape carries a story. It’s this depth and authenticity that gives each island its own character and makes Greece such an enduring destination.”