In the morning, as you breakfast, the mountains stand powerfully etched against the sky, while later in the day they may retreat behind the gauzy veils of warmth and you will laze on the golden beaches of Stavros, or Tarsanas, or Kalathas, only minutes away.

A path leads to the beach of Stavros with its perfect sand and calm emerald waters. A little further on, the small coves of Kalathas and sea caves opposite hotel rise the imposing rugged hills of Madams, the setting for the legendary film "Zorba the Greek".