Akontisma

Peaceful place, very welcoming host, and history everywhere you look.

This is my favorite hotel. The grounds are lovely, with colorful buildings and cheerful flowering pots, and everything is immaculate. The rooms are well furnished, with fancy bath fittings and nice showers. Each room occupies one of the small dwellings in what used to be a village, with its own Agora market, octagonal church, and amphitheater. The Bulgarians bombed the village to the ground so they could see the sea, anticipating an Ottoman sea invasion. You have to see it to appreciate it.

The town was restored through a project begun by a Turkish-Greek man and his wife, who then invited many architects from Turkey, Italy, and Greece. It reopened for service in 2000. The first buildings date from the 14th century and were built by Turks. In 1910, Bulgars came and burned the town to the ground.

It feels like a sanctuary when you step inside, with silence, a certain energy, and cats. It’s pet friendly too. The place looks much better in person than in the pictures. This is an ancient village, over 2000 years old, full of history. The rooms are very clean, with towels, soap, shower gel, and tea. There’s no breakfast area, so bring some food if you like. Tables are available where you can sit quietly and enjoy a snack. There are also places for prayer or meditation. Ask the owner about the full history of the place.