Villa Argonite is located on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, in the quaint village of Archaggelos, on the eastern coastline of the ancient Greek island of Rhodes, the jewel in the crown of the Dodecanese Islands. The villa is thirty-three kilometres from Rhodes’ Diagaros International airport, a fifty-minute journey away. In the village of Archaggelos, there are local shops and mini markets for daily provisions, cute cafes and bars for morning coffee and evening retsina, and lots of traditional family-run seafood tavernas, where you can sample some delicious Greek delicacies. Whilst you are there take time to visit the Church of the Archangel Michael, with its bell tower and gilded interior, and walk the ruins of Archaggelos Castle, built in the fifteenth century by the Knights of St John.
The nearest beach is nearby Charaki, an eight-minute drive to this quiet resort with crystal clear easy entry water. Take a ten-minute drive to Tsambika Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with golden sands and deep waters, or go snorkelling from the sweeping bay of nearby Stegna Beach. Go to the south of the island, where you will find Lindos, with its own acropolis, reputedly one of the most impressive sights in Rhodes, and with the most idyllic beaches. Within easy driving distance, you can get to Kalithea Springs, Rhodes Waterpark, Rodini Park, Diagoras Stadium, Andreas Papandreou Park, and the Acropolis of Rhodes. For some holiday hot spot tourist entertainment make your way north of the villa to Faliraki, where those who live the nightlife will find lots of lively clubs and bars.
Rhodes really is a walker’s island with almost 14 000 square kilometres to explore, through forests, up mountains, discovering ancient sites, and maybe stopping at a welcoming village taverna to sample the local wine, honey, and herbs, along the way. The ancient town of Rhodes is a forty-five minute drive from the villa, and well worth a visit. The old town of Rhodes has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and as you wander the narrow lanes, old streets, and fortifications you’ll see why. Rhodes’ history has been influenced by the Knights of St John, Venetian, and Ottoman conquests. Make sure you visit the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Castle of Monolithos, the Suleyamniye Mosque, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Modern Greek Art, and the many ornate churches, as you count the eleven gates as you make your way around the old town.
If you can’t pound the pavements, take a Segway tour, or stop for refreshment in a traditional taverna and sip ouzo as you watch the world go by. For the adventurous, rent a quad bike, or join a jeep safari, and take a tour of the island, climb aboard a high-speed boat to the lovely island of Lindos, or relax with a spot of fishing at Makarounas. If fishing isn’t your thing, you can admire a myriad of marine creatures indoors at the Aquarium of Rhodes. And for those who really want to go further afield, get island hopping and take the Rhodes ferry to the adjacent island, or cross continents to the cosmopolitan town of Fethiye on the Turkish Turquoise coast.