Folegandros
ISLAND,
Ambeli bay
Rediscover the quintessence of Greece away from masses of tourists on Santorini. You don’t even have to go too far: welcome to Folegandros Island and Ambeli Bay, part of the Cyclades Archipelago. Bask in the scent of thyme, everlasting flowers, figs, vines, and tamarisks.
Explore this small island and fall in love with its ocean of thistles, a flower of prickly beauty which will have you hooked the moment you see it. That’s what happened to us, twenty years ago – and it hasn’t let us go ever since.
THE THISTLES OF AMBELI BEND IN THE BREEZE
The thistles of Ambeli bend in the breeze and sway gently under the caress of the warm, Greek sun set in a blue tapestry – a sky so clear you may have to shield your eyes from its piercing brightness.
The thistle is a bastion of beauty sprouting amid the rocks and cracks and, to us, truly represents the island, which we discovered thanks to our good fisherman friend Minos.
Our love for the thistles and this island is pure and selfless. We’ve always wanted to share it, showing everyone the joys of living here, even just for a while, and losing oneself in the ocean, sun, clouds, stars, and moon of this place.
And that is why after so many years, we finally purchased an allotment of wild land to build a home. A home resting on the most solid foundations in the world, intertwined with ancient customs, ones which focused on what mattered long before “sustainable” became such a buzzword.
What makes this place so special is the absence of certain things
A haven of five rooms and a tavern – independent and self-sufficient, with a total ban on plastic.
What makes this place so special is the absence of certain things: air conditioning, mini-bars, sterile luxury. Every room boasts a double bed and a single bed for a third person; a terrace with a sea view, its sunsets so beautiful you’ll believe you’re dreaming; an external shower; a ceiling fan; and a water distributor with reusable water-bottles.
MEDITERRANEAN
CUISINE
AND CHARCOAL GRILL
Our tavern serves high-quality, fresh, and organic food, sourced as locally as possible. The cuisine, of course, is Mediterranean, and most dishes are grilled.
TWO MORE THiNGS ABOUT AMBELI
The island is under the protection of Meltemi, a strong, summerly breeze which has made its home in Ambeli, our and soon to be your mesmerising bay. It rides the crystalline blue waters of the sea, dancing on its gentle, nearly invisible waves, which unfurl a delicate, frothy white carpet on its pebbly shore to welcome it on land.
There’s never a crowd, so the few guests can enjoy its soft caresses and the view of the mesmerising sea until sunset, when they return from where they came. Ambeli, a name with soft-spoken promises of delight and relaxation; after all, “αμπέλι” means vineyard. Finding good wine here will never be a problem. Time flows at its own rhythm, stretching out until you lose track of day and night, all limned in the light of sun and stars.
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Dreams do come true: keep in touch to find out more about Spina and Folegandros Island. In the following months we’ll tell you more about the sea, thistles, and sunshine until we’re ready to welcome you with open arms.
