Casa Lucia, a family-run eco-stay in the heart of Corfu
Casa Lucia, billed as an eco-stay in Corfu, was difficult to find. Neither Google nor Apple maps could locate the village of Sgombou, roughly a 20-minute drive from Corfu Old Town. In contrast, local knowledge proved much more informative. Therefore, it was back to the old fashioned and far more interesting way of obtaining directions. We had to chat to the rather friendly and helpful locals. Thankfully, I had forgotten we were in possession of the Google satellite coordinates – 39.668423 19.819244. Eventually we arrived in Casa Lucia just as the light was fading.
As promised, Val had left instructions on the reception door to guide us to our cottage.
We had by minutes missed a Gong Spa session of meditation. We could hear the haunting, meditative sound of the gong played by its Talinn Estonia-based gong masters. Low, sepia-tinted lighting glowed from the communal hall next to the reception. We were tempted to join in, but too British to break-in and disturb the tranquil space being created. We had both travelled in Tibet in the 1980s and had visited some of the wonderful monastery’s. Although this was not a prerequisite to appreciating the wonderful qualities of the gong.
A Casa Lucia welcome
Instead, we headed to our cottage around the path. The little pink studio was welcoming, brightly lit. Val, the owner, had filled up the fridge with essentials we might need for our short stay. Bread, butter, cheese, apples, pears, oranges and plenty of drinks filled the fridge. The room was comfy and clearly set up for long-term visitors. The patio outside perfect for outdoor living.
Some historic buildings
In the light of day, we could get our bearings better. The little pink cottage was one of a pair located next to each other. This made it perfect for friends travelling together. There were other cottages, some larger, around a beautiful lawned area. Many of these buildings, dated from the Venetian era. Val showed us the original photos of the site which they had developed nearly 40-years ago. From the crumbling ruins the thick stone walls, clay roof tiles and stone arches were carefully restored. Impressively, a number of these features now incorporated into some of the cottages. ‘Estia’, the communal room also has the high vaulted ceilings and thick walls which are thought to help with the acoustics.
The Outdoors
The whole complex is surrounded by olive, cypress and Judas trees, enlivened by bougainvillea bushes and other colourful flowers and the deep scented jasmine.
A few strides away and enclosed by Bignonia, Jasmine and many vines was the pool, around which shaded seating areas were constructed. In April, the water was just a little too cold for swimming! However, it wasn’t difficult to see the role it would play in the hot summer months.
Activities in and around Casa Lucia
Many workshops including yoga and tai chi take place at Casa Lucia. In addition to having a small library and treatment rooms if you want to venture further afield, the location is perfect for visiting the seaside village of Paleokastritsa on the west coast, or the Pantocrator, Corfu’s highest mountain.
Furthermore, there are endless trekking opportunities, as a section of the Corfu trail passes close by and of course there are many historic villages e.g. Sokraki that are well worth a visit.
Val is also a mine of information on local restaurants such as the Lucciola Garden restaurant, a 5-minute walk from Casa Lucia, car rental or trekking.
We had a wonderful stay at Casa Lucia. It was the perfect combination: tranquil and centrally located. We loved the ethos of the place and its attention to sustainable living. The hot water for example is predominantly heated using solar thermal systems.
These are attached to the individual cottages. Furthermore, rubbish is recycled, while the use of harmful chemical cleaning products is minimised. While, in one corner, an organic vegetable garden supplies much produce.
Nangle angle
Perfect for those who want to get away from it all.
Nangle facts & tips
Information on Casa Lucia can be found here.
