Racconto Boutique Design Hotel ★★★★

With a name that means “fairytale”, it is easy to get swept up in the charm of the Racconto Boutique Design Hotel. Located in Parga in north-eastern Greece, it cradles the Ionian Sea on one side and the knoll of Pezovolos on the other. The town’s architecture is inspired by the Heptanesian, and its connection to the local Venetian castle gives it a certain fantastical allure. The island of Panagia, which languishes just off the coast, offers its own delights and a paradisiacal backdrop.

Though it may not be one of Greece’s best-known hotspots, Parga comes with its own charm. It boasts a traditional Mediterranean landscape, with lush foliage fringing long stretches of sandy beaches, and there are plenty of authentic restaurants, bars, and shops tucked away down its winding streets. The Racconto Boutique Design Hotel can be found just 900m from the centre of the town and its main beach. It is a brand new boutique build that is elegantly perched amongst olive groves and wild hillsides.

Its name is inspired by the visual design of the hotel, with its avant-garde ambiance and its rejuvenating sense of luxury. Opened on July 1st, it brings a modern touch to the ancient landscape of Parga and was designed by Panos Petridis, a “Guru” in the world of Greek architecture and interior décor. As the first boutique hotel in the area it does not disappoint, with its Italian flourishes and local nuances that bring together an international vibe in a very local place.

With only eight standard rooms and three suites in the hotel, it also offers an intimate experience where guests can peacefully relax by the swimming pool and the lounge bar. The rooms themselves are a testament to Petridis, oozing with modern flair and lots of luxurious details. Whitewashed walls melt into pale floors, whilst fresh exotic plants offer a burst of colour against chic white beds and stylish furniture. The suites have their own private gardens filled with rich flora, and the balconies of the standard rooms look out over the historic skyline of Parga and the sea beyond.

As well as the peaceful swimming pool, there is a designated meditation area where guests can kick back, relax, and soak up the laidback vibes that have imbued Greece’s ancient landscape for millennia. Comfort sunbeds dot the cosy garden, basking in the glow of the Greek sunshine and, in the evenings, the cocktail bar is the perfect place to watch the sunset with a colourful drink in hand. Mornings are kick-started in the right way with a hearty breakfast brimming with local foods. And, when the historic narratives of Greece beckon, Parga is just moments away, with its classic architecture, fascinating heritage, and incredible scenery.

The charm of north-eastern Greece is so elegantly captured in the Racconto Boutique Design Hotel; a place that teeters on the edge of luxury, complete with an unusual design, incredible views, and a friendliness that can only be found in this part of the Mediterranean. The contemporary design lies both in harmony and in contrast with the old architecture of Parga, with its family-run cafes and traditional Greek lifestyle.