The Athenian Riviera,from above

Charikleia is our mother’s name, and the two houses carry its halves. Down in the garden, Charis keeps the grace: the welcome at the door, the favour without an invoice. Up on the hilltop, Kleos keeps the renown, the good word said about you at a distance. Read the houses uphill and they say her name in order.

• Homer has Charis come forward to welcome a guest into the house
• The walk uphill says it in order: Charis first, Kleos last

Eight guests, four sea-view suites, one pool-level floor — the party never splits across floors. And no one draws the short room.

Four outings cover most weeks here. Start with these:

• The nearest beach flies a Blue Flag and lies two minutes downhill
• On a weekday evening the Temple of Poseidon takes the last light
• From Lavrio, the only port for Kéa, the ferry runs about an hour across the water
• Out of the marina at Anavyssos, a private day-sail reaches Patroklos islet and the cape