About Villa Nicara

The home of ‘Painting Skiathos’:

photo © Panagiotis Kounoupas http://www.photoactive.gr

Villa Nicara has been our much-loved family summer home for over 35 years.  It is a simple but beautiful, traditional, white-washed villa, with old stone floors (from Pelion), heavy wooden shutters and a traditional island interior. It nestles in its own extensive, well-maintained, mature walled gardens and olive grove.

photo © Panagiotis Kounoupas http://www.photoactive.gr

A LITTLE BIT OF ITS HISTORY:

The House was originally built in the early ’60’s by Jack and Nancy Causton, one of the first ex. pat. couples to settle on the island, in the days when all building materials were brought by caique from the mainland and then carried on the backs of mules along the narrow donkey tracks (there were no roads then!) to the site.

Villa Nicara (formerly Villa Kolios) circa 1970

Today the property is less exposed, secluded as it is by the now mature gardens and tucked away behind high white and old stone walls:

Nancy herself was an artist. She painted many beautiful watercolours of the wild flowers indigenous to the island:

Her light touch, perfect detail and accuracy isn’t done justice here, on screen

but the veins on every leaf and fine hairs on every stem as well, as the vibrant colours, are as fresh today as they were when she painted them over fifty years ago.
Most collectible today are her beautiful pictoral maps of Skiathos, all hand-painted and embellished with her trademark flowers:

Many of these still hang in the original villas and hotels built around that time (early 60’s). I like to think that she’s looking down on us with approval and is delighted to know that today her house is shared with artists from all over world and that they continue to enjoy the beautiful gardens she laid out so lovingly all those years ago.

When my family acquired the house, in the mid ’70’s, Skiathos was much quieter and less developed – the full impact of mass tourism had yet to descend on the island –  and from Villa Nicara (or ‘Villa Kolios’ as it was previously known) not a single other building could be seen! It took 8 years for the telegraph poles to reach us before a ‘phone could be installed!

For more than 28 years it was my retired parents permanent home. Today, having been recently updated, Villa Nicara, despite the development that has sprung up in all directions around us, remains a peaceful haven. Upon entering and closing the high gates , a timeless sense of peace, calm and privacy, just as yesteryear, prevails.

External stairs lead to the roof terrace of the main house, with it’s far reaching view across the sea to the distant hills of Evia and the mainland:

and the gardens, pool area and art studio below:

THE ART STUDIO:

Housed in the original building on the land, a shepherd’s cottage or ‘Kalivi, used for many years as a wood store, it is now a charming work space, light and airy and a perfect space for art classes, both inside:

and out, in the cool dappled shade, under the sprawling branches of a huge pine tree:

THE GALLERY:

housed in yet another original kalivi, in the olive grove

All ‘Painting Skiathos’ visitors have unrestricted use of the villa’s grounds inluding:

THE SWIMMING POOL and BARBEQUE area:

There are plenty of hidden, shaded corners, ideal for reading or just quiet contemplation and total relaxation:

THE GARDENS:
Extensive mature gardens, on several different levels,  surround the villa on all sides. Old stone walls and walkways are softened by ancient oil jars filled with tumbling geraniums:

The gardens are well-stocked with a large variety of mature trees:

acacia, almond, lemon, eucalyptus, evia oak, plane, koumara, pine silver birch, apple, olive and palm. There’s even one surviving ‘orchid tree’ brought from South Africa and planted by Nancy all those years ago. Usually growing to bush height, this one towers over 25 ft  and has the most beautiful, exotic flowers each spring. Flowering shrubs include oleander (pink and white) buddleia, camelia, angelica, pyracantha, bottlebrush, hibiscus and bamboo.  There are plenty of climbers too:  white jasmine, blue plumbago, honeysuckle, orange campanula and hot pink and purple bougainvillea:

as well as fragrant climbing roses.

Everywhere, throughout the year there are flowers in abundance in mostly informal flower beds but most notably in the spring, when carpets of wildflowers run riot in the un-manicured grassy ‘lawns’ areas.

The wild and wonderful OLIVE GROVE with its ancient gnarled trees and gently swaying silver-leafed branches:

Villa Nicara is a happy place, filled as it is with years of happy memories. It’s a place that welcomes you in, wraps itself around you and makes you feel instantly at home. It is neither pretentious or ‘precious’  (except to me and my family of course!) because the simple way of life it affords allows everyone who visits to explore their natural creativity in a calm, relaxing way. It is wonderfully inspiring and provides an atmosphere of peace, calm and timelessness and an opportunity to be totally at one with the natural beauty that surrounds it.

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