Quaint character cottage in traditional Greek village

We had a wonderful time. The apartment is cosy and nicely furnished. We especially liked the small outdoors area, where we could sit and read. We didn’t have the chance to get to know Richard in person, but the communication was good. I would recommend the flat to my friends.

Super!

But it is quite remote! Be prepared for an adventure and rent a small car. :)

We were very glad to have found the Lemon House, small and quaint, with a lovely patio and beautiful view. Ana Gatzea is very quiet (just the usual crickets, church bells and local produce suppliers shouting their wares over a car microphone!). The directions were slightly daunting, especially since we left the airport in the dark. However we found it easily because Richard’s directions were very clear. Driving along a railway line ‪at‬ ‪midnight‬ was definitely a first for us, but we soon got used to it. Maria was very helpful. We loved the area, and stayed mostly on the Gulf side because the sea is so calm and warm. The eastern Aegean coast is spectacular and well worth a visit, the forested areas are wonderful and the mountain villages beautiful, Makrinitsa especially. Agia Kyriaki is a very picturesque fishing village down in the Trikeri area, and we had a lovely lunch there on the quayside. We enjoyed a trip on the quaint Pilio railway from Ana Gatzea and spent a few peaceful hours enjoying the view from from a roof top restaurant in Milies while waiting for the return journey. We thought the Pelion was one of the most delightful places we’ve been to in Greece and we hope to go again, a fortnight wasn’t enough.

The location is quiet with beautiful views down to the sea. The owner has made an excellent book of various walks in the area with removable sheets that can be taken with you. Another reviewer complained of noise from the cafe but it would have taken a fantastically riotous celebration to have disturbed the peace at the house. Georgos at the cafe provided food on an intermittent basis. Other shops and restaurants are at Kato (Lower) Gatzea which is not far but more than an easy walk. Kato Gatzea is a pleasant seaside town and a good place to have a long lunch. The wi fi worked well but we had to search around for the log in details and some other information in the house guide appeared to be out of date There was a problem with the air conditioning when we first arrived in a bit of a heat wave but Maria, who lives underneath the cafe quickly fixed it when we contacted her. The railway is interesting. On days when there are two trains in each direction you can go to Millies on the first train, have a drink or meal, tour the excellent old church and then return on the second train. Hardly anyone gets on or off at Gatzea and it only seems to stop there so passengers can stretch their legs or use the loo. The train was officially full but we snuck on board and then paid at the destination.

Träumchen

Dear Richard, First we want to thank you for all the information and helpful tips that you gave us during our holidays. We enjoyed our time in Ano Gatzea. It is a beautiful place to hike and also to be near by the sea. The view from the garden to the sea was fantastic. We used the little kitchen and the barbecue. The only thing that we missed was a orange press. Your little paradise is the best place for people that are searching for calm and nature. We will come back!! Thank you! Bodo and Kerstin from Germany

We loved everything about the Lemon House and Ano Gatzea. Being nestled amongst the olive and lemon trees with the view of the sea was magical. We arrived in Volos by bus from Athens and had the best gyro of our entire stay in Greece right at the port. The bakery is a must...we were there every day and made sure we bought things to take with us on our ferry ride to Skiathos. I was sick with a cold during our stay and the local pharmacy was very helpful and caring when my husband went to buy medicine for me. Due to being sick we didn’t do much walking but we are looking forward to returning and exploring...Richard has all the info you need to go on different walks and hikes. It is definitely worth the drive to go mylopotamos beach as well.

We have just returned from a truly fantastic fortnight in Ano Gatzea. The Lemon House was even better than we had imagined, with an amazing view across the Pagasitic Gulf. The owners were wonderful hosts, offering us an abundance of information about the local area. We particularly enjoyed an exceptionally interesting tour of Dimini and Sesklos led by Richard and also the sailing day with Charlotte. The cottage itself is incredibly quaint, with a choice of two patios to relax on, one of which has a BBQ. We decided not to hire a car this year, and were very surprised how much we managed to see without. There is a very comprehensible compilation of local walks, which we happily made our way through. Also, we found taxis to be most affordable, which added plenty of choice to where we ventured. We would definitely recommend The Lemon House to anyone who loves nature and walking, and just wants to tuck themselves away for a while.

There are some things in the listing that can use some clarification. First, while there is access to WiFi, it is not inside of the cottage. If you stand in just the right spot with just the right device you get WiFi connectivity. There is certainly no wired Internet access available. Checking email is a chore. Uploading photos to FB is not really doable. For good internet service, you might try the nearby village of Kala Nera as the village seems to offer reliable and free WiFi to the beach area. The other thing is that the cottage is in quite close quarters with a second rental unit (5 metres) that you can note in the photos. If you are looking for private outdoor space, this cottage is not for you as there is no place outside of the cottage to hold a private conversation, except at a whisper's volume. Be prepared to go up and down some steep hills--regardless of whether you are driving or walking. While there is a cafe right next door, it has limited hours and a limited menu. Other restaurants, the grocery store and an amazing bakery are 1.5-2 km away: down hill. When walking, the return trip is a challenging option. The cottage is quite well done. It is clean and well-maintained. The wooden beams and ceilings are quite beautiful. It does lack storage space for luggage. There are lots of walking opportunities for which the owner has prepared detailed descriptions and maps. The owners were great hosts, quite easy going and ready with all sorts of information and help. We enjoyed our stay and found the setting quite gorgeous.