For those who love Greece, to actually live for a time at the foot of the Acropolis in the enchanting neighborhood of Anafiotika is an experience to treasure. The four of us who stayed here kept shaking our heads & wondering how this location, this very house, could be real. Thankfully, Rania’s house is real. And quite remarkable. The awe-inspiring location happens to be as convenient and safe a neighborhood as one could find when visiting Athens. Shops, taxis, metro station, bus stops, restaurants are very close. We walked almost every place we wanted to visit in the city.

The singularity of Rania’s house doesn’t end with the location, however. Her skillful renovation of the interior retains the original architectural character and simultaneously includes useful contemporary conveniences & updates. Rania, who has the reputation of being a superb photographer, has used to great advantage her artist's eye. The colors are lovely. Each work of art is invites you to pause and reflect. Just as the house itself seems to be in harmony with the landscape, everything on the interior feels as if belongs exactly where it is. The furnishings, appliances, and floorplan offer the traveler convenience, comfort, and privacy when desired. Rania provides extra linens & towels as well as plenty of basic supplies for the kitchen and bath. I’ll always recall one special “amenity” when I think of the house: a stack of warm lightweight, green blankets on a chair beside the door to the balcony. Rania provides them for taking up to the rooftop terrace when it’s cold outside. They were perfect for the nights we sat up there, gazing at the Acropolis under the moon and at the lights of Athens below. I’d sit up there in the coldest weather for the magnificent views, and I imagine many of Rania’s guests would say the same.

Rania planned a perfect welcome to Athens and to her house when she asked
her friend Spiros to drive us from the airport. Spiros is every traveler’s ideal guide----energetic, wise, level-headed, kind, trustworthy, and extremely knowledgeable. By the time we arrived at the house, we felt confident that with Spiros, we could do anything/go anywhere in Athens! He answered all our questions and gave us information about the house. He helped us with itinerary choices, transportation options, and recommendations for bakeries & restaurants. We arranged with him to take us to Corinth for a wonderful day trip. Although Rania was not available, we knew that we could contact her at any time if necessary. Her friendly mother, who lives downstairs, also welcomed us and offered to assist us if we needed anything.

Thanks to Rania & Spiros, we know exactly where we want to stay on our next visit to Athens. This is an extraordinary experience!