Xinara House Tinos, Greece

Xinara House (xinarahouse. com) is a lovingly restored 19th-century bishop’s mansion located near

Mount Exomvourgo on the Cycladic island of

Tinos – less well-known than its glitzy neighbour, Mykonos, but retaining an under-the-radar charm.

On the edge of the tiny, car-free hamlet of the same name, this house was renovated to stay true to its origins with whitewashed walls, blue windows and marble bathrooms, and features a stylish mix of antiques, artworks and flourishes with a boho vibe. There are fragrant terraced gardens, almond, fig and mulberry trees, a swimming pool carved into the rocks, a fruit and vegetable garden that guests are welcome to plunder for ingredients, and even a small vineyard producing rosé wine.

The main house sleeps up to 10 and there is also the smaller Blacksmith’s Cottage, which can be rented together or separately, sleeping up to three people. A large pergola on a terrace is the perfect spot for candlelit dinners, which can be prepared by a local cook. There are also lots of shady spots dotted

around in which guests can relax during the day.

Owners Peter and Susan Marston are on hand to offer any tips about island life and recommend places to eat around the island. There are a number of beaches within easy reach, or hire a boat to visit the spectacular classical ruins on the neighbouring island of Delos. Tinos itself is dotted with more than 50 small villages and its countryside is scattered with old dovecotes and criss-crossed with donkey tracks perfect for hiking, as well as being fringed with a necklace of beaches and coves edged by the sparkling Aegean.

Rental of the main house costs from £445 per night and Blacksmith’s Cottage from £98 per night

AO