How often have you walked past a particular pair of gates and glanced into a courtyard? You often see visitors do this on Symi. They’re ambling around the village or up the Kali Strata, and someone’s left a gate open, so they have a peek through out of curiosity… Usually, people don’t stop and gawp, but I’ve seen it happen. I’ve even seen people push open the gate and wander in as if the entire island was a free tourist attraction. Sometimes, the occupier might be typically Greek about the intrusion and invite the gawper in to take a better look (and on the rare occasion, charge for the privilege), and at other times the nosey visitor will have a quick sniff around like a dog about to mark its territory and then retire. We sometimes sit in the courtyard with company or waiting for company to arrive, and leave one of the gates/doors open. Now and then, I’ll look up to see an inquisitive face staring in from the street, and even people on passing mopeds do it.
But, to answer my question. How often have you walked past a particular pair of gates and glanced into a courtyard? For my part, I’ve walked past a certain pair of gates numerous times and looked into a large courtyard, a square almost, to see an open space surrounded by houses. (Above.) In my defence, the fronts of these buildings are open to public view.
This is just behind the town square, past Emily’s hairdressers on the left. I suppose this is a private courtyard, but it’s also not a courtyard, and the gates aren’t doors, so there’s nothing wrong with looking and wondering who lived in these houses, and if anyone still does. Right now, Neil’s brother is staying in one because at least one is available to rent through Booking.com, and on Sunday night, we were invited down to visit for supper. Well, all I can say is Giannas House is something of a hidden gem. Yes, I’d seen it from beyond the gates, but never knew it was a rental.
If you’re looking for a traditional stay in a very traditional Symi house, then you could do worse than try this place. It has original furniture and fittings, with bathroom fittings from whenever avocado was a thing. It has the family’s dark wood furniture, even the photos, some of which must be 100 years old, judging by the fashions. There are the copper dowery, pots and pans, above the oven alcove in the kitchen, a great big courtyard at the back opening onto what was the basketball court (now a small tennis court and outside gym for all to use), and it has a quaint outside bathroom. James and his daughter love it, and are pleased to be staying in somewhere with history. I can also tell you, it was very quiet, being away form the main hustle of the port, yet only a minute to get to the harbour front and shops, convenient for your early morning bakery (and hairdresser), children’s playground and other amenities, and was clean and looked after.
I thought I’d mention it, not because I have anything to do with the property, I don’t even know who owns it or what its history might be, but I’d guess, the whole building used to be one house (it’s now two apartments), and owned by one of Symi’s wealthier merchants. I may be completely wrong, it’s only a guess, but the antiques that have been left, and particularly the photos, would suggest something similar. You can check out more and better photos than mine on booking.com which is the only place I found reservation details, though it maybe available via other outlets.
