Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, has seduced travellers to Cyprus, the sun-kissed island in the eastern Mediterranean, for thousands of years. Anassa, the luxurious 35-acre resort sits in seclusion along the northwest coast from the fishing village of Latchi where Aphrodite is said to have risen from the foam on the waves. Owner Alecos Michaelides, a former foreign minister of the Republic of Cyprus, told his architect that every handmade bed must have an uninterrupted view of the sea.
The hotel has been carefully designed to resemble a Cypriot village, with white-washed villas, terracotta roof tiles, wooden shutters and its own Byzantine chapel. Spacious villa-style rooms with balconies set amongst gardens layered with aromatic herbs, bougainvillea and cypress trees overlook pools that make their way down a hillside in tiers to the azure sea. Some suites have plunge pools and whirlpools on sea-facing terraces.
The Anassa is a resort for travellers who measure their accommodations against the luxury index: there are Frette robes and Bulgari goodies in the bathroom and Ty Nant in the minibar. The Thalassa Spa offers an extensive range of ancient water-inspired treatments and an indoor swimming pool. There’s also a PADI dive centre as well as tennis and squash courts. There are four restaurants to choose from including the 24-seat Basiliko.
With a stone staircase descending into a limestone cavern lit only by candlelight, Basiliko redefines intimacy. The Mediterranean-Asian menu features the bounty of produce sourced from local villages, and a stellar wine list that includes Cyprus’s Commandaria, reputed to be the world’s oldest wine.
Photo: Courtesy Thannos Hotels.
