and its private terrace.
A room equipped with a huge modern TV and inviting couches
is not at all out of place in the setting of stone walls and floors, and
low-beamed ceilings of ancient cypress wood.
The upper rooms open on to a sun-drenched stone terrace with
stunning views over the olive groves below, and across the estate
where yet another strand of history is woven into the fabric. Mr.
Lascaris’ grandfather was the business partner of John Merlin,
who is famous for importing a variety of orange tree from India
into Greece. The Merlin Estate is to be found at Dassia and Mer-
lin oranges are now grown all over Greece, highly-prized for their
unique flavour and juiciness and complete lack of pips. Three hun-
dred of the original trees were planted on the Lascaris estate at
Agios Markos.
This perhaps is the secret to the charm of the house – the har-
monious juxtaposition of old and new. The Lascaris mansion
demonstrates subtly but definitely that it is perfectly possible to
live amidst antiques without feeling overwhelmed by them. The
ghosts of the past may drift companionably through the rooms, but
they are never threatening, never anything more than gentle but
irrefutable reminders that all things pass in time.
Kitchen Byzantine Imperial
courtier costume
ISLAND 
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