According to a village folklore, "aneradas" are the little fairies who live under chestnut trees. Old men, it is said, should never sit in the "heavy" shade of chestnut trees, for if they do, they will be seduced by these mischievous aneradas. The name Anerada Inn could not have been better chosen for this tiny, charming hotel in Megalo Horio; the small yellow house shaded by the leaves of an old chestnut tree really does seem to have fairy tale origins. And no matter what age or gender you may be, there is no doubt that you will be seduced- if not by fairies, then by the infinite beauty and allure of this place.
The softly colored house sits at the entrance of Megalo Horio, a serene mountain village in Evritania. The inn belongs to Maria Giannakou, whose father comes from the village. When she was little, her family used to spend their summers in Megalo Horio to escape the heat. As Maria grew up, she began to understand why her parents would take her to the mountain village instead of the beach. She too was taken in by the tranquility and mysterious magnetism of the place, eventually deciding to build a small hotel on her family plot of land. Maria lives and works in Athens, but almost every weekend she makes the three-hour commute to Evritania to be at her hotel.
Though the Anerada Inn has only five bedrooms, each room is dream-like. Maria did not resort to the cliche antique, traditional furniture that you usually find in small trendy Greek mountain hotels. Instead, modern country style beds overlaid with crisp cotton sheets and light feather duvets, loosely draped canopies, wicker chairs, cinched curtains and soft hues add up to a décor that is unmistakably feminine and romantic. Each room has its own color scheme (light blue, lavender, salmon, soft green and yellow) that is carried through to the smallest detail, even in the bathrooms.
The intimate sitting room of the Anerada Inn also exhibits this refined country style décor, but Maria uses it as her playing field, her drawing board. With every change of season, she is taken by an urge to redecorate, refurbish, and change details. Not so long ago, dark green curtains were replaced by white ones, while a sturdy checkered sofa and two armchairs were upholstered with white lace and covered with embroidered pillows. Soon after, the fabric and burgundy red pillows turned white too. Even the fireplace gets a facelift now and then. There is only one thing Maria never seems to grow tired of – candles, the more the better, and every night they are all lit.
It needs to be said though, that the sitting room is small, and that the Anerada Inn is not the best place to come with children. It is more suited to romantic little escapes, and, as Maria says with a cheeky smile, to make children rather than show up with them. And what better way to follow a romantic night than with a carefully prepared breakfast of scrambled eggs, crepes, home-made bread, croissants and cakes (and even more in the winter). You may end up suspecting that the little fairies have indeed been slaving away over a hot stove all night long.
Useful information:
Directions: From the center of Karpenisi, follow signs for Koryschades and Megalo Horio (17 km). You will find the hotel on the left side of the road just before you reach the central parking area of Megalo Horio.- Open: All year
- Rooms: 4 double rooms (1 double can take an extra bed) and 1 double room that can take 2 extra beds. All rooms have private shower and are equipped with mini-bar, telephone and television.
- Prices: High. Breakfast included
- No restaurant
- Breakfast: Served from 9:00 to 11:00 in the sitting room or on the terrace
- Children: Not suitable
- Credit cards Not accepted
- Dogs: Allowed upon prior agreement
- Address: 360 75 Megalo Horio Evritania
- Tel: (2237) 041479, (210) 6841802, 094 4505045
- Fax: (210) 2840733
