Abandoned Houses of Greece: Ruins Against the Backdrop of Paradise, Which Can be Bought for $35,000

In every country, there are places and houses that lost their owners many years ago. There are such abandoned villages and houses in Greece, a sunny country with a rich history and culture. It is here, against the backdrop of heavenly mountains and the sea, that dilapidated stone buildings seem to fit into the local landscape, and it seems as if nothing disturbs the idyll. But perhaps these are the houses that can get a second chance at life?

The demand for Greek real estate is constantly growing — over the past 3 years, it has almost doubled. Meanwhile, prices for purchasing apartments in Greece over the past 8 years have been growing by 6–15% per year.

A separate segment in the real estate market is abandoned or dilapidated houses and buildings. Such housing is sold at a significant discount, and often it is not so much the houses that are put up for sale as the plots of land on which they stand. Sometimes such “ruins” fit so well into the surrounding landscape that they resemble paintings by famous artists: you want to look at them, delving into every detail.

Here is a selection of abandoned Greek villages, as well as houses that can be bought for next to nothing.

House in a mountain village of Crete

This is a two-storey house built in 1972 in the traditional mountain village of Patsos on the island of Crete, Greece.

Main characteristics of the house:

• Total area: 152.46 sq.m.
• First floor: 83.97 sq.m.
• Second floor: 68.49 sq.m.
• Plot: 114.68 sq.m.
• 4 rooms
• 2 bedrooms
• 1 bathroom
• There is a basement and a balcony
• Offers panoramic views of the mountains and sea

Despite the fact that the house is quite old, after repairs and reconstruction, it can be turned into a cozy home. The layout includes 6 bedrooms, a kitchen, a courtyard, and a private garden.

Such a private house can be an excellent option for those who are looking for a combination of rural comfort and urban amenities. Rethymnon and its main infrastructure are only 24 km from Patsos.

Cost: €35,000.

Two-storey house on the island of Thassos

This two-storey house with a separate entrance is for sale in the village of Potamia on the island of Thassos. The total living area is 84 sq. m., and the plot size is 300 sq.m.

Main characteristics of the house:

• 2 bedrooms
• 1 bathroom
• Living area 84 sq.m.
• Plot 300 sq.m.
• Two floors of 42 sq.m. every
• On the ground floor: living room, kitchen
• Outside, there is a staircase between floors

So, on the ground floor, there is a living room, a kitchen, and one of two bedrooms. On the second floor, there is a second bedroom and a bathroom. The floors are connected by an external staircase.

After a major renovation, the house can become a very cozy home with a beautiful view of the sea.

Cost: €38,000.

Stone house in a traditional village

A stone house with an area of ​​60 sq.m. is for sale. In the traditional village of Panagia on the island of Thassos. The house is located on a plot of 80 sq.m.

Main characteristics:

• Living area: 60 sq.m.
• Plot 80 sq.m.
• 2 levels
• 1 bedroom
• Living room
• Kitchen
• 1 bathroom
• Fireplace
• Wooden window frames

The house was built before 1950, reconstruction was carried out in 1960.

The interior layout includes a living room, kitchen, hallway, one bedroom, and a bathroom. The home has wood floors, a fireplace, and wood window frames.

The distance to the sea is 2500 meters.

The cost of this property is €42,000.

Vathia village, Peloponnese

Vathia is an abandoned village in the Taygetos mountain range on the southern Peloponnese Peninsula. Its main attraction is a complex of ancient tower houses built of stone.

The exact date of the founding of Wafia is unknown, but according to legend, the first dwellings appeared here many centuries ago as shelters from attacks by pirates and invaders.

In the 1980s, some of the tower houses were renovated and converted into a hotel complex. Cafes and restaurants have opened for tourists. However, by the early 1990s, this tourism enterprise was completely bankrupt.

Since then, Wafiya has become abandoned again and turned into a “ghost town.” Now no one lives in the village, but its powerful stone walls and towers have been preserved as a unique monument of medieval architecture.

Photo source: urban3p.ru.

Old Peritia Village, Corfu

Old Perithia is a village in northern Corfu, located on the slopes of Mount Pantokrator, 8 km from Kassiopi. Its main feature is its approximately 130 ancient stone houses in the Venetian style, many of which are impressive mansions.

The village was abandoned in the mid-20th century due to malaria epidemics and the threat of enemy invasions. By 1940, almost all residents had left Old Peritya, and it turned into a “ghost town.”

Now only two people live in the village — Briton Mark Hendriksen and his wife Saska, owners of the hotel complex The Merchant's House. They completely restored one of the old mansions in the authentic Venetian style of the 17th century.

The couple is helping to restore other historic houses in Old Peritia to revive the once abandoned village. A walk along it allows you to plunge into the original Greek atmosphere and architecture of bygone centuries.

The British newspaper The Independent has called Old Perithia “the ultimate destination for an authentic Greek holiday” due to its natural beauty, spectacular sea views, and rich historical heritage.