Wealthy Buy Greek Islands

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 8

Wealthy Buy Greek Islands

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) ATHENS. A small advertisement offering for sale a 300-acre “privatelyowned” islet, in the Saronikos Gulf, a few miles south of Athens, reflects the popularity in Greece of this particular form of country retreat.

Leasing of private islets in the Aegean or the lonian seas continues to be a hobby among wealthy Greeks and foreigners alike. No less than 50 such islets round Greece’s main coasts are already the property of Greek families, or have been leased by the State for a period of 99 years. A special department of the Ministry of Finance keeps a list of available islets so Greeks or foreigners seeking one can have their choice.

Among international personalities who have expressed the desire to lease a Greek Island, the names of Mrs Kennedy, the Aga Khan, Peter Ustinov and former Empress of Iran, Princess Soraya, are mentioned in Greece. Princess Soraya is even reported to have asked to lease a tiny islet facing the island of Mykonos, in the eastern Aegean Sea. This islet is, however, the property of an Orthodox monastry, and the monks are said to be adamant

that they do not want any strangers there. Greece’s wealthiest shipowners have all acquired such islets and transformed them into places of “rest and pleasure.” They include Mr Stavroes Niarchos; his former brother-in-law, the shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis: and the heir of the late Stavros Livanos, nick-named the “rock of the Atlantic,” Mr George Livanos, who possesses a fleet of 80 vessels sailing the seven seas. Mr Stavros Niarchos. who is in business in Greece as a partner of the oil refineries and the Hellenic shipyards, acquired the 20-square mile islet of Spetsopoula some 10 years ago. This island is separated by a narrow channel from the island of Spetsae, in the Argosaronic Gulf. When Mr Niarchos acquired it, it was a barren islet, infested by wild goats and tortoises. At a cost of what is estimated to be more than £3,400,000 Mr Niarchos has transformed it into a “hunting paradise." Rare species of game, birds, including pheasants, deer and so on were brought in and fruit trees and flowers were planted all round the spacious marble mansion. There, from time to time, Mr Niarchos now receives distinguished guests at specially organised hunting parties.

Greece’s wealthiest magnates engaged in some rivalry of entertainment. Mr Aristotle Onassis, founder of Greece’s civil aviation and controller of Olympic Air-

ways, decided one day to outdo Mr Niarchos. Up to that time, he spent what time he could on board one of the most luxurious yachts, the Christina, sailing in the Mediterranean. Onassis’s Purchase

For about £21,000, Mr Onassis purchased the tiny islet of Skorpios, in the loian Sea, two miles east of the Island of Lefkas and two miles from the west coast of Greece. This islet has an area of 200 acres and was planted with olive, fruit and almond trees.

In less than three years, Mr Onassis has changed its face. A huge villa and a number of luxurious houses have been built for Mr Onassis and his friends. A special harbour has been built for his yacht, and an airstrip for landing his private aeroplane. Roads have been surfaced throughout the islet to allow the easy circulation of cars, while special sandy beaches have been prepared for swimming parties. The owner of Skorpios has also imported good game for hunting. Powerful wireless communications are said to have been installed on Skorpios to permit Mr Onassis to follow the movements of his huge fleet of tankers sailing about the world.

Mr George Livanos has recently taken a lease on the islet of Kirki, in the Argolis Gulf. It is as large as Mr Niarchos’ Spetsopoula and reports say that Mr Livanos has said: “Kirki will become more attractive than Spetsopoula and Skorpios.” A team of experts and some 500 labourers are hard at work on plans which they have been ordered to keep secret in pain of losing a wellpaid job. Helicopter Platform One work which cannot be disguised or hidden is a landing platform for Mr Livanos’ private helicopter, which will bring him there from the terrace of the headquarters of his firm in the port of Piraeus. Another well-known Greek islet is Petalis, south of Euboea, which belongs to the Goplandris family. The late King Paul used to sail with his private yacht to this islet to spend a few hours in one of the most fascinating landscapes of Greece. Another nearby islet has become a fashionable summer resort with bungalows, hotels and restaurants. Its owner, more business-minded than the others, who keep their “islets” for the pleasure of themselves and their friends, calls it “Dream Island.”