Nice Hidden Vacation Spot 🌴 The Greek Villa Kérylos

📍 Villa Kérylos ✔️Compared to the grand public buildings of ancient Greece, like various temples, very few private homes from that era have survived intact. Most of what we know about them comes from archaeological evidence. These homes were typically built with mud bricks and terracotta tiles to provide shade and warmth, meeting the basic needs of ancient Greek life. The dwellings of the poor usually had no more than three rooms. Since they couldn't afford oil lamps, their daily routine was dictated by the rising and setting sun. Their kitchens were simple, with just a hole in the roof to let out cooking smoke. On nice days, they would cook outdoors over an open fire. ✔️However, today we can relive part of the charm of ancient Greek homes near Nice, France. In 1902, the French archaeologist Théodore Reinach (1860 – 1928), captivated by ancient Greek civilization and eager to connect with the past, commissioned the architect Emmanuel Pontremoli (1865 – 1956), a Prix de Rome winner, to build a seaside villa in the style of ancient Greece. The villa, named Villa Kérylos, was constructed in the Bay of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Pontremoli traveled around Asia Minor and based his design on a residence of a Greek nobleman from the 2nd century BC on the island of Delos. The villa features a peristyle courtyard with twelve Doric columns and took six years to complete. ✔️After Reinach's death, he bequeathed the villa to the Institut de France, where it was managed by his son Léon Reinach (1893 – 1943). During World War II, the villa was seized by the Nazis, and Léon, his wife, and their two children were sent to Auschwitz, where they all perished. Today, Villa Kérylos is a historical heritage site in France, converted into a museum open to the public. ✔️Villa Kérylos stands like a myth on the French Riviera, a unique villa that not only perfectly recreates ancient Greek civilization but also features modern conveniences. It is hailed as a treasure of French ingenuity and reflects the Reinach family's pursuit of "pure beauty." #TravelTips #FranceTravel #NiceTravel #NiceVacation #HiddenTravelSpots